Parents, players, coaches launch last-ditch plea for winter sports to begin

PITTSBURGH — Parents, players and coaches launched one last plea to Pittsburgh Public Schools officials, begging them to allow winter sports to get up and running.

“One last plea. Dr. Hamlet, please. Give our seniors and other students a chance to play,” boys basketball coach Devin Crummie said.

He said there are college coaches contacting him about his seniors, but he can’t give recruiters an answer about when they’ll be able to see them play.

After originally delaying the sports season back in December because of COVID-19, there is still no decision on if the season will resume. Last month, district leaders said the decision would be made in January.

“My son has worked hard and finally got an opportunity to play varsity basketball and to not have that opportunity is sad,” Josh Brown said.

Brown’s son plays basketball with Jameel Bennet’s child. The two parents, along with more than 500 others, have signed a petition urging school leaders allow the sports season.

“I think all of the parents feel the same way we do. We want our kids to have the opportunity to play,” Bennet said.

Students in the WPIAL, meanwhile, are gearing up to start playing. But PPS is in the City League.

“I want the students in the City League to have the exact same opportunity as their peers. Students at Obama and Allderdice live within 2 miles from schools that are in the WPIAL and those students are getting the opportunity that our kids are not,” Bennett said.

District officials have not yet said when they will make a final decision.

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