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Mike White's high school sports chat: 10.08.24
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Mike White
10:54
Welcome everyone to big game week. As far as big games, this might be the best week of the season. Think of it: USC at Bethel; Clairton at Leechburg; Fort Cherry at Bishop Canevin; McKeesport at Mars; Deer Lakes at Imani; Likely conference titles on the line at all of them. And the top two teams in the City - Westinghouse and UPrep - also meet. So go ahead and do soooooo big before we start. .... OK, let's go and chat away.
Mr Ed
10:54
I think Aliquippa is more vulnerable this year than in recent memory. That’s not to say I don’t think they will make or win WPIAL. But line play not as strong, and team only plays well in spurts. Seems to lack some cohesion, discipline. Maybe they miss coach Warfield’s presence. What do you think?
Mike White
10:57
Aliquippa still really good. With those two running backs - Hayes and Brooks - they will be tough to beat. Big one next Friday - Aliquippa at Montour. I would agree that Aliquippa might not be quite as strong as years past, but still really good. As far as discipline and those things, that's hard to say. Yes, Aliquippa has had some games with plenty of penalties. But they had teams in the past with the same. By the way, did you see in Aliquippa vs. Penn Hills, there were 34 penalties. How does that happen?
William Penn
10:58
Clairton looks to be the best chance at a state title this year... The other classes seem to be more up in the air. Thoughts????
Mike White
10:59
Hey, I know Clairton is really strong, but there are a few others Class 1A teams that look good. How about Fort Cherry? As far as WPIAL winning state title in Class 1A, don't forget Westinghouse is in 1A now. But don't look for state semifinal of Westinghouse vs. WPIAL champ. They will be on opposite sides of the bracket. That matchup could only happen in state championship.
Wpial Fan
10:59
Do you think the two year enrollment cycle works best or should the WPIAL re-align each year?
Mike White
11:00
I'm fine with two years. Do you know how confusing it would be if they realigned every year. Plus, teams need to have game contracts for two years, so you can play home and away.
Call Me Maybe
11:01
How do we fix the Pittsburgh Pirates?
Mike White
11:03
I'd say bring in Dan Oliastro of Riverside as manager. So what if he's, like, 82. He's got like 6,000 wins on WPIAL level. He's from Beaver County, too. He could maybe get Beaver County's own Donnie Iris to take over Pirates ownership and Donnie could use all of his money to bring in some big-time free agents? Also bring in Sean Casey and Matt Clement out of retirement. Or at least use two as GMs.
Truther
11:03
Wouldn't be another week in WPIAL basketball without a JV player receiving a D1 "offer"! This time from Marshall!
Mike White
11:04
Honestly, I don't know who got Marshall offer. Fill me in.
11:06
But while on subject of top WPIAL basketball players. Ran into Upper St. Clair's Tyler Robbins at a fall league game last week. Said hello. Shook his hand. Good Lord, he's gigantic now. 6-11, wide shoulders and can even shoot some 3's. Bigger than a year ago. He's committed to Miami. USC is going to be awfully tough to beat this year. Will be interesting to see USA Today ratings at start of the year. USC can't be lower than third IN THE COUNTRY -- (wink, wink).
Second-hand Rose
11:06
Mike, I don't know if you saw this, but WalletHub recently listed Pittsburgh as the 15th best foodie city in the United States (out of more than 180). That being the case, what do you think of the WPIAL getting involved in competitive eating? Each WPIAL school could field a team, play a 20-game schedule with a different food each and every week -- hot dogs, pierogies, meatballs, sardines, etc. I can see plenty of great NIL deals springing up for the top high school eaters from places like Primantis and Pamelas. Just make sure Imani and Aliquippa don't recruit. Then, bring in Joey Chestnut, in my opinion the most underrated athlete in America, to officiate the finals. Broadcast the finals over KDKA from Coach's Bottleshop and Grille in Banksville, where Coach's owner/sports announcer Johnny Lee could give expert analysis.
Mike White
11:11
I love the idea, Second-hand Rose. You're a genius. But you need to expand on this. Think of it, Plum and Fort Cherry could have a fruit-eating contest. Moon and Mars could meet in their contest at that new restaurant on the Moon. Did you hear it? Food is great, but no atmosphere. (Woooooo hooooooo, I'll be here all week. Try the veal). Former Schenley star Onion Bryant could be the poster child for this league. He would bring tears to your eyes. ... Johnny Lee would indeed be a great judge, but a better one would be longtime Post-Gazette high school sports statistican Joe Grinder.
Truther
11:12
Speaking of Offers.... Didn't Brazil from Imani claim a Fordham one, and Hall claimed USF, Wichita St, etc. Where are they at now?
Mike White
11:14
You're speaking of former Imani Christian players Nate Brazil and Virgil Hall. Yes, they had offers at one time. I have no idea where Hall is now. Brazil is supposedly at a prep school in Connecticut. They are the two players Imani used in a high school summer event when they already used up their high school eligibility. We went over some of that stuff with Imani on last week's chat. WPIAL board of directors meets Monday. Could possibly decide penalties on Imani, but there might be more. On this chat last week, someone questioned where Imani's Tristen Brown came from last year. I have no idea. Maybe someone out there does.
