News & Notes !!!
-
THE CHOPS
- Official BleacherCoach
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- Joined: October 24th, 2003, 10:42 am
- Location: SCOTTDALE, PA.
News & Notes !!!
Scholastic Notebook
1/13/2006 - Here are some random thoughts being thrown around.
* It’s sometimes hard to figure out the W.P.I.A.L.’s or P.I.A.A.’s consistency on some rulings. The Erie McDowell football case is a perfect example.
Erie McDowell wanted to leave District #10 for football only, and play in the W.P.I.A.L. District #10 officials said no, and the P.I.A.A. backed up the District #10 decision.
McDowell wanted to play in the W.P.I.A.L. because there will be only two two Class (AAAA) teams in District #10 next season. The Trojans wanted to play more Class (AAAA) teams and get a more stable schedule. Now, they play many (AAA) teams and some out-of-state.
The P.I.A.A. said no, but what makes Erie McDowell’s case any different than State College, Altoona or Hollidaysburg?
All three of those schools are in District #6, but they play in the Mid-Penn Conference in District #3 in football (although Hollidaysburg is leaving the Mid-Penn next season). How is that allowed, but McDowell isn’t allowed to play in the W.P.I.A.L.?
(No-one) will say this on the record, but one of the reasons District #10 doesn’t want McDowell to leave might be money. McDowell usually plays Erie Cathedral Prep in the playoffs and it usually draws a good crowd, which means a good payday for District #10. Without a McDowell-Cathedral Prep playoff game, District #10 would stand to lose some money.
* Louisville coach Rick Pitino was in the stands at Aliquippa Tuesday night to see Aliquippa junior Herb Pope play against Beaver Falls. If anything, this proves one thing: Forget about that verbal commitment Pope made to Pitt last year.
* Some scouting services rank Pope among the top "25" juniors in the country and he does show flashes of brilliance. There aren’t many 6-foot-9 high school players who have Pope’s agility or who can handle the ball and pass like Pope. The problem is Pope doesn’t show those abilities often enough.
Whether he gets disinterested or just doesn’t feel like playing hard, Pope doesn’t dominate the way a player of his stature should. Think back to when Danny Fortson played at Shaler and was ranked among the top "25" players in the country. He dominated W.P.I.A.L. competition.
He was a force.You don’t see that from Pope. But Pope’s reputation has been built on the A.A.U. circuit and at national summer camps. That’s a different brand of basketball. Pope definitely has talent. We just wish he’d use it more.
* Pitt is still recruiting Pope. The Panthers also are interested in Schenley juniors Dejuan Blair and D.J. Kennedy, as well as Elizabeth Forward junior center Steve Swiech. And the play of Aliquippa sophomore Jonathan Baldwin against Beaver Falls the other night opened the eyes of Pitt coach Jamie Dixon.
Don’t be surprised if a couple of these players end up at Pitt. Wouldn’t it be nice to see a few local players contributing for the Panthers? Pitt’s success the past few years has helped district basketball, and having a few area players would create even more interest in the Panthers.
* In terms of the top five teams, Class (AA) boys’ basketball might be as good as Class (AAAA). At the very least, Class (AA) isn’t far behind.
That statement shows how good Class (AA) is again this season, and how down Class (AAAA) is. Consider some of these facts: Bethel Park is one of the top five Class (AAAA) teams and lost to Beaver Falls, a Class (AA) team. Jeannette, a Class (AA) school, beat Connellsville this season, and Connellsville is in first place in Class (AAAA) Section #1. Quaker Valley, a Class (AA) team, has defeated Ambridge and Hopewell, two teams that have been ranked in the Class (AAA) top five.
But Class (AAAA) should be stronger next season because a number of top teams have young squads.
* With two senior stars in Lance Jeter and Jack Anderson, and a talented freshman in Todd Thomas, Beaver Falls coach Doug Biega has a lot on his side. But he might also have one of the WPIAL’s toughest jobs. The reason? Keeping all those players happy.
* Shenango guard Steve McNees is the leading scorer in the W.P.I.A.L. and a Duquesne University recruit. The way Duquesne is going, you’d think he might have second thoughts about signing with the Dukes. Not so.
“I actually think things are looking up with some of the players coming in next year.
* The sleeper team in W.P.I.A.L. Class (AAA) boys’ basketball is Hampton. The Talbots have a well-balanced team with a bunch of good athletes. Hampton coach Joe Lafko said it’s the most well-rounded group of athletes he’s ever had.
* Division I colleges are starting to show interest in Oakland Catholic junior Erica Prosser. She most likely will end up with a Division I scholarship. That makes last year’s Oakland Catholic team even more impressive because all five starters will probably be playing Division I basketball in two seasons.
From last year’s P.I.A.A. championship team, guard Brianne O’Rourke is playing at Penn State, guard Sara Bucar at West Virginia and forward Eve Pyle at Miami, Ohio. Aysha Jones is currently a senior guard at Oakland Catholic and has signed with Charlotte. And then there’s Prosser.
