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Mike White's high school sports chat: 4-14-20
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Mike White
11:38
Sorry for the technical problems. We're ready to start a new chat now. Fire away with the questions. Let's go.
Big Dave
11:42
Do you think the quality of play will be diminished in fall/winter sports? Kids missing spring sports, maybe summer workouts. We know a majority of these kids aren't doing what they need to do at home to be ready to play come August.
Mike White
11:44
Hey Big Dave. Yes, maybe a little but I think it depends on when teams are allowed to get back and start workouts again for any sport. If workouts can start back up, say in July, I don't think you're going to see a big problem in football or any fall sport. Heck, if teams are allowed to start workouts in July, you know football coaches will be going 4-5 days a week with workouts. I know it's not the same, but also many kids are working out at home, lifting.
GH
11:45
Enjoyed reading the all-time Fab 5 article from the 40th Anniversary of the Fab 5.
Mike White
11:46
Thanks. Lots of time spent on all of it but it was a fun project to work on.
North HIlls Fan
11:46
Mike

My son showed me a photo this morning Devin Carney posted with the caption, "NA Soon.." What will his eligibility status be if his dad is the head coach? If he is an assistant? He still lives in Butler, wouldn't this clearly be transferring for athletic reasons? Not the first time either.
Mike White
11:48
I have no idea about any kind of photo. His father was a finalist for the North Allegheny job. Had two interviews. So did other people. NA has not named a new coach yet. AD Bob Bozzuto said last week he doesn't know when will be named. Maybe not even at next week board meeting.
11:51
Even if Carney the father doesn't get the job, I know Tim Tyree Vincentian coach is a finalist. If Tyree gets the job, there is a chance Shelton Carney comes with him to be an assistant. If any of this happens, if Devin Carney wants to transfer, he would have to move into NA district. If he does, will he be eligible. Well, you maybe need to look at precedent. DeGregorios were eventually ruled eligible at North Catholic, transferring from Hampton when their Dad became coach at NC. PIAA ruled them eligible. So would Devin Carney be eligible? You'd have to think yes considering DeGregorio ruling. However, he shouldn't be ruled eligible for playoffs under new rule. But you never know.
GH
11:51
What is your all-time boys Fab 5 since the founding of the WPIAL in 1907?
Mike White
11:52
I'd have to think about that for a bit. But I would think Maurice Lucas would be on it with most likely Kenny Durrett and Simmie Hill. Last two spots up for debate. Many, many options.
Howard Stern
11:52
I heard the PIAA said any success points earned in basketball will count this year.  This would mean Lincoln Park is now up to 4A and OLSH is up to 3A, right?
Mike White
11:54
PIAA has not ruled definitely on that yet, but director Bob Lombardi hinted last week that this year's points will count. Yes, OLSH and Lincoln Park would move up because they have 6 points and also at least one transfer. They are the only two boys teams that move up. The only girls teams with 6 points are Chartiers Valley and North Catholic. But neither had a transfer in past two years, so they wouldn't move up. You have to have the 6 points, and least one transfer in two years.
Moses Malone
11:54
Mr. White,

Thank you for the all time fab 5 content, just what we WPIAL hoop fans needed in this time with not much going on!

