You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Mike White's high school sports chat: 04.21.20
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Mike White
11:02
Good morning, everyone. We might still have social distancing, but we can still talk a little high school sports. It always seems like there are a few happenings in Pa. high school sports, even with no games. So, let's go. Fire away with any questions.
GH
11:02
Mike - what is the best choice for Rodney Gallagher, a scholarship in basketball or football? Seems to me that basketball would be the safer option.
Mike White
11:05
You can't say yet what is his best choice. Time will determine that. I think how much he grows will determine where he is best suited. Even Rodney will agree with that. If he stays around 6 feet, maybe football will be better for him. I've compared his story somewhat to Darrelle Revis. Revis wanted to be a basketball player - and was dang good. But he never got to be more than maybe 6 feet. By his senior year he was a much better prospect at DB. He was maybe the same size as Gallagher at this age. Bottom line is that Gallagher will wait.
John Miller 4 President
11:05
Any word on vacant position of head boy's basketball coach of the North Allegheny Tigers?  Maybe Joe Exotic?? HAHA I crack myself up.

But really, what's the word?
Mike White
11:07
Wooo hooo. Remember to tip your waitresses. The news is that there is no news. AD Bob Bozzuto originally said he hoped to have someone hired by April school board meeting, which I believe is tomorrow. But yesterday, Bozzuto said it will be May before they make a hire. So, candidates are left wondering.
Georgia Steeler
11:07
Mike you did a really good article on Rennie Cummings a couple of years ago. I saw the list of PA and WPIAL career scorers but Cummings never shows up ? He had 2411 points . Which puts him in the top 35-40 all time. Do you have any contact
Mike White
11:08
No idea what list you saw. Cummings is the fifth leading scorer in WPIAL history. I keep the list updated.
Baskets
11:08
Any news on the NA boys basketball coaching position?
Mike White
11:09
Look above. I talked about that. It looks like they won't hire a coach now until May.
Jim from Peters
11:09
Mike, you wrote an “expected to be hired” story for the Peters Township girls basketball coaching positions. They were hired last night and no story. Seems like laziness to me.
Mike White
11:10
Yep, I'm just sleeping all day. Doing nothing. Yes, they were hired last night "as expected."
6A fan
11:10
who is front runner for the Baldwin boys job? Who else is in the running for the NA job other than Carney and Tyree?
Mike White
11:11
No idea who the front runner is at Baldwin. I know they are doing interviews. As for NA job, I don't know who the front runner is there, either. Now we just have to wait. Sure we might no more the closer we get to the hiring.
Zman
11:11
Mike, arguably a college coach’s single most important attribute might be the ability to recruit well. In high school, aside obviously from having material to work with, in your years covering it, what do you think is the most important attribute for a high school coach to have to be successful?
Mike White
11:12
Good players. Pretty simple.
Big Skip
11:15
Mike - saw the article on the PIAA not allowing high school teams to hold any kind of workouts or practices until July 1.  What's stopping travel coaches or personal trainers or workout coaches from gathering athletes at a playground for basketball drills, or a baseball field for football footwork drills, when the state opens up?  The high school coaches can't do anything until July but these other people can meet with their kids?  I know a few people that can't wait until they put basketball rims back up in some places to make a few extra bucks.  Doesn't seem right. Shouldn't it be up to each individual school when they start up?
Mike White
11:17
Well BIg Skip. The PIAA came out yesterday with FAQ - frequently asked questions. One of the questions was what about playing sports outside of school sports? Here's the answer they gave: :"As directed by Governor Tom Wolf and the PA Department of Health, non-life sustaining businesses should not be open to the public. Governor Wolf stated clearly that all sports, professional, non-professional and amateur have closed; this would include travel or club programs. If the Order were to change, guidance may be updated at that time."
11:18
Hope that answers your question Big Skip.
Coach Z
11:18
When all state teams are picked do they consult with local writers who cover high school sports in the different areas throughout the state? I ask because every year in boys and girls I see players who make all state that don't make the FAB 5 or even sometimes all section.
Mike White
11:20
All-state teams for basketball and football are picked by writers and maybe even radio broadcasters around the state. I can tell you how it works now is that writers from around the state send nominations to a person handling all-state teams. The nominations include a paragraph bio on each player. The ballot, with all the bios, are sent to media around the state. Then we vote.
11:21
Coach Z, of course there are people who don't make the Fab 5 and make all-state. There are only 5 players on the Fab 5. There might be 5 or more players from the WPIAL on an all-state team.
