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Tuesday, 07 February 2012 10:01

Written by Mike White

Some items that fell off my laptop.

*** It might be a little early to start thinking about this, but the WPIAL playoffs do start in a little more than a week. So, it's not too early to think about who should be on the Fabulous 5?

The Post-Gazette picks a Fabulous 5 after the state playoffs. It is the top five players in the WPIAL-City League (regardless of class. The player could be anywhere from a freshman to a senior). This season, I think there are a few definites, but the last one or two spots could be hard to pick. What do you think? Who should be on the Fabulous 5?

Here are some candidates (in no particular order): Lincoln Davis, Central Catholic; Nate Snodgrass, Butler; Justin Dobbs, Allderdice; J.C. Howard, North Allegheny; Sheldon Jeter, Beaver Falls; Micah Mason, Highlands; Devontae Watson, Lincoln Park; Geno Thorpe, Shaler; Wayne Capers, Chartiers Valley; Nolan Cressler, Plum; Tyler Scott, Gateway; Barnett Harris, Gateway; Andy Andrle, Pine-Richland; Shakim Alonzo, Woodland Hills; Devin Wilson, Montour; Kamic Anyang, Mt. Lebanon; Corey Eggleston, New Castle; Shawn Anderson, New Castle; Luke Hagy, Mt. Lebanon; P.J. McLaughlin, Greensburg Central Catholic.

Am I missing anyone?

Mason and the playoffs

It looks like Highlands and star senior guard Micah Mason have a decent chance to make the WPIAL playoffs after all. The Rams are tied with Kittanning for fourth place in WPIAL Class AAA with a 5-7 record. Both teams have two games remaining. Highlands plays Deer Lakes and Hampton while Kittanning plays Deer Lakes and Mars. There is a good chance both Highlands and Kittanning will end up tied for the final playoff spot, and because they split two meetings, both teams would qualify.

Mason should win the WPIAL scoring title for the second year in a row. If Highlands failed to make the playoffs, Mason would have been the first WPIAL scoring leader to miss the playoffs since Mohawk's Shawn Carr in the 2003-04 season.

For the SEALs

*** Interesting story from Gary Lambrecht of the Annapolis Capital about former North Allegheny basketball player Ted Connolly, who moved into the starting lineup at Navy in January. But that's not the interesting part. Connolly (pictured) is one of the select few Naval Academy seniors who has been selected to train to be a Navy SEAL.

Connolly, by the way, also played football at North Allegheny.

Elsewhere in basketball

*** Here are the state rankings, regardless of classification, by Jerry Shenk and the Middle Atlantic Sports News and llhoops.com. The top 10 includes two WPIAL teams - Shaler and Beaver Falls.

*** Serra girls basketball coach Bill Cleary needs two wins to reach 500 for his career. I don't know too many girls coaches around the WPIAL who won 500 games.

Big 33 and Super Bowl

Eight former Big 33 players were on the teams in this Sunday's Super Bowl. The Big 33 is a summer all-star football game that pits Pennsylvania against Ohio. The former Big 33 players on the Giants were Chris Snee, Chase Blackburn, Mario Manningham, Da'Rel Scott and Henry Hynoski.

The Big 33 players on the Patriots were Lousaka Polite, Brian Hoyer and Zoltan Mesko. Also for the Patriots, Dan Koppen (another former Big 33 player) was on injured reserve.

Comments (25)

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written by Joe D, February 07, 2012 - 09:55 AM

Watch this clip.. this isn't basketball... it's a dunking contest. He barely jumps. But, he didn't win the jumpball at the beginning of the game!! lol I would not want to be a player on that team.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/7-foot-5-mamadou-ndiaye-prep-highlights-absolutely-183735847.html

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written by Joe D, February 07, 2012 - 10:03 AM

I've seen Chester play... they rely upon their athleticism... they play playground ball.
They can be beat... they score most of their points from turnovers pressuring the guards.
It will be interesting if Shaler plays Chester.
If Thorpe has a good game and beats Chester, it will elevate his status moreso.

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written by Joe D, February 07, 2012 - 10:06 AM

In no particular order...
Jeter, Mason, Thorpe, Watson, Cressler

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written by pittfan67, February 07, 2012 - 11:17 AM

JoeD, it would be nice to see Shaler (or any other WPIAL team) take a crack at Chester, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Fab 5...Cressler, Jeter, Mason, Thorpe, Watson

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written by anon, February 07, 2012 - 11:32 AM

Good list pittfan, only disagreement is that you gotta have Shawn Anderson on there. Best player on possibly best team in the WPIAL. Hard to take someone off that list though, probably Cressler.

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written by Ironman, February 07, 2012 - 11:41 AM

Fab Five - Mason, Thorpe, Cressler, Jeter and Davis.

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written by Joe D, February 07, 2012 - 12:13 PM

Let me put it another way pitt fan...
If Shaler beats Chester and Thorpe has a great game..
I don't think he will be going to PSU!!

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written by Sandman1, February 07, 2012 - 12:14 PM

Fab 5: Mason, Davis, Thorpe, Watson and Alonzo

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written by Sev, February 07, 2012 - 01:01 PM

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......wpial bb?.....zzzzzzzzzzz

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written by pittfan67, February 07, 2012 - 02:17 PM

Anderson is a great athlete and a solid player, but not quite sure he has the guard skills of those I listed. I know he's a junior. Does he have any solid D1 offers yet?

