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Mike White's high school sports chat: 3.20.18
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Mike White
11:04
Let's get started. Sorry for late arrival. Chasing down postponements of semifinal games tonight. Store is now open.
Randman
11:04
How can the PIAA turn their heads to the recent "transfer" of Diamond Johnson from Virginia to Neumann Goretti ? She played her regular season in Virginia, then transfers to NG to play in PIAA Playoffs ? How many PIAA transfer rules does this blatantly violate ?  Any chance the WPIAL stands up for Bishop Canevin and protest or will they roll over ? There are a lot of media outlets talking about this - why no story in the PG?
Mike White
11:05
Have one later today or tomorrow. It really is unbelievable. But not surprising. District 12 officials had a hearing but they rule just about anyone eligible. Doesn't matter situation. WPIAL can't do anything.  Not their jurisdiction. What, do you want Canevin not to play?
QVDude
11:06
Mike, would you agree that 4A boys in the WPIAL is pretty weak? Sharon dominates QV and beats NC. Hickory should have beat QV without their best player playing most of that game. Looks like it will be weak again next year.
Mike White
11:06
After Quaker Valley and New Castle there wasn't much of anything. But that's the way it is now for many classes because of six classes. Things are watered down.
Pal
11:06
Fab 5 for Girls?
Mike White
11:07
Will come out March 31.
Pal
11:07
Fab 5 girls from these 8?  Amani Johnson Alexa Williamson Bella Posset Rachel Martindale Tai Johnson Ali Collins Laryn Edwards Tess Myers
Mike White
11:08
Oops. I'm sorry. Fab 5's in paper April 1.
Question man
11:08
Will the Neumann-Goretti situation jumpstart the private vs public debate ? Got to admit that is messed up.
Mike White
11:09
Jumpstart? Like it always hasn't been debated 30,000 times. But I keep telling you. Nothing is going to change when PIAA isn't going to change and half the districts around the state don't care. But Philadelphia District 12 is by far the worst of not caring.
Hugh Jass
11:09
I guess running your starters while up 30 points in the WPIAL championship didn’t work out so well for NA Girls. Any thoughts ?
Mike White
11:09
No thoughts.
BigChief
11:10
Due to Philly (D-12) bringing limited fans to Hershey for Basketball Finals, will PIAA look into giving every District at least 1 qualifier for basketball instead of subregionals for some District qualifiers?
Mike White
11:13
Nope. Bracket next two years already is set. In 6A, the City champ has to go through District 6 and District 10 champ. So yes, Allderdice wins next year, will have to go through District 10 champ in subregional. Likely Kennedy Christian. But that's what happens when you have pre-set brackets. Some states I believe seed their teams.
West A Dad
11:13
Do you think Penn Hills girls are doing themselves any favor by dropping from 6A to 5
Mike White
11:15
Their enrollment puts them in 5A. They are not "doing themselves a favor." Yes they could choose to play "up" in classification, but why not play in the class where you belong. I would say not as many strong teams in 5A, yes. But still some good ones.
11:21
Also, in case anyone missed because it happened later last night, just FYI: Mike Warfield will be the new Aliquippa football coach. Many thought it would be Sean Gilbert. But Warfield, former Quip player in 1980s, has been offered job. School board will make it official Wednesday night. Warfield is currently the quarterbacks coach at Central Valley.
Smoky
11:22
Are you surprised postponed games were moved to Thursday instead of Wednesday?
Mike White
11:25
No. Snow is supposed to be bad tomorrow. I guess starting tonight. Does it make it rough for a few teams though that will play Thursday and come back for a title game Friday. But hey a while back, PIAA used to play final fours in Hershey. In the 1970s, teams like Fifth Avenue or Schenley or General Braddock, would play semifinal Friday night in Hershey and come back to play championship Saturday. That was before so many classes, though. I liked that. I wish they would still have Final Fours in one site.
The Dude
11:25
Wouldn’t all districts fall under PIAA jurisdiction? Why wouldn’t the PIAA determine eligibility? After all it’s their tournament-
Mike White
11:27
Not sure what you're talking about? Are you talking about the transfer rulings? Yes the 12 districts in the state go by PIAA rules. But some districts, like Philadelphia and District 10, don't seem to enforce transfer rule and consider athletic intent much, like the WPIAL does. That's why transfer rules need changed. They're applied differently around the state.
