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Mike White's high school sports chat: 04.15.25
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Mike White
11:01
Well, hello. It's mid-April. And get this: WPIAL section play in baseball and softball is scheduled to end in three weeks. Wow. But we're here to chat today. Let's go.
11:03
Spent last night watching WNBA draft. Had a family tie to one of draft picks. Also wanted to see if Duquesne's Megan McConnell got drafted. She didn't. But agreed to sign with Phoenix Mercury as free agent. 27 years after her aunt was drafted in 2nd round by Cleveland.
11:04
And from did you know department: 7 former WPIAL players and 2 former City League players have been selected in WNBA draft since it started.
Pops
11:04
I think I saw you at the jamfest this past weekend.  It's an incredible event if you are a basketball lover.  Were you cover games or just taking it all in
Mike White
11:06
Yes, I was there. Just checking out some players and a few games. Not covering it. Not something you actually "cover." It really is an amazing thing. All those players, teams, courts in convention center. Quite a sight. AAU basketball can be good -- and bad. But the magnitude of that event really is something. I think they have 25 courts on the top and maybe another 10 on the bottom??? Not sure of exact number.
Pops
11:06
What is up with seniors still playing AAU?  A few guys played with multiple teams this past weekend.  A strange world we are living in with 20 year old college freshman and kids going to 3 different high schools in 6 years.  Reclass guys who take a 5th year at a prep school.  People complain about college sports being ruined but to me high school sports are just as bad.
Mike White
11:09
Yes, this certainly ain't our fathers' college sports landscape. High school is even different. There have been seniors playing AAU in past, but some of top WPIAL seniors were playing this weekend at JamFest at Convention Center. Four seniors on Post-Gazette Fab 5 all played together I saw on Friday night. Kind of cool. Some of these seniors haven't decided on a college yet. And I know one who signed for football but still likes basketball. Some of them are hoping maybe another college might see them. Many small colleges there this weekend.
Ballerz
11:09
Have any of these schools hired boys hoop coaches yet? Pine, Knoch, SSA, Canon-Mac, Hopewell?
Mike White
11:11
Hopewell still accepting applications. Interviews should start soon. Former Beaver Falls coach Doug Biega one of top candidates there, from what I know. Pine-Richland has school board meeting next week. Likely will be Steve McNees, former Fab 5 player at Shenango, played at Akron, was director of operations/assistant for a while at Akron and then Duquesne under Keith Dambrot.
Ballerz
11:11
Any word on USC girls coaching job?
Mike White
11:11
Nothing firm yet.
Mr Ed
11:11
Ahead of taking your summer chat break, can you share who you think will be a few of the strong football teams this fall?
Mike White
11:14
Ok. It seems the top teams from this year might have good shots at getting back to finals again. Central Catholic is loaded again. Handful of power conference players again in junior and sophomore class. In 5A, always some depth of good teams. But maybe it will be Peters and Pine in championship again. Both have a number of good players back. Thomas Jefferson always good in 4A, but WPIAL finalist McKeesport has seven starters back on offense and defense. Don't forget Quip, although they won't be as strong as some previous teams. Also, look for PIAA to come out some time in the next month or so for what class Quip will play next year. Will likely be 4A again.
11:15
More on top football teams. In 3A, defending champ Avonworth has seven starters back on offense and defense. Central Valley, which lost to Avonworth, has 8 starters on defense. 2A finalist Seton LaSalle should be really good again. Seven starters return on offense and 7 on defense. In 1A, Clairton has nine starters back on offense and defense. Should be really good. Fort Cherry has about half of its starters back. And, of course, they have Matt Sieg.
Ballerz
11:15
Any AD jobs open? This is usually when AD’s tend to leave or retire?
Mike White
11:15
Not sure.
You think ?
11:15
Would Suzie want to take over for Pete or are they a package deal ?
