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Mike White's high school sports chat: 08.26.25
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Mike White
10:58
Well, I have my teeth are "chattering" again. So that means I'm ready to chat. Back with live high school sports chat that will come your way every Tuesday morning from 11 to noon. I think I'm ready. I'm sure questions will be great - and also stupid. But that's OK. It's what we're here for. Let's go.
11:04
Well, Mr. Ed, transfers have always been a controversial topic, they are now, and will continue to be. Heck yeah, there are a lot of kids transferring to public schools. What most people fail to realize is that just about every transfer is made eligible. Example: WPIAL board meeting last week, the board had 58 transfer cases to rule on. I think all 58 were eligible. Two from Hamilton, Arizona, to Pine-Richland. I don't know what sport. But heck year, public schools get transfers, too. And yes, there are public school coaches who have a way of secretly recruiting. But get this: Of those 58 last week, more than a third were transferring to a private, Catholic, or charter school. There's no need to debate whether those schools have an advantage. THEY DO!!! Even they will admit it.
Mr Ed
11:04
Great to have your chat back Mike for another high school sports season(what is this, about 45 for you?) and your podcasts are great too. I’m sorry but I don’t get all the angst of public school complainers about private school transfer advantages. Yes, family being able to maintain existing residence if go to private is advantage but kid still needs no athletic intent sign off from his public school or if not goes before WPIAL committee. If he passes muster than he’s legit. What’s the issue? I’ve read all the football previews, kids are transferring all over the WPIAL from one public school to another. Hopewell for instance has 7 transfers this year, including 3-4 starters. I’m not a defender of a Central Catholic, but people let’s not single them out to be only school benefiting by transfers.
Mike White
11:05
Sorry, this is the question that I gave my response to. See above. It's about transfers.
ORV just a fan
11:05
3A football is intriguing...do you see Beaver's stock falling a litlte and North Catholic rising? Could North Catholic or Imani Christian be a challenge for Avonworth?
Mike White
11:07
Beaver lost a lot from last year. They lost to 4A Mars. I don't think expectations are as high for Beaver this year. Top two teams are definitely Avonworth and Imani. Yes, North Catholic looks like a top five team. They need to improve their defense from last year. NC walloped Seton LaSalle, which has its own problems. North Catholic will score points. Will defense be good enough to beat the top teams?
PGC
11:07
Imani brought in kids from Valley, Steel Valley, Gateway and Urban Pathways (although he stinks). Will that be enough to contend for 6A? Or will their “coach” employ a 2-3 vs a Joe David coached team again?
Mike White
11:08
We're talking hoops now. I know nothing about who Imani has this year - or new players. Have to wait and see.
Journalist
11:08
Hi Mike! Curious your thoughts on the trend of high school kids posting offers on social media throughout the years. It’s seemed to have gotten out of control. Have you thought I’m about doing an op-ed on this? Maybe speaking with former wpial stars about how recruiting ACTUALLY happens. Ironically, Trey Schacters brother just announced a division 1 basketball offer yesterday. I do not believe he played varsity basketball last year? Am I crazy or is there something missing here?
Mike White
11:11
Good Lord. First chat and we already have a comment/question on a Schachter at Allderdice? Wow. It's the world we live in now with social media. We have influencers and everyone posting so many things about themselves. I actually don't mind. What I do mind is posting "bogus" scholarship offers. I know some kids post things, hoping to attract other schools. I don't blame them. I just love how everyone is "blessed." I'm waiting for someone to just once say, "I'm not blessed to have an offer from John Doe U. No offense, but I would never consider that team. Horrible."
Fab 5
11:12
It is NEVER too early to get a gauge on the fab 5 for basketball. Will your inherent bias against city kids continue? Obviously the younger Schacter won’t be snubbed this year? Just got a D1 offer yesterday from Green Bay. Chartiers valley also has a few to keep an eye on….
Mike White
11:13
Good Lord. More Schachter stuff. Bias against City League? Give me a City League player in past 5 years who should've been Fab 5. Name one.
biggie
11:13
The high school transfer portal is hotter than ever.  Are you surprised by any of the rulings?  Are the rules obsolete? What would you like to see happen with regards to the rules?