Driveway legend
11:21
i heard that coach Minear used to handle you pretty well on his driveway court, true or false ?
Mike White
11:22
Huh. We played once in a driveway years ago at a party. Bill made me play in sandals, I think. So, I wasn't able to poster him.
Coach Z
11:22
Stefko COY in 6A and McConnell COY in 5A.  Cant go wrong with either as local COY.  Thoughts on how big of a loss Megan McConnell is going to be for CV.  Minus the scoring her game is very similar to what TJs was as a senior.  Duquesne is getting a really good one in her.
Mike White
11:25
Char Valley has four starters back next season, but Megan will be a big loss. She was the point guard who made everything go. Let Megan be good in her own right and please let's not compare her with T.J. Just let that alone. Megan is indeed headed for Duquesne. I think good chance she will be redshirted next year. Maybe can get bigger and stronger in that redshirt year, which she needs.
All American
11:25
When will the boys all state teams be announced?
Mike White
11:25
Next week. One class will be released each day.
All American
11:25
I keep hearing Devin Carney is leaving Butler and going to NA, will he only be eligible for the regular season or playoffs too?
Mike White
11:28
This subject has come up a number of times on this chat. Those rumors continue to circulate because his father interviewed for NA job. But we have no idea what will happen until someone is hired. Like before, I can just tell you what rules are. Athlete would need to move into that district to be considered for eligibility.
Howard Stern
11:28
As I understand it, wouldn't Lincoln Park never be able to move back down from 4A.  Even if they don't have success at the 4A level, they will almost always have a couple transfers and therefore never be able to move down to another classification.  Am I correct?
Mike White
11:31
First off Howard, let me correct something. I stated on chat last week that OLSH and Lincoln Park would have to move up in class under new PIAA success formula. I was wrong. "ONLY" Lincoln Park moves up, from 3A to 4A. OLSH doesn't have to move up. My terrific skills made me add 3 and 2 and get 6. Botton line OLSH doesn't have to move up. As for Lincoln Park, classifications are aligned every two years. If, in two years, Lincoln Park's enrollment would put them in Class 3A and they would not have had any transfers in two years, then they would be 3A I believe. But that's a lot of ifs.
Howard Stern
11:31
Any chance the PIAA would allow football to be played in the Spring season if the whole Fall season was wiped out due to COVID-19?
Mike White
11:33
I guess anything is possible. But you can't answer that now. Not even PIAA will. As PIAA director Bob Lombardi has said, they really don't want to deal right now with hypothetical situations. Doesn't do you any good.
Howard Stern
11:33
Have you seen some of the video on Twitter some of these "independent trainers" working kids out and putting videos out.  Looks like they were filming at Penn Hills (saw one also at McKeesport).  How are they able to gain access to the field?  Doesn't this go against the whole social distancing thing?  Makes no sense to me.
Mike White
11:34
I have seen videos of kids working out with trainers. I have not seen one you are talking about. But I know I have talked to some athletes who have said they simply go up to a field - sometimes their own school - and walk on. Maybe they run or work on footwork. So, some of these fields apparently are open.
JD
11:34
Can you envision a world where some school districts opt to not play next school year?  Or PIAA cancelling certain sports or changing them to limit roster size?
Mike White
11:38
I think it will be interesting to see what happens when schools are allowed to start playing sports. Again, talking "what ifs" is sometimes pointless. But let's say, schools were allowed to start having practice again maybe July. You can bet there will be parents who don't want their child to participate in team sports yet. Will there be schools that do the same? I guess there could be. Heck, Mt. Lebanon didn't want its boys basketball team playing in a second round game at a neutral site because of coronavirus. There are lots of things that need to be worked out in future with all sports. Many questions need answered. But I wish we would all learn that we just can't provide answers to a lot of questions yet.
Hoops lover
11:39
I can tell you McConnell is front runner for Baldwin Job, if he does not take the NA Job!
Mike White
11:41
I can tell you McConnell is not even involved in NA job. And unless Baldwin has a full-time job for Tim McConnell, he's not even the slight bit interested. They would have to come up with a job for him, and I would question whether that would happen.
NA Job
11:41
I am shocked at the candidate list for such a high profile job.  I head Stockzynski was in the race, IMO he is the clear best coach of the candidates who have been rumored.

Nick Novak was on their bench last year.  I know he has never had head coach experience, but he would be a way better option than any of the rumored candiates.
Connecting…