MYLES DAVIS RECRUITING UPDATE

Notre Dame Prep guard Myles Davis has been on the recruiting radar of much of the BIG EAST for the past year and that has continued since transferring from St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City (NJ) to Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg (MA). The change of schools was only one of the major changes to his status of a top recruit, Davis is also firmly planted in the recruiting Class of 2012 and is one of the more highly sought after shooters on the east coast in the class. He has also shown this season with ND Prep he is more than just a lights-out shooter.

Earlier this season at the National Prep Showcase, Davis was one of the more impressive players in the early games of day one. Known as a shooter for much of his career, Davis showed he is expanding his game in a major way. Hewas getting to the rim off the dribble, and has vastly improved court vision and ball-handling ability. Davis has the ability to play the point guard position and find teammates for baskets. Of course, he still has the deep range that made him such a coveted prospect in the first place. The list of schoosl currently involved is impressive.

"It's Pitt, Xavier, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati, Villanova, Georgetown and anybody else who wants to recruit me," Davis told NBE's Matt Whitfield this afternoon via text when asked for the latest list of schools recruiting him. "I am really open right now."

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Q&A for 7/7

By Chris Dokish
doke88@yahoo.com

Q: Chris, just out of curiosity, what percentage of your answers are from your contacts and what percentage are your own thoughts?

A: At least 95% come straight from contacts and for the 5% that doesn't, I make a point to say that it is my own opinion.

Q: How much does the Pitt staff take from the Greentree Summer League as far as the performances of the players?

A: Absolutely nothing. They don't even know that much about what goes on there, as far as how their players are performing. Especially this year when the Pitt players are the only high major players in the league. The league was simply designed to give the players a single place to get together and play in the off season. It's good to get in shape before the season and for the younger guys to get used to playing in front of more demanding fans. But it's great for the fans and I understand that one Pitt website actually had fans get together and sponsor a team. That's the kind of thing that the program needs as it helps in the grassroots movement to help turn Pittsburgh into a basketball city. It takes time but eventually kids may grow up wanting to play college basketball in the area as much as they want to play college football. And of course it's a great thing for the fans. I've been there a few times each year and I already stopped in already this year when I was in the city. It's a good thing to have. Just don't try to make too much out of the performances.

Q: Is it safe to say that Ashton Gibbs will be the starting PG this year?

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A: Not at all. Preseason practices haven't even started this season and the staff makes no judgments until then obviously. There is nobody guaranteed a starting spot at this time of year, this season especially. The staff still prefers that Woodall ends up being the starter and it's pretty important that he is. Simply put, he is the only true PG on the roster this season. Yes, Gibbs is a good player, but he isn't a true PG. From the emails I get I know Pitt fans want to convince themselves that he is, but he isn't. Woodall is much faster, much quicker, a much better penetrator, and much better defensively. His type of skills, if honed, is much better for Pitt. Look what happened at WVU and Cincinnati last year when they lost their PGs. They had SGs playing PG and it hurt them both.

If Gibbs was the starter, it would have the same effect as when Ronald Ramon took over for Levance Fields two years ago. Is Ramon a good player? Yes. Can Ramon start at PG for short periods of time? Yes. But can you win big with Ramon at PG full-time? No. Again, especially this season when things are so up in the air. Just like what will likely happen with Gibbs, Ramon's lack of PG skills were exposed against highly talented teams or highly talented PGs. Not to mention that if Gibbs is the starting PG, then that moves others out of their more ideal position, including Gibbs, who would be ideal as somebody who plays a lot of minutes backing up both guard spots. Bottom line, Gibbs could do well for the majority of the schedule, but if Pitt wants to have a really big season, it would be ideal if Woodall wins the job. And the staff thinks he definitely can. But they won't just hand it to him. If he doesn't win it fair and square, then they will take their chances with Gibbs.

Q: Is there a chance that Jermaine Dixon or Brad Wanamaker will start at PG this year?

A: Not unless there is some kind of serious injury and/or Woodall or Gibbs flops in a big way. I was told Dixon is third in line should something unforeseen happen. Despite the opinions of some fans, Wanamaker is not considered a serious contender at PG and he never was.

Q: How many scholarships does Pitt have for 2010, what position or positions are they looking at, and is there a commitment imminent?

