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Mike White's high school sports chat: 12.17.24
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Pops
11:43
I have noticed smaller rosters at larger schools this year.  Are coaches taking less players, dressing less varsity players or is participation down?  I can't imagine basketball has the same problems as football.  A few girls teams I have watch only had 2 players dressed on the bench.
Mike White
11:46
Participation is down. I did a story about 7-8 years ago on girls participation being down, even at large schools. Schools not having JV team. No more 9th grade teams in girls basketball. But I think it's hitting boys basketball a little now also. I can just talk about what I have heard anecdotally. I have no hard facts. But I know some boys teams are struggling some with numbers. I think there are reasons, but it would take more than a paragraph or two to give thoughts. Might be idea for column in future.
smitty
11:46
Did you read the highlight article about wade scoring 50 points against geibel?  The Dad/coach loves to promote himself and his daughter.  Strange comments after a game like that.  I've never seen a parent\coach as bold as he.  Why can't he just respect the game and coach the right way with some humility?
Mike White
11:47
Yes, I did read the comments. Might be just a dad proud of his daughter.
slick
11:47
Karis Thomas from Shady Side made headlines by getting an offer from Duquesne in elementary school.  Any update on her?  Is she still getting D1 interest?
Mike White
11:48
I know Duquesne coach Dan Burt said years ago she will always have an offer from Duquesne if she wants it. I don't know of any other offers for Karis now. Doesn't mean she's not a good player, though. She is only a junior, so we shall see.
Ziggy Z
11:49
Top to bottom what section has better basketball quality (boys); The worst section in Single A, or the City League?
Mike White
11:50
City League because of Allderdice and Obama. They still play good teams in 6A and 5A. Yes a couple City League teams struggle, but look at few of the teams in one of Class 1A's section.
Golden Eagles!!!
11:50
Is The Neighborhood Academy overrated???
Mike White
11:51
What would make you say that? Courtney Wallace has to be, going into the season, maybe one of the top 5 players in the area. For Class 1A, they are most certainly not overrated.
Fatty
11:51
Would you rather win 3 straight wpial championships, or win 1 state title?
Mike White
11:51
Oh man. That's a good question. Really good question. I think I'd take the three WPIALs. WPIALs still mean a lot.
pops
11:51
What football players are playing for central this season?
Mike White
11:53
Two that I know of would be Bradley Gompers and Xxavier Thomas. But Gompers is going to take some time off after football. He says he will most likely play. But he also has committed to a national all-star game in January. That's another week away. Thomas is hurt right now. Bradley told me last week that Thomas might be out 6 weeks. So his status for basketball might be up in the air.
Coach Kudd
11:53
Is Imani a favorite in 6a? Given all the noise around potential suspensions and the nicknames they give themselves, I have not seen much about how they stack up in higher classification.
Mike White
11:53
I think they will definitely be competitive. Canon-McMillan took them to overtime Friday before losing. R.J. Sledge a big reason they should be competitive.
WPIALFan
11:53
All-state football teams, when do they get released for each classification?
Mike White
11:54
Should be a day or two after Christmas.
Colt Corral
11:54
Any updates on the Chartiers Valley football coaching search ? Appreciate your work Mike
Mike White
11:54
No
Roster Numbers
11:54
Reminder to many--The upperclassmen in today's sports had their middle school years interrupted by covid. Greatly impacted participation moving to high school.
Mike White
11:55
Agree wholeheartedly with you. And now just a personal observation and some other coaches - and even - teachers have said this. COVID has added to laziness of some kids. They didn't have to do much during COVID. And that has carried over some.
pops
11:55
I thought that refs were going to enforce the flopping rule violation this year.  I watched a few boys game and players were tossing their head around every time someone touched them with the ball.
Mike White
11:56
Agree with you. I saw a few times also. Don't know how much it's going to be enforced.
smitty
11:56
I was a little surprised about hearing how many kids reclassify to play sports.  16 year old freshman seems to be commonplace on a football field and basketball court.  I guess the rule they implemented a few years ago did not deter.
Mike White
11:58
No, no, no. The rules in now prevent reclassifying. It used to be that you could repeat 8th grade and if you didn't play a sport, it wouldn't count against your years. But that has changed. You only get six years eligiblity now after 6th grade, even if you don't play a year. Of course, there could be exceptions for medical, etc. What you see sometimes is kids repeating a grade earlier, like third or fourth.
smitty
11:58
Speaking of reclassifying are those freshman you mentioned reclassed?  New Caslte, Lebo and hopewell freshmen?
Mike White
12:00
I don't know their ages. But I just explained the rule above. There have been some top players in WPIAL who took advantage of old rule and repeated 8th grade for no reason.
pops
12:00
The WNBA coming to pgh was a rumor a few years ago.  Would there be real support or interest for that?  What about an NBA team?
Mike White
12:01
Good question. I don't know how I feel about a team making it. WNBA coming here would be great, I think. No way for the NBA. Here's the problem, as I see it. We would probably get an expansion team -- and expansion teams usually lose a lot. Pittsburgh usually doesn't support losing teams much.
12:02
And that's a wrap. In fact, I think I'll go eat a rap. See ya next Tuesday at 11. Everyone, be good.
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