The Western PA Bruins girls basketball program is known for producing Division I college recruits.
Girls receiving scholarship offers and committing to top-level teams seems like an almost daily occurrence during the summer months. The outfit is like a factory when it comes to connecting talent to the next level.
At the helm of one of the country’s top AAU organizations is executive director John Tate.
Through his guidance, the Bruins have developed hundreds of prospects while regularly competing on a national level.
That national prominence led to a recent honor for Tate, who was recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Women’s College Basketball by Silver Waves Media.
He is the only selection from Western Pennsylvania.
The impressive list also includes UConn coach Geno Auriemma; Muffet McGraw, the former Notre Dame coach; ESPN’s Doris Burke; new Duke coach Kara Lawson; as well as dozens of other men and women from varying levels of coaching, other grassroots programs, media and even sneaker companies, who currently influence the women’s game.
Read the full list here.
Tate, who first formed the Pittsburgh Power club in 2006 before joining the Bruins in ‘09, was humbled by the attention. He said the Bruins are a group effort.
“It’s like anything else that you’re passionate about and dedicated to,” he said. “When your efforts and accomplishments are recognized it feels good. I’ve been extremely blessed.”
Silver Waves Media presents: 100 Influential People in Women’s College Basketball. https://t.co/c8w8ZSaqW7
— Silver Waves Media (@SilverWaveMedia) July 20, 2020
Silver Waves Media is a global media company out of El Segundo, Calif. that provides highlights and videos, news, podcasts, interviews, social media, scouting reports, rankings and more, for high school to professional sports.
For its latest list, Silver Waves Media said honorees are “at the peak of their professions that win at a high level, produce top flight talent, effect movement in the college coaching carousel, and have their fingerprints all over the sport.”
A key to compiling the list was receiving input from athletic directors, school officials, agents and others and narrowing dozens of candidates to 100.
Tate played at Penn Hills, where he is a hall of famer, and was a key member of the 1987 WPIAL championship team. He went in to play for John Calipari at UMass (1988-92).
He later had a successful, five-year run as coach of the Penn Hills girls basketball team.
Blessed to represent @WPABruinsAAU & western PA girls basketball on this list. Honored to be on it with my guys @Scottejohnson12 @FBCMotton @InsiderExposure @sadler_nathan & @Matt_SEBBall ?????? https://t.co/1A3e7wEqvh
— John Tate (@Twism44) July 20, 2020