A: They have one opening, but are looking at two different positions- "a true center" and "a big shooting guard". Whether they get both of those or just one, I don't know and I don't want to start that whole "is somebody going to leave?" thing all over again. Let's just say that as a rule the staff will never turn down an excellent player no matter how many openings they have.

Finding a true center will be hard, as it often is. And the staff is discouraged by the lack of talented true centers in the East this year. But if there is a sleeper out there, I'm sure they will find him. As for the big SG, I have had people tell me that I shouldn't be surprised if Will Barton eventually ended up at somewhere other than Memphis, but I doubt Pitt would be his choice if he did change. And Doron Lamb is a long shot, too.

One player they would like is 6'5" Trey Zeigler of Mount Pleasant (MI) HS. Jamie Dixon obviously has an in with Trey's father, Ernie, who coached with Dixon under Ben Howland at Pitt. He's a big-time player and since his father is the head coach at Central Michigan, he may pass on playing for him. But Pitt thinks Zeigler could wait for a long time before committing and if that's the case, they may find somebody else first.

As for how close they are to a commitment, they aren't close and never have been close this recruiting season. However, I would think with the AAU season in high gear, they will make a strong move on somebody sooner rather than later.

Q: Can the coaching staff be blamed for not having a center to replace DeJuan Blair?

A: Not really. They never thought in a million years that Blair would be gone after his sophomore season. Hell, they even thought it was less than a 50% chance up until the season was over this year.

Q: Will Gary McGhee start at center this season?

A: I have no idea, but I would be surprised if he got significant minutes this season. The three players who will play center this season are McGhee, Dante Taylor, and J.J. Richardson. McGhee is the only true center of the bunch, but Taylor is much more talented, and Richardson is a high energy tough guy with good athleticism. And that's not a typo. Richardson will primarily be a center this season. I get a lot of emails saying he will be at PF, and he will play there, but the plan is to have him play a a lot, and perhaps primarily, at center. As with Taylor, Pitt thinks it's easier to start off as a center because the PF position at Pitt is asked to do a ton. But they will try to see if either Taylor or Richardson has the ability to also play the four sometimes. If they can, that would be very beneficial.

Q: Could Nasir Robinson start at PF this year?

A: No, while he may play some four, they want him mostly at the three. And why not? His body, style, positives, and even negatives are exactly the same as Jaron Brown, another pretty good three from the past.

Q: Will Gilbert Brown play at the four and did he play at the four last year?

A: This is a pretty specific question to be asked by three different people, so I assume this was discussed publicly somewhere. So for that reason, I made a special point to ask. I was told he will not play at the four this season and if he was at the four at all last season it was because of a DQ at the end of a game.

Q: What are the five things that Pitt needs to happen this season to win 25 games?

A: Good question.

1. Woodall needs to legitimately win the PG job and perform well.

2. Taylor needs to be a Rookie of the Year contender in the league.

3. Gibbs needs to be an excellent three point shooter, especially in the clutch.

4. Brown needs to live up to his potential.

5. Wanamaker needs to improve even more.

Q: With him not playing well in the summer league, is the staff worried that Taylor will live up to his potential?

A: Of course not. The poor kid hasn't even had one college practice yet and you are already questioning him because of how well he plays in a pickup league? This is something that not only Pitt fans, but all college fans need to understand. And that's that a freshman progresses more in his first year of preseason practices than he did in his entire career up until that point. The Taylor you see in November will not be the Taylor you see now.

Q: Do you think Taylor will be as good of a freshman as DeJuan Blair was?

A: That's highly unlikely for any freshman. I picked Blair to win Rookie of the Year and the reason was not only because of his talent, but also because of the kind of talent he was. In other words, his game was mostly brute strength and that translates right away. That's why I always said that Richardson would make an impact as a freshman, unlike many fans who thought he was destined to redshirt. Now, J.J. is no Blair, but he is a strong kid with a lot of energy, plus he does the little things. In other words, he also is the kind of player that will have an easier time transitioning. Both of their games are not based on skill, but rather aggressiveness. Taylor is a tough kid, but he's not just going to carve out space like Blair did. He's going to have to use his skill set more and with that comes a few bumps in the road early on.

Q: Do you think DeJuan Blair made a mistake by leaving Pitt early?

A: No, I don't. His way to get money in life is to play basketball. He will probably do that in the NBA, but worse case scenario, he can always go to Europe and make millions. Plus, with his knees, you never know how long he can play. One more year at Pitt meant one less year making money before his knees gave out.

