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Mike White's high school sports chat: 12.24.24
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Mike White
10:57
Yeah, it's Christmas Eve and you might be running around, doing last-minute shopping. But we can take a little time to chat high school sports, right? Chat is now open. Fire away with questions.
Mr. Right
10:59
Hello, do you know of any high school football coach openings?
Mike White
11:00
I might not know all of them, but I know Latrobe, Rochester, Chartiers Valley, Seneca Valley, Southmoreland and Shady Side Academy (he resigned middle of season). Might be a couple more that are not coming to me right now.
Mr Ed
11:00
Happy Holidays Mike to you and family. Just wanted to say I have respect for Mike Bariski, Lincoln Park coach. As mentioned on here at times, interesting when coaches step down for personal reasons or more family time that their teams go 1-9 or 4-17 the next year. Hmm. In that context wouldn’t have been surprising for Bariski to ride off into the sunset with championships but came back to coach extremely young team that is taking it’s licks. Not sure a lot of other guys would have done that.
Mike White
11:03
Well Mr. Ed, there will be no horsin' around today. First off, there are coaches who do resign and it is truly for family reasons. Others, it is an excuse. I'm not surprised Mike Bariski stayed. Hey, he needs something to do. He can't just golf all the time. But I don't see him going anywhere soon. Lincoln Park might struggle this year. Extremely young. But it is definitely easier to rebuild when you can get players from anywhere.
D9 Dave
11:03
What local Christmas Tournament would you recommend for someone who wants to watch good matchups featuring good players?
Mike White
11:09
The Central Valley Roundball Classic at Geneva College is a pretty decent one - and BIG one. Eight games each day on Friday and Saturday. Two girls and six boys. On Friday, Central Valley (unbeaten in seven games for first time in school history) plays Gateway. Gateway has junior Mykel Bruce-McCrommon, who might be the best player in WPIAL hardly anybody knows about. West Coast game Friday at 8:45 is Beaver vs. Baldwin. On Saturday, Baldwin (No. 1 in 5A) plays 4A No. 1 Knoch. And West Coast game that night is a good one at 8:45 - Uniontown vs. Aliquippa.
Your Cuz
11:09
Merry Christmas to you and your family.  Hey, Charlie Woods is only 16 and has a hole-in-one already.  How many  do you have?
Mike White
11:09
One -- at a par 3 in 1986.
Farmer Shram
11:09
Mike, I was in Wisconsin last week attending a Cheese Expo, and took in a high school basketball game while I was there. I was very surprised that in Wisconsin they play 18-minute halves, instead of 8-minute quarters. It made the game 4 minutes longer and I really liked it. It was more like a college game. Would you be in favor of 18 minute halves in Pa. and do you think the PIAA would ever consider it?
Mike White
11:11
Is this Farmer Shram, or Sophisticated Shram??? Well, Wisconsin went to 18-minute halves in 2015. But last year, they started discussing going back to quarters. I would have no problem with having high school games four minutes longer. But the big question would be: Is there a shot clock in Wisconsin. Because making games longer without a shot clock, I believe, is not a good idea. Lord, I wish Pa. had a shot clock.
Bobby Football
11:11
Hey Mike, any word on the candidates or hirings for the open football positions? Char valley, west mifflin, hopewell, Seneca, etc…might even be missing a few.
Mike White
11:12
I know some candidates, but nothing solid as far as hires.
Ghost of Jim Render
11:16
Why are you working on Christmas Eve ? Go home already
Mike White
11:16
I'm waiting for the reindeer from Deer Lakes to come and take me away.
11:17
All-state football teams come out Friday and Saturday. Judging from who is on the ballot, I don't see a ton of WPIAL players making it this year. Just a hunch.
D9 Dave
11:18
Saw the Carmichael kid from  Avonworth play a few times last year & was very impressed. Saw he had 46 yesterday vs. North Hills. I know his Dad is coach at LaRoche. Is it a done deal he’s going to play for his Dad?  What level do you think he can play?
