BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: PITTSBURGH

October 17, 2006


Verbal Commitment Alert: Cassin Diggs, (C) Cloud County Community College




Projected 2007-2008 Roster:


Seniors: Keith Benjamin (G), Ronald Ramon (G), Mike Cook (G/F)
Juniors: Levance Fields (PG), Sam Young (F), Tyrell Biggs (F), Cassin Diggs (C)
Sophomores: Gilbert Brown (SF/G), Austin Wallace (BF)
Freshmen: Darnell Dodson (G/F), Bradley Wanamaker (G), Gary McGhee (C), DeJuan Blair (PF)



The Panthers look to have closed out their recruiting for the early signing period by picking up their 5th verbal commitment when Could County sophomore center Cassin Diggs decided Pitt would be it. The Panthers' New Recruit Could Provide a Big Role (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) as Aaron Gray's replacement in '07-08. He certainly has the size...


READ REST OF THE STORY...CLICK "Read More" BELOW


Cassin Diggs has been on the Pittsburgh radar for a long time. As a high school senior at Williamsport High School in Pennsylvania, the Pitt coaches evaluated him several times. However, from there, Diggs has been travelling to places high and low in a quest to be eligible to be a high-major basketball player. On Sunday, it looks like that quest finally paid off when Diggs made a verbal commitment to Pittsburgh. He decided on the Panthers over UNLV. He also had scholarship offers from South Florida, Bradley, St. Bonaventure and Nebraska and had much of the rest of the Big 12 evaluating him closely as a likely spring target.

Diggs has the persona to be a solid player at Pitt. The lefty stands 6'10 tall and weighs in at 265 lbs. Since his time at Williampsort, Diggs prepped at Bridgton Academy for a couple years before attending Could County. As a freshmen in the always competitive Jayhawk Conference, Diggs averaged 14 PPG and seven rebounds a contest. He is not the most athletic player, but he is more than willing to put his body on people and use the skills he has developed over time to use in the post.

Overall, the Pitt class pretty much has a little bit of everything and seems to fit right into their program. I think we have come to learn that Pitt does not land the high-end athlete very often, but continues to fit pieces that make sense into their program. With the early completion of their 2007 class, we look for them to continue to get to work in laying a foundation in 2008. With a re-made staff led by recruiters Orlando Antigua and Mike Rice and the new connections of recently added Director of Basketball Operations David Cox, getting these guys a head start on 2008 could be the boost they need to take their recruiting up a notch.

Looking over their roster, that is the one thing they seem to be missing, the difference maker that has the high potential to put them on his back when need be. They might be hoping a Sam Young or Gilbert Brown develops into that role as they become upperclassmen, but to this point, we have yet to see it (it is early). Again, not your 'sexy' team set-up, but likely another deep team from Pitt that will play you tough for 40 minutes.

We will continue to follow the Panthers on the recruiting trail, but for now, it looks like we will be watching them after players in the 2008 class, including local standouts Terrelle Pryor, Brian Walsh and Jonathan Baldwin. The interesting notes on Baldwin and Pryor are that they might also be elite football prospects, too.