Week 1 Scrimmages

[CoachEmUp]

I know WPIAL basketball, particularly AAAA, and in all honesty, neither Gateway nor Allderdice are very good WPIAL/City League AAAA basketball programs.

Gateway has been down for several years, since their former coach Holzshu left, and Allderdice has had a few decent years, but nothing to write home about.

I saw Allderdice play this fall and I wasn't impressed. I saw Gateway play last year, and they were a poor AAAA team, I don't recall any great young players that they had either. Maybe I am missing something.

IMO, they will be two average teams. I disagree, gateway and Allderdice will get better by playing Jtown, because Jtown is probably better than both of them.

You say Gateway is "very talented"? As compared to what? Maybe other teams in the LHAC, but in WPIAL AAAA, they have below average talent.

Maybe you did miss something??? Things have changed with Gateway Basketball they now have about 4 legitiment college basketball players. 1 possible D1 kid who started last year as a freshman and is actually projected to be a mid major recruit. Akron, Kent State, and Pitt have already shown interest. If you look at the basketball preview in the Post Gazette Gateway is picked to win there section. Alderdice is a solid team they have a great big man in Will Clark and if he wasnt going to Pitt for football he probobly be playing basketball in college. Im not say that Alderdice is going to win the city league, there not better than Shenley or Peabody this year but they are better than every team that Johnstown will play this season excluding Altoona. You might want to get updated with the basketball scene in the Pittsburgh area, your information is alittle out dated.

I hope your not getting your information from that same source who told you Anthony Lytle is playing college football, when he doesnt even play football in highschool......

[hoops]

For anyone trying desperately to keep up with CoachEmUp and current events please Google Devon Cottrell Gateway HS Class of 2011.

[CoachEmUp]

For anyone trying desperately to keep up with CoachEmUp and current events please Google Devon Cottrell Gateway HS Class of 2011.

Thanks "hoops". Thats a great article find. Looks like i left some teams off his recruiting list.

[WPIAL~Titan]

I always love how these recruiting services rank 14 year old kids and project them as D1 recruits when they've barely set foot on a basketball court. What's next??? Ranking 3rd graders? I'll bet if I looked hard enough, I could find somebody who actually ranks grade school kids.

...and this is the result of what AAU basketball has done to sports in the USA. It's a blessing and a curse. AAU basketball has allowed exposure for a lot of kids very early on, whereas they never would've received any exposure to colleges before...That's why you see some colleges pursuing these young kids at such an early age...This can be good for some kids, Although I would question the judgement of any college coach who devotes significant resources and time to drive to a junior high or high school to work out 13-14 year old kid when their time could be much, much better spent.. woprrying about here and now and workinmg with the players who can get you hired or fired right now...I can't wait until the NCAA reg comes out that coaches aren't allowed to talk to Junior HIgh aged kids...

That said, AAU is about one thing: $$$$$$$$$$...You pay, you play. I've seen AAU teams filled with HS players who are D1 recruits, and a 1-2 players who didn't belong on the same court as the others...Why? Because one of the mediocre player's rich parents put up thousands of dollars to sponsor the team...Oh yeah, and if you pay, the players had all better get about the same amount of playing time, because everyone's money is as green as the next kid's money...All of this so daddy can tell everyone at the company Christmas party that, "My son Biff played AAU basketball with (insert "famous" name)"...What a joke.

Hence, the curse: AAU hoops places way too much (undue) pressure and expectations on young student athletes (often as young as junior high school), and in that in many cases, expectations that are inflated and unrealistic come from all of the fanfare surrounding AAU basketball. So many things can happen in terms of growth, development, etc. between junior high and high school. Just ask Michael Jordan...

Yes, I have heard of Devon Cottrell, and I have seen him play...He's a good young player, and had a solid season last year as a frosh. However, if he's as good as the guy who wrote the article that is referred to here seems to think that he is, then I am wondering why Gateway only won 10 games last season, and lost to some terrible basketball teams along the way. The way the article is written, it makes him sound like the second coming of LeBron James...and that's very unfair to that kid. Along with the "AAU Daddies" who put up money to promote their own kids, shame on the fools who write articles such as these about a young kid...

Cottrell has good athleticism, but I actually do agree with one point in that article in that needs work on his skill set in order to become a real impact player (ball handling, passing, etc.) Right now at 6'6", he's very, very raw...We will see how he progresses this year and next. That's why I didn't include him as a "great" young player...He's not there yet, in my opinion. Scoring 18 points in a 26 point loss in the playoffs against North Allegheny is OK, but I wouldn't be as excited as the talking head who printed the article you speak of...I know NA and I'm sure they subbed liberally. I'd bet that the kid scored a good many of those points against NA's JV team...and if he's the stud he is projected to be, I'd expect he would score even more than 18 points against NA's JV team...

CoachEmUp, the PG's basketball preview hasn't even been published yet. Maybe the same person who told me about Lytle playing football told you that.

WIth Central Catholic out of Gateway's section, I wouldn't be surprised to see them make the playoffs, but I would say that McKeesport, Franklin Regional, and probably Penn HIlls would be favored to finish ahead of Gateway in the section, and the top 4 in each AAAA section make the playoffs. Gateway will likely be better than last year, but that doesn't change the fact that their team and program just simply hasn't been very good. I see little that will change that this year.

[CoachEmUp]

WPIAL~Titan ,

You make some good points in your post, but there are a couple things that bother me with some of your statements. Concerning aau basketball. Yes alot of the time the parents with the most money front the cash for the team, and in return thier child gets to play. On the other hand it helps the kids that dont have money to pay 600$ to play aau. Its a win win for both parties. Also 95% of recruiting is done on the auu circuit. It is a part of highschool basketball now, and just like every other part of highschool basketball there are politics. Thats life.

Second thing, on the kid from Gateway. You said he is a good young player that needs work. Can you show me one young player that does not need work?????? Thats why he is being heavilly recruited. He is very good and he still has room to get alot better, along with every other young recruit in this country. Also Franklin Regional will not be strong at all this year. Besides Novak they are not very good at any other position. Penn Hills will be solid, but I dont think pg Andre Anthony, and sf Doante Brown are strong enough to compete with a whole roster of talent at Gateway. Now you have a argument when it comes to McKeesport. Ezekiel Marshall is the real deal, and will give them a shot to win there section, but I dont believe it will be enough, and besides that McKeesport has not won there section since 1995. I also believe they lost 4 starters from last years team, and Zeke has a problem with getting in to foul trouble. This will most likely cost them there chance at breaking the 13yr streak and winning there section.

[Fever]

WPIAL~Clueless,
Franklin Regional isn't even in that section anymore.

[WPIAL~Titan]

Nice try, Fever, but the joke is on you.

Check the link below...The sections were realigned for 2008-2009. Then, when you read the link and see that I am correct, answer this question:

"Who's your daddy?"

http://www.wpial.org/general/stuff/hoop ... 0align.pdf

WT

PS-CoachEmUp, I just posted my opinion about Gateway...Those 3 teams are better than Gateway, IMO, but none are world beaters...That section isn't as strong anymore with Pitts CC gone and PHills being a little down the past few years. I could be wrong. I don't see any dominant team there...maybe with some good fortune, Gateway could be in the top 2-3.

[Fever]

I'll give you credit, you got that one.
I hope my daddy is not your boyfriend, he's ugly
F

[WPIAL~Titan]

Denzel Washington in "Remember the Titans" to Bertier...

"Who's your daddy???"

Bertier: "You are, sir."