Mike White
11:23
He most certainly won't play for his Dad. Yes, I caught his act yesterday up close. I knew he was very good. But he has gone to another level this year. He had 21 points in first quarter. Wow! Averaging 25 and it's not like he's taking a ton of shots. Gets many shots in flow of game, not afraid to pull up from 25 in transition. Scored 46 on North Hills with only 23 shots. Made 15 of 23. He is extremely quick and has these uncanny herky-jerky moves. Really impressed with him. He's big not real big and needs some muscle. But he should be getting more looks from colleges than he is. Every Div. 11 school should be looking at him. You know he will put on more weight and muscle in future. He's added 15 pounds since last year. And he'll get bigger when he doesn't play soccer any more.
11:25
More about Rowan Carmichael. He's shooting 40 % (22 of 55) from 3-point range in six games. Impressive. Such a quick release, too. Get this: Averaging 7 rebounds, 4 assists and almost 4 steals a game. But he is an example of what goes on with college recruiting nowadays. Yes, Division II schools should be all over him. But so many of them would just rather take players from transfer portal.
Quaker Oats
11:25
Hey Mike!
Merry Christmas!
How about that undefeated Quaker Valley hockey team? Kevin Quinn has them on a roll!
Mike White
11:25
Is Adou Thiero standing on his head for the Quakers?
11:30
Speaking of Adou Thiero from Quaker Valley. Has anyone checked out what he's doing for John Calipari at Arkansas? Leading scorer. I've seen some mock NBA drafts for 2025 that have him going late first round. Could anyone have predicted this when he was a 5-10 sophomore at Quaker Valley? Now he's 6-8, 220.
Little Indians hoops
11:41
Mike, You always have a keen eye for talent. Have you seen the sophomore from Indiana, Aaron Webb? This kid is special. 6'8, jumps out of the gym and can shoot the three. If the team was better and/or he played for a more well-known school I think everyone would be talking about him.
Mike White
11:45
Yes, I know about Aaron Webb. I knew a few people he played AAU with this summer. Unheralded player because he plays on the far ends of WPIAL. I did not know he's 6-8 now. Is that true? I see him listed mostly at 6-5 or 6-6. He has a brother on team also. Aaron is only a sophomore, but have heard many good things about him. I think he'll get more attention if he continues to improve and make an impact. But I would like to see him play.
Dapper Dan
11:45
Who are the top five North Hills basketball players in the past 45 years?
Mike White
11:49
You talking North Hills High School? Well, No. 1 has to be Royce Parham, even though he left North Hills after junior year. Playing about 14 minutes a game at Marquette. Averaging around 5 a game. Nick Smith has to be another one. Two-time Fab 5. Had great career at Division II power Nova Southeastern. Made teams winners. 1977 grad Ed Crankovic is another one. But one of the saddest stories ever. Was leading scorer in school history when he graduated and had signed with Bucknell. But drowned in a hotel swimming pool a day or two after he graduated high school. Mike Yoest was a 1987 grad who played at WVU. Only three players have gone on from North Hills to play Division I since mid 1960s. Yoest, Parham .... and I'm giving my brother a shoutout (God rest his soul). Tim White was 1969 North Hills grad who played at Arkansas and then transferred to Appalachian State, where he played for Pete Maravich's Dad (Press Maravich).
Goirishlee
11:50
It has been a long long time the NA girls did not make playoffs.  Hoping for a turnaround after a tough start.
Mike White
11:51
It has not been a good start for North Allegheny and new coach Gabby Baldasare. Did Spencer Stefko get out at the right time? I don't think anyone thought North Allegheny would be one of the top 6A teams this year, but I also don't think anyone thought they'd start 1-5.
Jimmy two times
11:51
Any dual sport athletes like last years Joe Roth at Ellwood City making any noise?
Mike White
11:53
Maybe there are a couple out there -- but none like Joseph Roth. Nobody. Might be unique athlete in WPIAL history. First off, who does swimming and basketball? Only a few. And no one like Joseph did. More than 2,000 career points. WPIAL and state record holder in swimming. Now at Ohio State. Was Big Ten freshman swimmer of the week earlier this year. Might never be another like Joseph Roth.
11:54
OK, I think that's about it. I think I hear a couple reindeer from Deer Lakes up on the roof. Have to go. Everyone, have great holidays. We'll be back.
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