Q: I was at the summer league and Lamar Patterson impressed me. You nailed that one. He shot well, too. Do you think he could be a good three point shooter in college?

A: Well, like I've said before, Tom Herrion thinks he can be a "lights out shooter"- his words. With Gibbs, Patterson, and Epps in the future, the Panthers may have three excellent shooters at the one, two, and three. There have been some reports that Epps is not a great shooter, but those are flat out wrong. In fact, Pitt thinks it's his best trait. The kid can fill it up so don't worry about him. But, back to Patterson, like I said before, he will be a better player at Pitt than Darnell Dodson would have been at Pitt. Whether or not he would be better than Dodson at Kentucky, or anywhere else, I don't know, but that doesn't matter because he's at Pitt.

Q: Is Dwight Miller going to start this season?

A: Well, with Taylor and Richardson playing primarily at the five, and Robinson playing primarily at the three, that leaves Miller to grab the spot at the four. But like I said, nothing is written in stone, and in fact, nothing is even written on paper. It's way too early to know who will start. I can only tell you where the staff prefers to have everybody. But Miller has an excellent shot if he plays well in the preseason. If he doesn't, then you could see Richardson there or you could see Taylor there if McGhee surprises and can handle the center position. And there is always Talib Zanna, but he is still raw, so that would take a helluva preseason from him.

Q: Can you run down each position and tell us who the contenders are?

A: I can do that, but remember that nothing is settled until the official practices start. I can only tell you what positions the staff wants the players, but I can't foresee if those players seize those positions.

PG- Woodall earning the job would be ideal, but Gibbs could win it over him. Dixon is the emergency option. Wanamaker is not considered a PG by the staff.

SG- Dixon is obviously the favorite to start here. If Gibbs doesn't start at the point, he will backup here, as well as the point. Wanamaker will also get major minutes here, especially if Woodall doesn't pan out.

SF- Brown is probably the favorite here, though Wanamaker could figure in there, too. Robinson should see his minutes increase. Patterson will have to have an excellent preseason to get significant minutes this year, but he has a bright future.

PF- It's Miller's job to lose, but Taylor and Richardson should see minutes there, too. If they can't handle it, Robinson could see some time there. Zanna will have to have a big preseason to see time.

C- Taylor will probably get most of the minutes unless McGhee makes huge strides. Richardson will also see time here, especially if McGhee doesn't progress.

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ISAIAH EPPS: FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS

By Anthony Jaskulski

Bucket off the beautiful assist…

It’s a line you may hear often as a Pittsburgh Panther/Big East fan in the near future, and it won’t be replays from the Levance Fields era either.

Instead, you’ll be seeing one of the more prolific passers in the country follow the footsteps of the pass-happy Fields, and that assist man waiting in the wings is Isaiah Epps.

At a slight 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, Epps may not strike you as the most impressive shooter on the floor, and he certainly isn’t a rebounding monger. But with a string on the ball, a quick, agile style and a passing game that would make a quarterback envious, Epps, has emerged on the scene as one of the top recruits in the country thanks to his smooth facet of the game.

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“When you work on your game as much as I have and put a lot of time into it, it starts to get a little easier,” said Epps. “There is always more room to improve though, and that’s what keeps me hungry everyday.”

A 2010 verbal commitment for the Pittsburgh Panthers, Epps, who was recruited by former Panther star and now assistant coach Brandin Knight, also a native of New Jersey, will more than likely be operating from the same position Knight dominated from 1999-2003, the point guard spot.

“Coach Knight definitely brought me towards the Pitt program, and my cousin (Travon) Woodall also made me feel more at home,” Epps said. “(Pitt) is a place where some of the best guards in the country go, and it’s a big honor to be a guard on a team like that.”

Woodall, a redshirt freshman next year for the Panthers, also operates from the point guard position.

But Epps, who is currently ranked 35th on the Rivals Top150 for the class of 2010 list, and part of the ESPNU Super-60 list, makes much more of an uncanny resemblance to a more current Panthers point guard, Levance Fields.

“I relate to Levance a lot more then any other Pitt player, because he’s more of a passer then a scorer like me,” Epps said. “He also was the guy the team could depend on to hit the game-winning shot, and I will definitely do that. I have a lot of confidence in me being that guy.”

