CURRENT BASKETBALL RECRUITING OUTLOOK

By Chris Dokish

As of now, the Panthers are still looking to add a wing for '09 season, even though they currently have no available scholarships. The three targets are the same three targets that the Panthers have had for months now. Durand Scott, a 6'4" SG/SF of Rice HS in New York City, has already visited and is down to Pittsburgh, Miami, and UConn. Dominic Cheek, 6'6" SG/SF of St. Anthony's HS in Jersey City, NJ, is scheduled to visit the Panthers this weekend. He is also looking strongly at Kansas, Villanova, and Memphis. While both have made no public statements about where they are leaning, both still appear to be leaning away from Pitt, according to my sources. Scott seems to have a connection with Miami and I have been told that they are the favorite. As for Cheek, my sources tell me that Kansas, Villanova, and even Memphis may all be more likely than Pitt at this point. Of course that may change this weekend, but Pitt clearly has ground to make up.

That brings me to the the third target for the spot, the often mentioned 6'4" SG DeAndre Kane, formerly of Schenley, and now of the Patterson School in North Carolina. If Kane gets his grades in order this year, and continues to develop on the court, there is an excellent chance that he will end up with the Panthers next season. While he is not yet the caliber of Cheek or Scott, his potential is exciting.

For '10, the Panthers are looking for a point guard or combo guard with good point guard skills. That appears to eliminate 6'5" Tom Droney of Sewickley Academy, just outside of Pittsburgh. Droney does not project as a PG in Pitt's system. Droney appeared to be leaning to Pitt for a long time, but his parents seem to think he is a better fit socially at Notre Dame, and they may be right.

With Droney moving out of the picture, that means Pitt will try even harder with 6'2" Isaiah Epps of Plainfield (NJ) HS. Epps recently visited the Panthers and enjoyed his time at the school. However, Epps visited while the Panthers played their first exhibition game, against Seton Hill, and inside sources say it may be hard to convince Epps that Pitt is his choice after he saw freshmen Travon Woodall and Ashton Gibbs play well, and often, in the contest. Epps will likely decide between tougher competition at Pitt or become a guaranteed starter at Maryland. But Maryland head coach Gary Williams may not be back next season, so this is one that still has a lot of factors to be decided before a call can be made.