West A Dad
11:28
Mike, not much discussion on NA girls loss last night and I know you predicted them to go to state finals.  I just have to say, that was not the same team that won the WPIAL Championship.  I saw two out of the three PIAA playoff games and while they won two and lost the third, they were not the same team without Rachel Martindale.  My daughter has played against Rachel since the 5th grade and that girl always found a way to win.  She might be one of the nicest young ladies I have ever met also.  North Allegheny was a good team without Rachel but a great team with her.  I hope she comes back completely from her knee injury.
Mike White
11:29
Of course they weren't the same team without her. Who could've expected them to be the same? Maritndale is one of WPIAL's top juniors. Can't take a player like that off a team and expect the team to be the same.
High School Hoops
11:29
Went to many of top boys games this year. City league had good year James Ellis so much potential. For dice Jackson Blaufield was best player on court against the top teams in area all season. Those two should be in mix with top players in area
Mike White
11:30
Ellis is best kept secret in Western Pa. He could be a factor at a Division I school in the future. He's signed with JC Allegany, Md. But don't be shocked if he ends up at a Division I school next year. He will have to sit out because of grades but I'm just saying, don't be shocked if he is at a D-1 school not playing next season, but getting ready for the season after.
OhioFollower
11:31
Being from Ohio and still following PIAA, it’s very odd that districts rule this stuff. In Ohio, the OHSAAbis the governing body and does the ruling on eligibility. “Districts” have zero say. I believe it’s time for PIAA to step in and take total control.
Mike White
11:32
Well all the districts have the same PIAA rules. But they obviously don't enforce them the same. Honestly, it would be hard for PIAA to rule on all transfers. I don't think you realize the volume of these every year.
Simon
11:32
Any word on Curtis Aiken's future plans for college.  He thought Tennessee had offered him but never heard about him signing.
Mike White
11:33
No word of anything. I don't know about his future, but I know of no Division I interest.
Baller
11:33
What are your thoughts on the Sewickley Academy vs. OLSH game tonight??
Mike White
11:35
Will be close. How could it not be? They've played three times already and all were close. However, there has been an apparent development. A little birdie told me that OLSH"s Donovan Johnson has an injury from Saturday and is questionable. If he doesn't play, that would be rather big. I'd probably pick Sewickley even if Johnson plays. But I definitely pick Sewickley if Johnson doesn't play.
The Dude
11:42
Basically what you’re saying then is some districts do not follow the PIAA rules in regards to eligibility. But doesn’t the PIAA have some responsibility or authority to enforce their own rules even if the individual districts do not especially if the district want to be under the PIAA?
Mike White
11:43
Yes some districts appear not to enforce the transfer rule. But I will say there is a lot of gray area in it. Yes, maybe the PIAA should intervene but they don't seem to want to. Plus, all cases go to district level first. This is why WPIAL has been saying for a number of years that the transfer rule needs changed. Needs to get rid of gray areas.
Curious
11:43
Who are legitimate D1 prospects from WPA (not Kennedy of First Love)
Mike White
11:46
If you're talking WPIAL and City??? Senior class??? Well it's pretty easy. Mars Robby Carmody has signed with Notre Dame. Quaker Valley's Coletrane Washington with Drexel. Laurel Highlands' Bryce Laskey with St. Francis. Westinghouse's James Ellis is definitely a future D-1 kid, but will go to JC first. A few sophomores already have a couple offers. Duquesne has offered them.
SB
11:46
Mike,  this may sound crazy but I'm going to ask anyway.  Do you think Kennedy Catholic is moving to the right classification (6A) next year?   I ask because I have heard there are stronger teams in 4A and possibly 5A.  I know 6A is the largest classification but from what I have heard 6A is not going to be that strong and with Kennedy being a Catholic School, they should be able to dominate.  Your thoughts?
Mike White
11:48
One of the reasons Kennedy is going to 6A has nothing to do with competition. District 10 has only McDowell in 6A I believe. There are hardly any league games. Kennedy wants that. They want to try and start playing more of a national or regional schedule. Travel some. Almost like a prep school. Not having a lot of league games allows them to do that.
11:51
Yes, I also liked Carson Cohen. Very good player. I think he could have plenty of success at the D-111 level. Just my opinion, but I think D-2 would be his highest level. Again, very good player. But would I put him in the five best players in the area? Probably not. Again, no knock against him because is talented. Just my opinion.
11:53
Well that's about it for now. Headed to Sewickley-OLSH game tonight. Either Chambersburg or Hershey Thursday. Everyone be good.
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