I was surprised to see Micah Mason made the top 20, maybe the voters taking into account what he did after HS. He obviously had crazy stats, but against pretty poor competition in comparison to the rest of the wpial. Look at the two fab 5 teams he made, I think anyone who watched then would agree Jeter, Thorpe, Cotrell, Reed, Snodgrass, and Dallier were all better HS players. Also there is Tyler Scott who was probably the best player in the wpial 11-12, but didn't make a fab 5. Would have been interesting to see what Dallier did if he game back for his senior year, he was fantastic. As a historian of WPIAl basketball im interested on your thoughts of this assessment? Thanks Mike.
Mike White
12:02
Hey Moses. There is always debates about players on all-star teams. Sorry, but I seriously beg to differ about Mason. Those kids were all better high school players? Better? C'mon. Mason averaged 34 points a game as a junior. High 20s as a senior. All time 3-point record holder in WPIAL. Scored well over 2,000 points. Second most points ever in game. That's not good enough for Fab 5? Please. Went on to average in high teens. One of best 3-point shooters in NCAA history. I said HISTORY.
12:03
As for Tyler Scott, no doubt a good player. Talented. Could've maybe been in Fab 5. But best player in WPIAL for two years? I can tell you this. No knock on his talent, but he finished fourth in all section voting as a junior. That's just among teams in his section. What does that say?
Hoops lover
12:04
Stefko Coach of the year?  He has walked into talent everywhere he has gone!  His PIAA at Seaton LaSalle what a loaded team that Ray Charles could have won with.  What about Tim McConnell 2 season undefeated, 2 WPIALtitles, a PIAA Title, was about to win Another, 600th career wins this year?
Mike White
12:06
Sure, hoops lover. Stefko has been in WPIAL championship game eight consecutive years with three different schools? Wins two of the past three WPIAL titles. Sure, that doesn't qualify him for coach of the year. Give me a break. Yes, Tim McConnell could be coach of the year again. But he just got the award last year. Give McConnell kudos but please don't rip on someone else who is most deserving.
Hoopdawg44
12:06
Great Article on Fred Lucas!
Mike White
12:06
Thank you, good ol Luke.
Howard Stern
12:06
Mike, any word about the Avonworth football coaches tapping into the Wash High coaches radio during the AA Football game?  I heard an Avonworth assistant was bragging about it and word got back to the WPIAL.  I'm not saying the Lopes should be stripped of the title, but those coaches should be disciplined in some way if this is true.
Mike White
12:09
I don't even know why I acknowledged this question, but you are Howard Stern, so why not? Yes, it is all true. Avonworth superintendent Richard Nixon ordered the tapping. There will be a TV trial on this. John Dean is lawyer representing Avonworth.
J.A.
12:10
I was impressed/surprised by the All-Time Fab 5 lists for boys and girls basketball. It seems that we've had better girls players come out of the WPIAL than boys. Don't think that's talked about enough when discussing WPIAL sports history.
Mike White
12:10
Most certainly girls produce many more Division I players than boys. That's been pointed out many times. And the top 5 of the girls players was tremendous.
GH
12:10
Was shocked that Tim McConnell was not chosen as girl’s coach of the year. What say you?
Mike White
12:12
When we pick McConnell as coach of the year or do a story, people complain. "More McConnell publicity!!!!" When we don't pick him as coach of the year, people complain. What say you?
NA Tigers Fan
12:12
How do you feel about the Mike Iuzzolino Kid leaving NA to go to prep school, I really enjoyed watching him when he played and it really hurt NA when he left I hear he has multiple division 1 interests now
Mike White
12:13
I do not know anything about Mike Iuzzolino recruiting. I just know he did leave after his junior year. He felt it was better for him to leave NA. Good for him.
Howard Stern
12:13
Do you know if the Pittsburgh Basketball Club is still planning to run a summer league if we are able to leave the house in June?
Mike White
12:13
A few coaches I know said they were recently informed by Pittsburgh Basketball Club that summer league is off. No surprise there.
North Hills Fan
12:14
Seems like an unfair loop hole in the transfer rule.  IF you have the money to buy a new house transfer for athletic reason, you can.
Mike White
12:15
If you physically move into a district for a legitimate reason, yes you have a much better chance of being eligible. It's always been that way. And may I point out, almost all transfers are ruled eligible. There are many of them. You just don't hear about all of them.
12:16
By the way, because we got started late with this chat, we'll to 12:30 or so.
Howard Stern
12:16
Are there any vacant football jobs that still exist in the WPIAL?  I would think it would be very difficult for any coach to get a new system installed in this very abbreviated off season.
Mike White
12:17
Ahhh, I can't think of any. But Baldwin just hired new coach Tim Sweeney last week. It's not too late. I remember cases being hired in even May or June.
Insider
12:17
Heard from reliable source that WT turned down Buddy Valinsky for their open job. I guess that drive out route 30 it’s taking its toll already. Shoulda never snubbed the city league.
Mike White
12:18
I know nothing about the Winchester Thurston thing. All I know is Buddy Valinsky has been talking about next year at Norwin for a while. He's even working on scheduling games next year at Norwin. And one of the reasons he left Allderdice was because he wanted to coach in largest class of 6A. Winchester Thurston makes no sense.
Hoop Fan
12:18
If Carney the father gets a full time job at NA, isn't his son automatically eligible because his father would be a full time employee?
Mike White
12:19
No.
All Time Fab 5
12:19
He is a forgotten name, but give me Shawn Bellis over some of these guys.  He did nearly give Mr. Fortson 50 points in one game, although Danny returned the favor that night.  Probably the best mono a mono duel in WPIAL history
Mike White
12:20
Yes, I remember the game. One of few times you'll see two score 40 in a high school game. I saw it one other time a few years ago - Hampton's Antonio Ionadi and North Hills' Nick Smith.
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