You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Mike White's high school sports chat: 04.01.25
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Mike White
10:56
OK, it's April Fool's Day, but there shall be no foolin' around here. This chat is serious stuff. Just to show you, did you hear about the guy who dreamt he was a muffler? He woke up ... exhausted. Wooooo hoooo!!! Lots to still talk about, even though basketball is over. All-star teams are coming out, some football recruiting been in the news and spring sports have started. Let's begin.
Connelly Vo Joe
10:56
Mike, with the PIAA's obvious unfairness of boundary schools competing against private/Catholic schools, has anyone ever proposed the WPIAL seceding from the PIAA and then having its own separate competition for boundary schools and private/Catholic schools?
Mike White
10:58
Yes, a few people have brought that up over the years. But that will never happen. No way all 130-some schools would agree to that. Sorry. We will just have to live with the way it is because the PIAA isn't going to change unless they are mandated to change.
Jus Sayin
10:58
I hear a lot about Robbins and Wallace, but NOT the ONLY OTHER D1 COMMIT Trey Schachter. What is with the inherent bias from the post Gazette? Maybe go to a game for once and see what you’re missing out.
Mike White
11:02
Oh, here we go. The weekly Trey Schachter question or comments. Is this always the same person or two on this chat talking about this Allderdice basketball player? But I'll go ahead and give you a response. If you must know, I have seen Trey Schachter play. But Post-Gazette bias? Please. Go back to bed. He is a decent player, but I'll be blunt. Whoever comes on here and says he is one of the best players in the area and should be on Fab 5, know this: Coaches in the City League voted. He did not even make the five-player all-City team. Two other Allderdice players made it. Does that say enough?
Denythe inbound
11:04
Our state rep posted PIAA Czar Lombardi makes the same amount of money as Governor Shapiro, I think a call to Elon and DOGE is in order.
Mike White
11:05
I haven't seen this. Honestly, I really don't know the salary of PIAA director Bob Lombardi, but I have seen reports in the past that it is in the 170,000 ballpark.
James
11:06
Kudos to the 3 public schools for playing by the rules and winning a state basketball championship.
Mike White
11:10
Actually James, four public (boundary) schools won state titles. They were all in girls. Perkiomen Valley, South Fayette, Loyalsock, Berlin Brothersvalley. Not one boundary school won a boys championship. I was sitting at state championships in Hershey, wondering some things. One of the things I was wondering was who might show up at Sewickley Academy for next season? Two 6-8 kids from other countries somehow showed up on the team this year who weren't there last season. Will there be another new player for next season? I wouldn't be surprised.
Garfield Gator
11:10
Saw your interview with the Wallace kid. Maybe getting the word out that he and a few of his teammates have been at the school since the 6th grade will put a stop to the recruiting rumors. I heard the coach say that no kid played varsity for any other team as well. Not every minority team is crooked... I happen to know that this school is mission driven and academically oriented and we appreciate you giving him his props.
Mike White
11:10
OK.
Hoops
11:11
I was lucky enough to be able to attend both of the OHSAA (Ohio) state championships and the PIAA (PA) championships recently. It is alarming to me the difference between the two. Neither are perfect, but the PIAA is so out of touch with reality, and it will continue to hurt. State title games in a bad arena, 6/6 private schools winning (boys), low attendance, no real conversation about how to change either. The TV announcers for the boys games are 80 years old. I don't get it. The PIAA is a tired, old, wasteful association.
Mike White
11:11
May I ask what was better about the Ohio championships? And I'm just sayin': I don't mind the Giant Center.
shyguy44
11:12
We seem to hear a lot about how the number of D1 football and basketball recruits from Western PA has decreased over the years.  But have you noticed the sharp increase in D1 baseball recruits from our area?  Even high draft  picks by MLB of local high school kids in recent years.  I think the two are related, as baseball players now more than any other sport seem to specialize in their sport early on.  What do you think??
Mike White
11:16
True, the WPIAL has produced some No. 1 draft picks in baseball lately, whether out of high school or college. And yes, the number of D1 recruits in baseball is much more than basketball. But you're comparing apples to oranges. Fewer players on a basketball team. And with baseball, I think it needs qualified. There are virtually no full scholarships in baseball. Many baseball players might go to a Division I school, but it's not on a full scholarship. Many times, it might a quarter of a scholarship or, at most, 1/3. So yes, baseball talent in Western Pa. is pretty darn good for an eastern area of the U.S. But I don't think comparing numbers to football or basketball is good, considering the scholarship aspect. But the number of first-round draft picks is impressive.