Snoop Dog
11:14
Two interesting games in the 5A Big East this week -- Franklin Regional at Penn-Trafford and Gateway at Woodland Hills.  Who ya got in each game?
Mike White
11:14
I'll take Franklin Regional and Woodland Hills.
Hooper
https://www.si.com/college/uconn/recruiting/uconn-could-be-turned-off-...    Have you seen this SI article? It looks like Maleek Thomas is having some struggles on the recruiting trail.  I think every kid should read this who plays a sport.
Mike White
11:16
I don't know how much truth there is to this about Meleek. I have no idea where he will go. I will say, though, that NIL deal might be a big part of his college decision.
BC fan
11:19
Besides 5A, I think the 3A playoffs are going to be the most competitive. Imani is probably the favorite but EF, Avonworth, CV, Beaver all have a good shot to get to Acrisure
Mike White
11:20
3A playoffs might be competitive and a 3A team might end up getting to state finals from WPIAL. But I don't think overall that 3A is all that deep with strong teams.
Stefan Djordjevic
11:20
I see that Southern Columbia is 3-4 this year. Are they playing good competition or did they have a couple bad recruiting classes?
Mike White
11:22
Ha ha ha. A little comedy. Southern has lost to Wyomissing, No. 4-ranked in 3A, Danville No. 1 in 3A, Mount Carmel 3A team that is 5-2 and 3A Mifflinburg. Mifflinburg little surprising. 2-5 this year. This might not be a great Southern Columbia team, but they show up come playoff time.
Ron Juane
11:22
HOW BOUT THOSE WARRIORS!  Beware FR- the Warriors are shall I say: Peaking!!! Will you be in attendance Friday night?
Mike White
11:23
No, I will not.
Wildcat
11:23
I noticed hoops are starting a week earlier.  Some teams are going to play the day after Thanksgiving!!! What are your thoughts on this? Just seems rushed...
Mike White
11:24
It's a week earlier on the calendar than usual, but starting last year, basketball started on the week of the state football semifinals. It's the same this year. Just so happens state football semifinals are the weekend after Thanksgiving this year. Basketball used to start around this time a number of years ago.
Allen
11:25
I read the transcript from last weeks chat.  I am not from the WPA area but was a very good high school bball player from Charlotte who got recruited to play low d1 and d2 college.  Here's my take on the recruiting offers that have been given out that don't make sense.  Many of my "offers" were not commitable.  In fact, they were given to generate other real offers.  It's part of the game.  It's not a clean fair game, but it is a game.  I know of one of the kids who was offered and they are not D1 talent.  I just hope it doesn't hurt these kids in the long run because not living up to hype can hurt their mental. You feel me?
Mike White
11:26
I feel you, Allen. Yes, as I remarked on chat earlier, these "offers" aren't totally unheard of. You are right that some might be given to hopefully generate more, or are given to maybe help someone out. Honestly, I think it makes the college program that makes these offers look bad.
Wilk
11:26
Prediction Time- Give me Warriors over FR 35-10 and Gateway knocks out Woody.  This section gets interesting real fast!
Mike White
11:27
Penn-Trafford 35-10. Is this Penn-Trafford coach John Ruane on the chat now?
Wildcat
11:27
Mikey, you ever put a fresh garden tomato on that turkey sandwich?
Mike White
11:28
Horrible idea. But not as bad as pickles, the worst thing ever made to put on a sandwich.
WpialFan
11:28
Way too early player of the year front runners from each classification?
Mike White
11:30
You said it. It is way too early. I'd say Bradley Gompers maybe in 6A. 5A would have a number of possibilities. Hard to give you people immediately without thinking of them.
PIAA4LIFE
11:31
I heard your discussion about public/private sports last week.  1. Do you think it would be better to keep 6 classes (4 public and 2 private) instead of a combined regular season? 2. Can they then eliminate all transfer rules? "Recruiting" would still need to be monitored but kids will be able to move districts if they live there.
Mike White
11:34
I like the 4 classes for public and 2 for private/Catholic/charter. Would work fine for hoops. Would be tough in biggest class in West for private/Catholic/charter. Central much bigger than any other WPIAL team. But Central could play Cathedral Prep in regional playoff. You can't eliminate recruiting rules, unless you want wild, wild west. Yes, recruiting goes on now, even at public schools. But you can't eliminate the rules. And I'll have you know that I would say over 90 percent of kids who transfer schools in WPIAL are eligible at new school. Very, very few are made ineligible. You should see the list of transfers WPIAL rules on every meeting. It's a long list.
Ryan
11:35
Mike this a two part Question what do you think about the Kiski team after the win lead by Landon Kusic looked good against Latrobe also what do you think about mars basketball lead by Campbell Navetta Petcash and Jordan and Yates GO PLANETS 🏈🏈💪💪🏀🏀🪐🪐
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