Has anyone seen this kid play? Just a sophomore at Laurel Highlands but he has some big time offers.
DB/WR Rodney Gallagher
- Thread starter HopeandChangeforAntoons
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Some people think he will choose basketball. I personally don't care which sport he chooses, as long as Pitt is the school.
My prediction is he picks football since most dual athletes from WPA pick football. However, I don't understand why LH is so bad considering the low-level they play if they have a blue blood recruit.
Didn't he win them a WPIAL championship in basketball as a freshman? I think they beat Carmody's Mars team.
I'm not sure what position he plays in football (I believe he projects to DB with an outside chance at WR at the next level), but unless you're a QB or some absurd running back I just think your impact isn't great enough in football to propel a team that much. You're only one of 11. Plus they're not a low level.
The question I have........does he finish at Laurel Highlands or does an IMG Academy scoop him up?
They play programs like BV, TJ, McKeesport and Montour that have strong youth football feeder systems. One star player isn’t going to negate the advantage in depth and talent distribution. I’d be curious to see / hear how he did in those games but it isn’t a surprise that any of those would be blowouts.
Yeah, him transferring is a thought-provoking scenario. I think it's much more likely to happen if he decides on basketball, though. I mean, at least that seems to be true for people around here historically.
My dad doesn't get too excited over HS kids but he called me after he saw this kid play. Pretty dynamic athlete. I think Pitt was one of the first schools to make an offer. I'd bet his eyes are wondering pretty far southward.
As much as we all rag on local football, my god, there is nothing worse than WPIAL Basketball. It is like the quality of HS football in the Dakota's.
if he's a legit D1 basketball recruit, you'd think he'd get out of the area and compete in a better high school league to improve his skills..
And the fact that he isn't, kinda tells you he's going to play football. Rumor is dad is a big football guy.
His sister attends Pitt and is on the dance team. I've heard he'd like to come here for Basketball or Football. One of our AAU girls basketball player's dates a boy that attended Laurel Highlands and that's the story I heard. H2P!
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I have seen him play hoops multiple times in last years playoffs. He is a pretty special athlete, ultra-quick with good speed. If he doesn't grow anymore I don't know if basketball is a legitimate option. I haven't seen him play football yet, but the quickness and speed with a solid build that he has could make for a great corner or safety. I hope he stays in this area and continues to develop. With any luck, perhaps we see him in a Pitt uniform one day.
Yeah, it's a lot tougher to make it in basketball (unless you want to leave the country)... and it's especially tough at that height.
Legitimate option? He can name his bball school except for the blue bloods (right now).
true, but the wear & tear on your body for football. Plus bigger money can be made in basketball, but as you said jobs are harder to come by in the NBA (12 per team vs 53+ in football). If it was me, I wouldn't mind playing in some Spanish pro league and having a nice place in Barcelona if I couldn't make the NBA.
If he continues to mature and grow his game even without growing an inch, I would agree. I guess I didn't articulate my stance correctly. I meant he couldn't go big-time blue blood if he doesn't grow. Lots of time yet tho, lets see if he becomes better from 3 point land. It is going to be interesting to watch this young kid's progress in both sports over the next couple years.
i really want to see a two sport athlete at pitt. a legit one too, someone that can play both. that would be awesome. almost impossible in this day and age but still would be awesome. even if he came off the bench as a 8th or 9th man, a 4th guard, that would still be awesome..
I really wish Sam Clancy would've played both here.
I read in one of my million pitt sports books that sherill did get him to come out for either a spring or summer camp. So the effort was there.
Obviously it didn’t last long.
I would love to see it at Pitt as well, but there are not many athletes that I would think fit your definition of "legit." Sure there are some, but take DeAndre Hopkins for example (who is similar to Gallagher in height at 6'1"). Incredible football and basketball player in high school ... and still an incredible football player playing on that sport's biggest stage. BUT he was not a good basketball player at Clemson.
I can’t think of many guys recently that were legit players in college hoops and football. Charlie Ward obviously. Lawrence Moten. Julius Peppers, although I don’t recall how much he played hoops in college. Of course there are Tony Gonzalez, Jimmy Graham, Antonio Gates types at TE, so that is really a pipe dream at Pitt.
I watched this kid’s Hudl highlights. If he is a DB, I’d still try him some reps on offense like Whitehead. Looks like he has good vision as a ball carrier and he goes up and high points the ball as a receiver.
There was an article about him in the post gazette during the last basketball season and he seemed pretty committed to staying at Laurel Highlands and not going the prep school route. I know that should be taken with a boulder sized grain of salt because there is no such thing as reliable statements from high level recruits.
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