Scholastic Notebook...
-
THE CHOPS
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: October 24th, 2003, 10:42 am
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Scholastic Notebook...
Scholastic Notebook !!!!!!!!!!!!!
2/3/2006 -
The last two P.I.A.A. Boys’ basketball champions have come from the WPIAL in Beaver Falls and Sto-Rox. This year’s Class (AA) field in the W.P.I.A.L. is as good as ever, with Aliquippa, Jeannette, Beaver Falls and Quaker Valley all fielding strong teams. But you can stop thinking another P.I.A.A. Class (AA) title is a shoe-in for the W.P.I.A.L. In fact, it might be considered an upset if a W.P.I.A.L. team wins the title.
That’s because a team from Philadelphia is shaping up as the team to beat for the P.I.A.A. playoffs. Philadelphia Prep Charter is big, talented and almost everyone’s favorite to win the state title. Prep Charter plays in the Philadelphia Public League and this might give you an indication of how good Prep Charter is: The team recently defeated Chester, 86-65.
Chester is a perennial Eastern Pennsylvania power in Class (AAAA). It is always ranked among the top "10" Class (AAAA) teams in the state. But the Clippers lost to Prep Charter by "21" points!!!!!!!!
Here is another indication of Prep Charter’s talent.: The web site http://www.llhoops.com does rankings for the entire state, regardless of classification. In the most recent rankings, Prep Charter is No. #5, behind only Harrisburg, Roman Catholic, St. John Neumann and Plymouth-Whitemarsh.
“I really believe they are the best (AA) team we have played in "22" years. They have it all,” said Camp Hill Trinity coach Larry Kostelac, whose team is a perennial power in the Harrisburg area. Trinity lost at home to Prep Charter, 68-58.
Prep Charter is led by Rodney Green, a 6-foot-5 senior and a La Salle recruit. But Prep Charter also has “twin towers” Marcus and Markieff Morris. They are twin brothers and juniors. Marcus is 6-8, Markieff 6-9 and both are being recruited by Division I colleges. Paris Griffin is 6-6 and one of the team’s top players. The backup center is 6-8 Cullen Askew.
While Prep Charter might look unbeatable to the Class (AA) field, many of these same players were on the Prep Charter team a year ago that lost to York Catholic in the P.I.A.A. playoffs.
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Where the Scorers Are......
Heading into games February 3rd, the W.P.I.A.L. has seven teams averaging more than "70" points a game. Four of the seven are in Class (AA). They are Aliquippa (78.6), Beaver Falls (76.1), Jeannette (71.7) and Shenango (70.8).
The other three teams averaging more than "70" are Clairton (80.9), Hopewell (76.6) and Serra Catholic(75.3).
A number of the top individual scorers also are in Class (AA), including the W.P.I.A.L.’s leading scorer, Shenango’s Steve McNees (29.8). Of the "11" top scorers in the W.P.I.A.L., seven are in Class (AA). Besides McNees, they are Brentwood’s Josh Taylor, Jeannette’s Terrelle Pryor, South Side Beaver’s Dan Marnhout, Center’s Ryan Thomas, Summit Academy’s Orlando Burt and Burrell’s Joe Marzullo.
===============================================
Still Deciding ??????????????????????????????
The W.P.I.A.L. still hasn’t decided where all of its boys’ and girls’ basketball championships will be played.
The games are set for March 3rd and 4th. The league would have liked to play all eight contests at Duquesne University’s Palumbo Center, like it has done many other years. But the Duquesne mens team plays St. Joseph’s at Palumbo on Saturday, March 4th at noon. Thus, the W.P.I.A.L. can’t play three games Friday and five Saturday. Robert Morris is not available, either. (I say use the Cambria County War Memorial ) It's a newtral sight !!!!
A possibility is the W.P.I.A.L. playing six games at Palumbo – three on Friday and three on Saturday. Two championship games could be played at a high school gym.
===============================================
Freshman Phenom !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It didn’t get much attention because the game wasn’t called in to newspapers Tuesday night. But what Highlands’ Damon Porter did against Valley was quite impressive.
Porter, a 5-foot-10 guard, scored 40 points in a 76-73 overtime victory against Valley. Scoring 40 points in a game is impressive for anyone. Now consider this: Porter is a freshman.