Hoops
11:17
OHSAA championships played in a college facility. Student sections sat close to the floor. Pep bands are permitted to attend. OHSAA has also implemented a competitive balance formula, although the non boundary issue is still there in Ohio. If you watch the games, the graphics are better, the coverage is better. It is just a better overall product
Mike White
11:21
Like I said, I think the Giant Center is fine. Student sections close to the floor? I like that idea. I've been a critic of WPIAL not letting students sit close to floor at Petersen Center. It can be done. And don't tell me it's because of security worries. It would make for a better atmosphere. I like the pep band idea, too. As for the TV, I think you might be nitpicking a little, complaining about the graphics? Honestly, I don't really watch PA games on TV because I'm there. But judging from what you say, I could see a better atmosphere in Ohio. But I think crowd size alone has lot to do with atmosphere.
College
11:21
Curious - I know that fab5 is a team of (deserving) all stars. Obviously you aren’t picking that 5 specifically to play together. BUT, if you had to pick 5 players to play in a collegiate game and try to win, who would you pick?
Mike White
11:22
Don't mean to not answer your question, but I'd have to think about it.
Coverage
11:22
I am a bit upset about the abundance of hype around guards like Zion Moore, Carmichael, Wallace, mayo, etc. it’s all AAU garbage!!! What about Trey Schacter staying home at Allderdice and playing unselfish/not chasing numbers …. This deserves more recognition IMO
Mike White
11:23
Good Lord, someone make it stop. More Trey Schachter comments? You wouldn't by chance be a relative, would you?
Hoops
11:23
Thanks for taking my comments Mike. Have a good rest of your week!
Mike White
11:24
Thank you, Hoops. Good stuff.
Now what ?
11:24
So would Susie like to be the Head Coach now at USC or is it being thrown open to anyone ? I guess they're kind of screwed as program now.
Mike White
11:24
First off, I really don't know if Suzie would be interested. I haven't asked. And why would they, as you say, be "screwed" as a program? Ahhhh, they can get another coach.
Farce
11:25
So after the farce that was the Boys PIAA title games with all the private schools winning will this finally, maybe, force them to re-examine how they do things ?
Mike White
11:25
Nope. Not the PIAA.
Fab5
11:25
are you trying to sweat us out this year! I can’t wait. So much individual talent this year.
Mike White
11:26
Fab 5 boys and girls will be announced Sunday. Will be in the printed paper and on our web site. Hope group pictures work out nice this year.
11:27
I liked new PIAA idea of picking 12-player All-Championship Teams for the state title games. Nice idea. Long overdue.
AnotherQ
11:32
Also would be curious- not asking for a coach of the year here. That is a seperate type of award. BUT, if you had to pick a single wpial bball coaching staff to take over for Pitt , who would you pick to succeed at that level?
Mike White
11:33
Mt. Lebanon. Joe David has enough assistants, like six, and with all the suits they would be the best-dressed staff in college basketball now.
City League
11:33
Mike, can you please answer my question about what happened to Coach V?
Mike White
11:36
You're talking about former Allderdice coach Buddy Valinsky. What do you mean what happened to him? He decided to step down at Allderdice. He wanted to coach in the WPIAL. He went to Norwin and stepped down after a few years. He has tried to get a few other WPIAL jobs, but with no luck. Buddy's a great guy. Very good coach. It was quite the spectacle this season when Buddy Valinsky, now the 9th grade coach at Fox Chapel, knocked heads with North Hills 9th grade coach Mike White in two games. Oh, the drama. Throw the record books out the windows when Valinsky and White get together for a 9th grade game. Look for the 30 for 30 special on those two matchups.
Pete
11:38
Favorite Pete Serio story ?
Mike White
11:39
Billy Joel's double.
Coach v
11:43
I will tell you this much, I watched every one of buddy’s games the last 10-15 years and it looks like an nba team compared to what city league games are now. I am totally puzzled as to why the talent level is so down. Any insight there? I have heard covid, transferring to the Imani’s of the worlds, this that and the other. I just can’t figure it out. This years city championship game was the worst i have seen in 25+ years. Oh, and Naron Jackson’s kid may just be as overrated as Schacter
Mike White
11:46
It's mind-boggling what has happened to the City League in basketball. Heck, football, too. I don't have an answer as to why. No, Pittsburgh isn't a gigantic city, but a city this size should still have more talented players in the City League. Yes, enrollment has declined. But it's still a head scratcher.
Hoop guy
11:49
How in the world did the same refs that let the game get out of control at the Uniontown/Meadville be given the AAA championship game ?!?! What a joke.  I know refs are scarce but come on.
Mike White
11:50
I don't know who the officials were for the Uniontown game and if they were the same ones for the 3A final. If you are correct, that is a head scratcher. But I will say, should the officials be blamed for idiotic fan behavior? C'mon.
Connecting…