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written by Randy1, February 07, 2012 - 03:09 PM

I think this year is a bit harder than most. I think the 5th spot on the Fab 5 will be interesting. I think It should be Sheldon Jeter (POTY) Micah Mason, Nolan Cressler, Geno Thorpe, and Lincoln Davis.

No one should look past Davis. I've seen him play and he's the real deal

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written by pittfan67, February 07, 2012 - 04:26 PM

I agree regarding Lincoln Davis. He has improved significantly since his sophomore year, and can shoot it now. If he continues to develop a mid-range game, he will be a very good lower level D1 two guard. That PCC team is loaded with athletes. They have played a difficult schedule.

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written by t2pyah, February 07, 2012 - 05:44 PM

Davis can/will go as far as he wants to go. Has more than enough athletic ability - to play at any level. How far will depend on how much he wants it - how much he is willing to work for it.

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written by white shadow, February 07, 2012 - 06:18 PM

Unless you have seen all of the players being considered, it's difficult to pick five. Based on the teams I have seen and from people I have talked to who have seen many players, I would go with Jeter, Thorpe, Cressler, Mason, and Davis. Isn't it surprising that one of the most talked about players the last three years, Tyler Scott, is hardly mentioned in any of the lists. I also think that Justin Snodgrass from Butler could play on my team any time. He didn't have to score last year, but this year he is showing people he is more than just a passing point guard. I don't know athletically if he is one of the top five, but he would be my sixth man. Good player, great kid!

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written by anon, February 07, 2012 - 06:31 PM

I don't know much about Anderson, heard he has D1 potential, not sure if any offers yet. 20 pts a game on an undefeated team is pretty impressive though.

Still any combo of Jeter/Mason/Thope/Cressler/Watson/Davis is very deserving as well. Lot of good players this year.

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written by Morton, February 07, 2012 - 06:40 PM

Nice article by Harris in today's Trib;
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/...0333.html
I could not agree with him more. As noted in one of my earlier posts about Meyer landing at OSU, I fear for other college coaches in the surrounding area when it comes to recruiting. Meyer is ruthless and he will stop at nothing, and I mean nothing, to put a winner on the field. And this us just the beginning.

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written by pittfan67, February 07, 2012 - 07:01 PM

Agreed regarding NATE Snodgrass (I believe Justin may be an older brother?)...Excellent PG. may not be a D1 scholarship player, but could play D2, and would be a fantastic D3 PG. Also heard he was very bright, so will do well academically, which is what really matters in the scheme of things.

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written by pittfan67, February 07, 2012 - 07:17 PM

BTW, Tyler Scott=Very talented.

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written by t2pyah, February 07, 2012 - 07:58 PM

NA 22 Seneca Valley 20 at the half

Seneca started game with 8-0 run

not a pretty game

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written by white shadow, February 07, 2012 - 08:12 PM

My error; Nate Snodgrass! I believe he is #1 in his class out of over 500!
You are right about Scott being talented, but there are a lot of talented players who play with much more effort than he has for the last four years. You can't just play hard when the ball is in your hands. I have seen him play plenty of times and he rarely plays hard on defense. The only way he will be successful in college is if he changes his attitude; I hope it does for his sake, but I wouldn't bet on it. He has been allowed to get away with his lethargic efforts far too long!

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written by Ironman, February 07, 2012 - 08:29 PM

Central beat Butler. Listening to NA/SV game on internet. 1 point lead by NA in 4th quarter.

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written by t2pyah, February 07, 2012 - 09:04 PM

NA 44 Seneca Valley 43

Final

last Seneca shot went off front of rim


NA could not hit free throws at end

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written by pittfan67, February 07, 2012 - 09:36 PM

If Butler can somehow beat SV, they will make the playoffs. Wonder if Snodgrass will play Friday? heard on MSA that he had a boot on his ankle tonight.

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written by Randy1, February 07, 2012 - 09:54 PM

White Shadow, I agree on Tyler Scott. Seen him play a lot of times too, very lazy off the ball and on D. I think he's underachieving for all the talent he has.

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written by cager123, February 08, 2012 - 07:54 AM

I would go with Geno Thorpe, Micah Mason, Devin Wilson, Sheldon Geter and Devonte Watson. Here are my reasons obviously Mason because of the amount of points the kid has put up and what he has done over the last 4 years. And as for the other 4(WATSON, WILSON, GETER, THORPE) they all have mid to high major scholarship offers from colleges all Around. The combined record of their 4 teams are 71-10. The amount of quality players in the area this year is goin to make this one hard decision. What surprised me on this blog is that of the 25 or so comments not one person named Devin Wilson. I think the kid has 5-6 mid major scholarship offers as of now. I know Mr. White has seen him a few times and has had very nice things to say about him: the kid does it all for the 16-2 Spartans. He might not average the 20-25+ points but if he wanted to he could, he just doesn't have to for his team to win. I seen him at the CV game earlier this year an here was his stat line against then undefeated Char Valley. 10 points 8 assists, 5 steals , 5 boards. I think he only had 2 turnovers against the CV pressure an one of those was a charge. With Thorpe, Watson and Geter they've all had great seasons and the sky is the limit for them. If you had a team made up off Mason, Thorpe, Watson, Wilson and Jeter, you can win alot of games anywhere in the country. Mr. White I do not envy you in having to make this decisions because it should be the toughtest one in years!

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