The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) took a major step Wednesday toward modernizing high school basketball in the state, voting 22-9 in favor of adopting a 35-second shot clock for varsity and junior varsity games starting with the 2028-29 season.
The vote, however, was only a first reading—meaning it must pass two more rounds of approval before becoming official. The next vote is expected at the PIAA board’s September meeting.
The move marks a notable shift in direction for the PIAA, which went against the recommendation of its own basketball steering committee. If fully approved, Pennsylvania would join a growing list of states adopting a shot clock to speed up the pace of play and align more closely with college and professional basketball standards.
The proposal drew renewed attention after being reported on X (formerly Twitter) by Altoona Mirror sportswriter Michael Boytim, who confirmed the initial vote count and tentative timeline.
While it’s not a done deal yet, the PIAA’s decision signals a likely evolution in how the game is played across Pennsylvania high schools in the near future.