Mike White
11:16
They are not package deal. Suzie had said she had to decide if she would want to go after the job.
pz
11:18
Any big baseball matchups on the horizon you will be interested to check out?
Mike White
11:19
North Allegheny at Central today in second of three-game series. Third is Thursday. Next Tuesday and Wednesday Pine-Richland and Shaler play two games. Those are two that pop up now.
OT7 Ballers
11:29
Did you get a chance to check out some of the Pittsburgh players on the OT7 7on7 Golden Ticket Tournament.  Pittsburgh was represented well by Scoop Smith, Strader, Timmons, Barksdale.  Did notice several names not from Pittsburgh.
Mike White
11:30
Nope. Don't really make a point to watch 7 on 7 football.
TM
11:31
Best high school overall athletic facilities (football, basketball, baseball) for 1 school. I haven't been everywhere, but I would have to put Seneca Valley pretty high on this list. Your thoughts.
Mike White
11:33
That's a really tough call. While nothing wrong with Seneca's facilities, I don't know if I'd put them No. 1. I couldn't name a No. 1. North Allegheny's facilities have to be up there, though. But there are a number of them.
OT7 Ballers
11:33
Scoop Smith was electric.  He kept catching passes where the center would be, then displayed his speed and agility.  He has to be considered athlete of the year between football, basketball, and track.
Mike White
11:35
Love Scoop Smith. Love his personality. From what I've seen and also from people who know him, Scoop seems like a great kid. He is indeed electric. I mean, he averaged 48 yards on his touchdowns last season. That's just insane. He hasn't run track yet because of a little hamstring problem but is probably going to run in meet today for first time. Yes, he might be leading candidate for athlete of year. We'll see what happens in track.
Coach15
11:35
A bit off the topics, what is your take on the current college/NIL/transfer PROBLEM, & who is the top culprit, of it being OUT OF CONTROL?
Mike White
11:39
I don't know if "culprit" is right choice of word. But many are to blame in this situation. From all the things suggested, I like this idea the best to bring a little more calm to it. Let's face it. At the bigger conference schools, these players are basically pros. So start treating them like pros. I think contracts with players might be in order. With buyouts if they transfer. I mean, you hear all the time now players at four different colleges. Or even five different ones in five years. I mean, what regular college student goes to four colleges in five years. Seriously. So start treating them like pros.
JP
11:39
Did Belle Vernon hire a new football coach?
Mike White
11:39
Not that I know of.
Would you ?
11:39
You get $100 million but once a month for the rest of your life you become naked at a random moment for 10 seconds. Would you do it ?
Mike White
11:40
You get 10 dollars, will you stop coming on this chat and asking idiotic things?
Would you ?
11:42
When you stop writing idiotic things, I'll stop coming on here and asking idiotic things
Mike White
11:42
You're so intelligent.
TP
11:46
I had a father tell me the transfer portal really hurting seniors get offers for hoops.  Not sure I buy that entirely...  If you're good, they'll take you!  Any update on where the Butler kid out of Latrobe will go?  Also, can we stop with the applause of the Roundball!  This event has turned into a money grab.  I remember this thing at the Civic Arena.  1 game! If you played in it, you were legit! These kids now a days getting selected to the Roundball is an absolute joke!
Mike White
11:50
The Roundball is what it is. But please don't compare it to the Dapper Dan Roundball. No comparision. As far as the transfer portal hurting seniors, it has without a doubt. The top, top players will still get recruited. But the players who might be mid- to low-major prospects, or even Division II, are hurt. I've seen college coaches even say. They aren't recruiting as many high school players as they used to because they are recruiting the transfer portal. And mid- to low-majors, they would rather take players from other Division I schools who have couple years of experience than high school kids. So it is real that some high school kids are getting hurt by transfer portal. I've heard even college coaches say that.
11:53
Well, that's it for a mid-April Tuesday. Wait ... I think I hear leftover meatballs calling my name. Take care, everyone. Be good.
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