More bad PAL news

[colhenrylives]

It's been a difficult off-season for teams in the PAL. Its three best returning post players have all reportedly transferred to private schools. The departure of Burlingame's 5-10 senior Ava Urich to Pinewood has been noted previously. Now, her running mate, 6-1 Elena Weisman, a multi-skilled junior F-C, has moved south to Mitty. Sequoia has taken a hit as well. Its standout 6-1 sophomore F-C Nehelani Stores has left that Redwood City campus as well. Her landing spot has been mentioned as either Woodside Priory or St. Francis. All three players are Division I college prospects. Their combined loss will reduce the PAL's post-season impact in a huge way. Burlingame, in particular, had been expected to field its best team in years in 2022-23. Not so now. The rich just keep getting richer. It's a grim CCS story that shows few signs of changing anytime soon. For some perspective, a PAL girls' hoops unit has not played for a NorCal championship (or a CIF state title) in any division, equity-based or not, since 1988.

 

[runwithm]

Ava Uhrich

 

[OnBall8]

sadly the reality is, if you are a legit d-1 prospect, why wouldn't you go to one of the big dogs??

If money is not a factor then the pros and cons definitely get skewed towards the privates.. we could list all the pros of going to a PW, AM, SF, SI, etc. for the umteenth time on this forum, but I can tell you that sentimental memories of the PAL or CCS publics is not going to factor into a family or kid's decision of where to play basketball.

 

[Streak One]

Every situation is different, but I don't think it is always the best choice to go to a private school power though I will say it is the best choice most of the time.

One example of it playing out well of staying at your home school was Hailey Hoff this past season.

 

[OnBall8]

Every situation is different, but I don't think it is always the best choice to go to a private school power though I will say it is the best choice most of the time.

One example of it playing out well of staying at your home school was Hailey Hoff this past season.

she played for dad... didnt really have a choice did she?

 

[Streak One]

she played for dad... didnt really have a choice did she?

But what I was saying was she had freedom to play in a way that might not have been available at a Mitty or Pinewood. And that freedom helped her draw attention/scholarship.

 

[OnBall8]

But what I was saying was she had freedom to play in a way that might not have been available at a Mitty or Pinewood. And that freedom helped her draw attention/scholarship.

laughable take or poor wording of your point... not sure which.. but yes, it worked out for her regardless.

 

[colhenrylives]

The lack of quality size in CCS public schools has become an epidemic. The reasons are fairly clear. Changing demographics are one big factor. There are simply fewer outstanding power forwards and centers available throughout CCS. Volleyball, a non-contact sport, has continued to attract tall teens, often stripping them away from basketball. Over time, formely all-male schools like St. Ignatius, Sacred Heart (SF), Riordan, Menlo, etc. have added female students. For the private/parochials, competitive sports are important tools for growing enrollment (dollars). Unlike anywhere else in NorCal, there are two private/parochial leagues in CCS; they compete for the same athletes on a region-wide basis. Left in the lurch are the publics who have defined (for the most part) attendance boundaries. Further, many of the private/parochial coaches have their own serious AAU programs as a marketing move to lure prospective kids into their regular school programs, whether blatantly or not. Publics, typically, don't bother with club hoops. Some do. But not a lot. In the end, it isn't entirely shocking that both Burlingame and Sequoia have lost outstanding post players to the private/parochials. But it is a stunning single-summer set of key defections that tend to raise eyebrows and discourage the publics and their followers. Life does go on, but in a markedly diminished hoops fashion in the PAL in 2022-23.

 

[colhenrylives]

A bit more CCS perspective: Private/parochials have captured 30 CIF state titles; the publics have one in Division III (Burlingame, 1988 _ beating a dead horse, I know: sorry about that). Publics have not played for a CIF crown in any division since 1988. That includes all divisions, even equity-based arrangements designed to help the publics, at least in theory.

 

[OnBall8]

just wait for the trickle down effect from the NIL dealings. it will trickle down to high school and has already started in some regards. recruiting right now is insane, you are not only talking about money in terms of a free (or partially free) education. now there is an opportunity for actual cash in your pocket. That opportunity might only be there for a small number of kids right now, but there will be more money thrown at these kids as time goes on. Then recruiting becomes about business decisions for these kids and their families. Exposure and connections will become the name of the game. Expect the gap to grow larger with time or until the NCAA gets a handle on these things.

 

[colhenrylives]

Agree with that assessment. It's a new ballgame.

 

[scvalfan]

Every situation is different, but I don't think it is always the best choice to go to a private school power though I will say it is the best choice most of the time.

One example of it playing out well of staying at your home school was Hailey Hoff this past season

 

[scvalfan]

At this point, the powerhouse schools are running de facto AAU teams, disguised as "high school" athletics. What did St. Francis have? 7 Division 1 softball players? How is that even possible? Did the program truly develop them, and if so, what is their secret? And I have asked this all the time on these boards...Is it really fun to win every single game by 35-40 points? Mitty plays a 30 game schedule and might get 4-5 competitive games, half of which are out of state.

Best choice? So the three girls that transfer will no doubt replace students that have been in those programs, have PAID to be in those programs for maybe three years, and waiting for their turn to finally contribute.. Thanks for your loyalty and $75,000 in tuition, but we found someone better. I might be exaggerating, but as a kid and parent, that scenario would piss me off.

As many challenges as we have in public schools, we will endure, and still provide opportunities for students to participate in athletics, performing arts, and extra-curricular clubs- regardless of how elite families or communities view our kids or campuses.

 

[scvalfan]

sadly the reality is, if you are a legit d-1 prospect, why wouldn't you go to one of the big dogs??

If money is not a factor then the pros and cons definitely get skewed towards the privates.. we could list all the pros of going to a PW, AM, SF, SI, etc. for the umteenth time on this forum, but I can tell you that sentimental memories of the PAL or CCS publics is not going to factor into a family or kid's decision of where to play basketball.

So if Hailey Jones went to Santa Cruz High School instead of Mitty, she would not have reached a Division 1 basketball program?

 

[OnBall8]

So if Hailey Jones went to Santa Cruz High School instead of Mitty, she would not have reached a Division 1 basketball program?

she certainly would have, no doubt in my mind.. but would she have been the #1 recruit in the nation, gold medals under he belt, offers from every major program, played in at least one state title game, announcing her college decision live on ESPN.. all while probably averaging less than 20 pts per game in her career? I would guess no, but I guess we will never know for sure..

 

[bayareagbballfan]

the pros/cons depend on the type of player. there are 3 types of players

1) non-D1
2) normal D1
3) superstar D1

#3 shows up every 4-6 years or there abouts. the rest are a mix of #1 and #2.

A #3 should go to a powerhouse as the ceiling is too low at other places.

it's not clear to me that #1 and #2 should go. there is a trade-off. in particular, a #2 might be better off elsewhere.

 

[colhenrylives]

If you are good, or very good, the scouts will find you, more than likely in the AAU club realm.

 

[padrewhipser]

The sophomore at Sequoia did not transfer (yet) As of the first day of school she was on campus.