And Then There Was One.#1#1#1#1#1
There are no undefeated boys’ basketball teams in the W.P.I.A.L. In the past eight days, three girls’ teams fell from the undefeated ranks – Avonworth, Greensburg Central Catholic and Oakland Catholic.
That leaves the Mount Lebanon girls as the only undefeated team in the W.P.I.A.L.
===============================================
Get Him the Ball.............................................
Pitt recruited West Allegheny star Dorin Dickerson to play receiver. But when talking about his recruiting class a few days ago, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt hinted Dickerson could line up some at running back, much the same way Penn State used star freshman Derrick Williams this past season.
“We’re going to line up Dorin Dickerson at wide receiver to start the thing off,” Wannstedt said. “But we have to find a way to get the ball in his hands 8-10 times a game. He played all the spots at West Allegheny.”
Wannstedt also said some freshmen will get chances to play, especially on special teams.
“Special teams might be as big of an area as any that we can improve with these young players,” Wannstedt said. “I promise you [Duquesne’s] Elijah Fields will go down and cover a kickoff, and try to knock someone’s helmet off.”
===============================================
JoePa Speaks ( So Listen ~up ) !!!!!!!!!!
For the first time that anyone can remember, Penn State coach Joe Paterno spoke about his recruiting class on “letter-of-intent” day. But here was his comment on whether he gets more excited about some recruiting classes than others.
“I don’t get excited until I see them out there and somebody hits them in the mouth,” Paterno said. I wonder if he means Woody hayes or himself??? Hee Hee !!!
===============================================
Harvey Resurfaces.....................................
David Harvey was considered a Division I college prospect when he played at Penn Hills High School two seasons ago. It just took him a little longer than most to sign with a Division I school.
Harvey’s senior season at Penn Hills was 2004. He never signed with a college team and had some academic difficulties. But Harvey signed a letter of intent earlier this week with the University of Akron.
===============================================
Where Are The Now?
Former Monessen girls’ basketball star Charel Allen is averaging 7.7 points a game for the Notre Dame womens team. She is third on the team in scoring, averaging 23.2 minutes a game. The Fighting Irish is 12-7.
"THE CHOPS".
2/3/2006 -
The last two P.I.A.A. Boys’ basketball champions have come from the WPIAL in Beaver Falls and Sto-Rox. This year’s Class (AA) field in the W.P.I.A.L. is as good as ever, with Aliquippa, Jeannette, Beaver Falls and Quaker Valley all fielding strong teams. But you can stop thinking another P.I.A.A. Class (AA) title is a shoe-in for the W.P.I.A.L. In fact, it might be considered an upset if a W.P.I.A.L. team wins the title.
That’s because a team from Philadelphia is shaping up as the team to beat for the P.I.A.A. playoffs. Philadelphia Prep Charter is big, talented and almost everyone’s favorite to win the state title. Prep Charter plays in the Philadelphia Public League and this might give you an indication of how good Prep Charter is: The team recently defeated Chester, 86-65.
Chester is a perennial Eastern Pennsylvania power in Class (AAAA). It is always ranked among the top "10" Class (AAAA) teams in the state. But the Clippers lost to Prep Charter by "21" points!!!!!!!!
Here is another indication of Prep Charter’s talent.: The web site http://www.llhoops.com does rankings for the entire state, regardless of classification. In the most recent rankings, Prep Charter is No. #5, behind only Harrisburg, Roman Catholic, St. John Neumann and Plymouth-Whitemarsh.
“I really believe they are the best (AA) team we have played in "22" years. They have it all,” said Camp Hill Trinity coach Larry Kostelac, whose team is a perennial power in the Harrisburg area. Trinity lost at home to Prep Charter, 68-58.
Prep Charter is led by Rodney Green, a 6-foot-5 senior and a La Salle recruit. But Prep Charter also has “twin towers” Marcus and Markieff Morris. They are twin brothers and juniors. Marcus is 6-8, Markieff 6-9 and both are being recruited by Division I colleges. Paris Griffin is 6-6 and one of the team’s top players. The backup center is 6-8 Cullen Askew.
While Prep Charter might look unbeatable to the Class (AA) field, many of these same players were on the Prep Charter team a year ago that lost to York Catholic in the P.I.A.A. playoffs.