Mike White
11:17
There are definitely inconsistencies of rulings. That's been going on forever. PIAA did back the WPIAL on Anthony Smith (Southmoreland to Seto LaSalle) ruling. That doesn't always happen. No, I don't think the rules are obsolete. Did you know that many states have rules about transfers? What I would like to see happen is the PIAA and other districts actually enforce the rules. But you know what? It's hard ruling on these transfers. You know why? Because so many people lie. And that's the truth. I have had few parents tell me years after their kids went through eligibility hearing that they lied, just to get their kid eligible. There are so many tentacles to transfer rule. We could have a 24-hour chat on it.
11:20
One thing I am so tired of with transfers is the people who say, "A kid should be able to go to any school they want." Guess what. They can. You want to transfer to a public school, then move into that district. You want to transfer to a Catholic school? You can. You will have to pay some kind of tuition, unless you get aid based on need. Like, if the football team "needs" a QB, and you are a QB, you might get aid. But even if you transfer, there are rules. You might not agree with the rules, but until all the rules are thrown out or changed, deal with them.
biggie
11:21
Speaking of transfers, do you think there should be a rule keeping high school coaches from coaching travel teams?  This has proven to be a very good recruiting tool for schools and provides a loophole to have kids practice with other teams under the guise of an AAU practice.
Mike White
11:24
No doubt, coaches have sometimes used AAU or even 7 on 7 to maybe get players. It's going on right now. But honestly, I don't think you can tell a coach that he can't coach some kind of team in the offseason. No way.
smoothie
11:24
Two jv basketball players have received scholarships in the past two weeks, one at Pitt Johnstown and another at Greenbay wisc.  How much is the going rate for one of the offers?  I'm not being sarcastic.  I really would like to know how much people are paying for fake offers these days.
Mike White
11:25
Sorry, but I'm not even going to get into this. Another school that has had these "offers" of local kids in past year or two is Pepperdine basketball.
DS
11:25
Seems many public schools are into the transfer game now not just the Catholic schools. Why do we never here about tranfer issues in the East like St. Joes prep and Lasalle
Mike White
11:26
You don't think some public schools in the east aren't happy when someone like St. Joe's has players who don't even live in Pa? But like I said above, some areas of the state enforce the rules differently than others. It's one of the problems. Plus, it's hard to get evidence that someone was recruited.
Mr Ed
11:26
In terms of strong teams, 2A football looks really down this year, doesn’t it? Doesn’t look like anybody rises above “pretty good”.
Mike White
11:27
Very down. But that's the way it is when you have six classes.
Ryan
11:27
Who wins The Kiski Norwin Game on Friday GO KISKI
Mike White
11:27
Norwin.
DS
11:27
Looks like the public schools are into the transfer game now not just the Catholic schools. Why do we never hear about transfer issues with the East like St. Joe's prep or Lasalle
Fan
11:28
I wonder why so many kids left Seton LaSalle a team that made it to the WPIAL championship last season? Is it the coaches and administrators? No way that team with those players loses to that South Park team. I feel bad for the kids and for the people that really know what is going on with most of the Seton LaSalle sports teams not just the football team.
Mike White
11:29
I don't know of "so many kids." They lost two receivers and the QB who transferred in was ruled ineligible. They still have starters back from last year.
smoothie
11:29
I like that central catholic plays a tough schedule in week 0 every year.  If central is one of the best programs pgh has to offer what does that say about how much better philly is?
Mike White
11:30
It says the Philly Catholic League schools (mainly St. Joe's) is most definitely better than what the WPIAL has to offer in the biggest class. Not every year, but a lot of years. I acknowledge that. Numbers prove it also.
JamesRankin
11:30
So, is the transfer success policy still in play? Pine has like 9 transfers and should win state with ease.  Does that mean they go 6A next cycle?
Mike White
11:31
Would depend on how far they go in the postseason. The competition formula involves transfers and "success points," which are earned by how far you go in the postseason over two years.
Where is he ?
11:31
So where is Anthony Smith even playing at this point ?
Mike White
11:31
No idea.
Which is it ?
11:31
Is USC that good or is Lebo just that bad ?
Mike White
11:32
Good question. I think USC is pretty good. But I didn't expect a blowout like that.
Anon
11:34
How do you feel about Butler’s chances of having a wining record this season?
Mike White
11:35
Well, I think it's possible. They have 8 starters back on boths ides of the ball and definitely some winnable games on independent schedule.
DS
11:35
Seems like the WPIAL is held to a higher standard than the east on transfers. Doesnt seem equal thats a problem
Mike White
11:36
I said different districts enforce the rules differently. WPIAL makes an effort. But WPIAL director said organization is not an investigative body.
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