Now that’s a Fabulous Five.
"THE CHOPS".
1/13/2006 - Here are some random thoughts being thrown around.
* It’s sometimes hard to figure out the W.P.I.A.L.’s or P.I.A.A.’s consistency on some rulings. The Erie McDowell football case is a perfect example.
Erie McDowell wanted to leave District #10 for football only, and play in the W.P.I.A.L. District #10 officials said no, and the P.I.A.A. backed up the District #10 decision.
McDowell wanted to play in the W.P.I.A.L. because there will be only two two Class (AAAA) teams in District #10 next season. The Trojans wanted to play more Class (AAAA) teams and get a more stable schedule. Now, they play many (AAA) teams and some out-of-state.
The P.I.A.A. said no, but what makes Erie McDowell’s case any different than State College, Altoona or Hollidaysburg?
All three of those schools are in District #6, but they play in the Mid-Penn Conference in District #3 in football (although Hollidaysburg is leaving the Mid-Penn next season). How is that allowed, but McDowell isn’t allowed to play in the W.P.I.A.L.?
(No-one) will say this on the record, but one of the reasons District #10 doesn’t want McDowell to leave might be money. McDowell usually plays Erie Cathedral Prep in the playoffs and it usually draws a good crowd, which means a good payday for District #10. Without a McDowell-Cathedral Prep playoff game, District #10 would stand to lose some money.
* Louisville coach Rick Pitino was in the stands at Aliquippa Tuesday night to see Aliquippa junior Herb Pope play against Beaver Falls. If anything, this proves one thing: Forget about that verbal commitment Pope made to Pitt last year.
* Some scouting services rank Pope among the top "25" juniors in the country and he does show flashes of brilliance. There aren’t many 6-foot-9 high school players who have Pope’s agility or who can handle the ball and pass like Pope. The problem is Pope doesn’t show those abilities often enough.
Whether he gets disinterested or just doesn’t feel like playing hard, Pope doesn’t dominate the way a player of his stature should. Think back to when Danny Fortson played at Shaler and was ranked among the top "25" players in the country. He dominated W.P.I.A.L. competition.
He was a force.You don’t see that from Pope. But Pope’s reputation has been built on the A.A.U. circuit and at national summer camps. That’s a different brand of basketball. Pope definitely has talent. We just wish he’d use it more.
* Pitt is still recruiting Pope. The Panthers also are interested in Schenley juniors Dejuan Blair and D.J. Kennedy, as well as Elizabeth Forward junior center Steve Swiech. And the play of Aliquippa sophomore Jonathan Baldwin against Beaver Falls the other night opened the eyes of Pitt coach Jamie Dixon.
Don’t be surprised if a couple of these players end up at Pitt. Wouldn’t it be nice to see a few local players contributing for the Panthers? Pitt’s success the past few years has helped district basketball, and having a few area players would create even more interest in the Panthers.
* In terms of the top five teams, Class (AA) boys’ basketball might be as good as Class (AAAA). At the very least, Class (AA) isn’t far behind.
That statement shows how good Class (AA) is again this season, and how down Class (AAAA) is. Consider some of these facts: Bethel Park is one of the top five Class (AAAA) teams and lost to Beaver Falls, a Class (AA) team. Jeannette, a Class (AA) school, beat Connellsville this season, and Connellsville is in first place in Class (AAAA) Section #1. Quaker Valley, a Class (AA) team, has defeated Ambridge and Hopewell, two teams that have been ranked in the Class (AAA) top five.
But Class (AAAA) should be stronger next season because a number of top teams have young squads.
* With two senior stars in Lance Jeter and Jack Anderson, and a talented freshman in Todd Thomas, Beaver Falls coach Doug Biega has a lot on his side. But he might also have one of the WPIAL’s toughest jobs. The reason? Keeping all those players happy.
* Shenango guard Steve McNees is the leading scorer in the W.P.I.A.L. and a Duquesne University recruit. The way Duquesne is going, you’d think he might have second thoughts about signing with the Dukes. Not so.
“I actually think things are looking up with some of the players coming in next year.
* The sleeper team in W.P.I.A.L. Class (AAA) boys’ basketball is Hampton. The Talbots have a well-balanced team with a bunch of good athletes. Hampton coach Joe Lafko said it’s the most well-rounded group of athletes he’s ever had.
* Division I colleges are starting to show interest in Oakland Catholic junior Erica Prosser. She most likely will end up with a Division I scholarship. That makes last year’s Oakland Catholic team even more impressive because all five starters will probably be playing Division I basketball in two seasons.
From last year’s P.I.A.A. championship team, guard Brianne O’Rourke is playing at Penn State, guard Sara Bucar at West Virginia and forward Eve Pyle at Miami, Ohio. Aysha Jones is currently a senior guard at Oakland Catholic and has signed with Charlotte. And then there’s Prosser.
Now that’s a Fabulous Five.
"THE CHOPS".