===============================================
Where the Scorers Are......
Heading into games February 3rd, the W.P.I.A.L. has seven teams averaging more than "70" points a game. Four of the seven are in Class (AA). They are Aliquippa (78.6), Beaver Falls (76.1), Jeannette (71.7) and Shenango (70.8).
The other three teams averaging more than "70" are Clairton (80.9), Hopewell (76.6) and Serra Catholic(75.3).
A number of the top individual scorers also are in Class (AA), including the W.P.I.A.L.’s leading scorer, Shenango’s Steve McNees (29.8). Of the "11" top scorers in the W.P.I.A.L., seven are in Class (AA). Besides McNees, they are Brentwood’s Josh Taylor, Jeannette’s Terrelle Pryor, South Side Beaver’s Dan Marnhout, Center’s Ryan Thomas, Summit Academy’s Orlando Burt and Burrell’s Joe Marzullo.
===============================================
Still Deciding ??????????????????????????????
The W.P.I.A.L. still hasn’t decided where all of its boys’ and girls’ basketball championships will be played.
The games are set for March 3rd and 4th. The league would have liked to play all eight contests at Duquesne University’s Palumbo Center, like it has done many other years. But the Duquesne mens team plays St. Joseph’s at Palumbo on Saturday, March 4th at noon. Thus, the W.P.I.A.L. can’t play three games Friday and five Saturday. Robert Morris is not available, either. (I say use the Cambria County War Memorial ) It's a newtral sight !!!!
A possibility is the W.P.I.A.L. playing six games at Palumbo – three on Friday and three on Saturday. Two championship games could be played at a high school gym.
===============================================
Freshman Phenom !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It didn’t get much attention because the game wasn’t called in to newspapers Tuesday night. But what Highlands’ Damon Porter did against Valley was quite impressive.
Porter, a 5-foot-10 guard, scored 40 points in a 76-73 overtime victory against Valley. Scoring 40 points in a game is impressive for anyone. Now consider this: Porter is a freshman.
And Then There Was One.#1#1#1#1#1
There are no undefeated boys’ basketball teams in the W.P.I.A.L. In the past eight days, three girls’ teams fell from the undefeated ranks – Avonworth, Greensburg Central Catholic and Oakland Catholic.
That leaves the Mount Lebanon girls as the only undefeated team in the W.P.I.A.L.
===============================================
Get Him the Ball.............................................
Pitt recruited West Allegheny star Dorin Dickerson to play receiver. But when talking about his recruiting class a few days ago, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt hinted Dickerson could line up some at running back, much the same way Penn State used star freshman Derrick Williams this past season.
“We’re going to line up Dorin Dickerson at wide receiver to start the thing off,” Wannstedt said. “But we have to find a way to get the ball in his hands 8-10 times a game. He played all the spots at West Allegheny.”
Wannstedt also said some freshmen will get chances to play, especially on special teams.
“Special teams might be as big of an area as any that we can improve with these young players,” Wannstedt said. “I promise you [Duquesne’s] Elijah Fields will go down and cover a kickoff, and try to knock someone’s helmet off.”
===============================================
JoePa Speaks ( So Listen ~up ) !!!!!!!!!!
For the first time that anyone can remember, Penn State coach Joe Paterno spoke about his recruiting class on “letter-of-intent” day. But here was his comment on whether he gets more excited about some recruiting classes than others.
“I don’t get excited until I see them out there and somebody hits them in the mouth,” Paterno said. I wonder if he means Woody hayes or himself??? Hee Hee !!!
===============================================
Harvey Resurfaces.....................................
David Harvey was considered a Division I college prospect when he played at Penn Hills High School two seasons ago. It just took him a little longer than most to sign with a Division I school.
Harvey’s senior season at Penn Hills was 2004. He never signed with a college team and had some academic difficulties. But Harvey signed a letter of intent earlier this week with the University of Akron.
===============================================
Where Are The Now?
Former Monessen girls’ basketball star Charel Allen is averaging 7.7 points a game for the Notre Dame womens team. She is third on the team in scoring, averaging 23.2 minutes a game. The Fighting Irish is 12-7.
"THE CHOPS".