BIG VISIT WEEKEND AS PITT HOSTS UCONN

By Chris Dokish

With a huge regular season finale being played this Saturday against UConn, the Pittsburgh Panther coaching staff is using the opportunity to try to get some of their top targets in for the game.

Expected to be attending are 6'8" McDonald's All-American forward Dante Taylor of National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, MD and 6'9" forward Talib Zanna of Bishop McNamara HS in Forestville, MD, both of whom have already signed as members of the class of 2009. Also, 6'5" class of 2010 wing Tom Droney of Sewickley Academy, just outside of Pittsburgh.

According to those close to the situation, there is also a 75% chance that 6'10" 250 pound center Kyryl Natyazakho of IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL will visit. Natyazakho, a 2009 prospect, is a native of the Ukraine and rumor has it that seeing a Ukranian flag or two will go a long way in making him feel comfortable. Sounds like a job for the Zoo (hint, hint).

Also possibly attending, though still unsure because of possible game conflicts of their own, are 2010 verbal commitment Isaiah Epps, a 6'2" PG from Plainfield (NJ) HS, 5'10" PG Sterling Gibbs of Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, NJ, and 6'10" center Adreian Payne of Jefferson HS in Dayton, OH. Gibbs, the brother of Pitt freshman Ashton Gibbs is a 2011 prospect. Payne is a top 15 prospect in the 2010 class and is seen as a possible replacement for DeJuan Blair.

Check back sometime on Friday for an update to see who actually made it.