From his high school in Plainfield, New Jersey to his AAU team: The New Jersey Playaz, Epps has wooed many scouts and crowds alike with his unique passing ability, solid ball-handling skills and spot-up shooting in clutch situations.

Recently, at the Pittsburgh Jam Fest, a weekend tournament held on April 17-19 at the Petersen Events Center, the talented Epps showed many what his game was all about, leading his AAU squad to the 17-U Gold championship game, in which they lost in the final seconds, but not before Epps showed off an impressive nine point, eight assist performance, including a hair-raising, half court, ally-oop pass that threaded through two defenders.

But for Epps, making plays like that is just secondary, when the passing category is your primacy.

“I like getting my own team involved first, no matter if it’s a pickup game or a championship game.” said Epps. “I’ll score when I need to score, but it’s not the top priority.”

With his Fields-esque style in full swing and his leadership-first, veteran attitude, you can expect Epps to make an immediate impact at Pittsburgh, and follow in the footsteps of one of the best point guards—Fields—to ever wear a Panther uniform.

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PARROM OPTS FOR 'ZONA OVER PITT

BY JEFF BORZELLO

Fresh off his visit to Arizona, Kevin Parrom made it official: he will play for the Wildcats next season.

“I committed today,” Parrom said in a text message Sunday evening.

Parrom, a 6-6 swingman from New York who played at South Kent Prep (Conn.) this past year, was released from his letter of intent to Xavier in April after Musketeers’ head coach Sean Miller accepted the job at Arizona.

However, he decided to follow Miller across the country to Tucson and suit up in the Pac-10. He chose Arizona over Pittsburgh.

“The people there,” Parrom said when asked why he signed with the Wildcats. “The surroundings. The coaching staff. Great academic support. And the campus is wonderful.”

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After his visit to Pittsburgh last week, Parrom said he would go see Arizona and then likely choose by the end of the upcoming week. However, he was so impressed by his trip to UA that he committed on the spot.

“My trip was great,” Parrom said. “Just getting out there in Arizona and being myself at all times with the people and the players on campus.”

Over the summer, I had a chance to watch Parrom at the Reebok All-American camp in Philadelphis. He was one of the best all-around players at the camp, and showed the ability to do nearly everything on the court. Parrom has good shooting form, which enables him to knock down outside shots, meaning defenders can’t leave him open for jumpshots. As a result, Parrom also drives to the basket well and finishes creatively at the rim.

He also has an effective back-to-the-basket game and posted up smaller defenders on several occasions. He is an extremely difficult match-up for most defenders. Parrom is also a very good passer with good vision who looks for his teammates as soon as he touches the ball. He can shoot the ball either in transition or in the half-court, and also runs the floor well. Parrom rebounds well at both ends of the court due to his athleticism, and is a very good defender, both on-and-off the ball.

Parrom transferred to South Kent after an off-the-court problem at St. Raymond’s (N.Y.), in which he allegedly hit a coach. He originally chose Xavier in September, picking the Musketeers over St. John’s, where high school teammate and close friend Omari Lawrence will attend next season.

However, once Miller left Xavier to replace interim head coach Russ Pennell at Arizona, Parrom wanted to re-evaluate his recruitment. Miller brought two of his assistants with him to Arizona, including Emmanuel “Book” Richardson, who was the former head of the New York Gauchos AAU program and with whom Parrom has a close relationship.

Parrom is the third recruit of Miller’s tenure at Arizona, following Kyryl Natyazhko and Solomon Hill.

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KEVIN PARROM UPDATE

by Jeff Borzello


Despite the high school basketball season ending last month, Kevin Parrom is still very busy.

The 6-foot-6 swingman from South Kent (CT) was released from his letter of intent to Xavier earlier this month after Musketeers’ head coach Sean Miller accepted the job at Arizona.

Parrom visited Pittsburgh this past weekend, and is set to visit Arizona next weekend.

“It was great,” Parrom said of his visit to Pittsburgh. “I had a chance to meet some guys and the coaches. The coaching staff was great. It was a good visit."

“There was a sense of family, everybody was together. Also, they win every year, so that’s a plus," said the polite and well-spoken Parrom.

Parrom will take a visit out to Miller’s new school, Arizona, this upcoming weekend.

“I’m going to check out the atmosphere,” he said when asked what he is looking for when he visits Tucson. “I want to meet the coaching staff and see how it is out there.”

Reports earlier in the week indicated that he was going to potentially visit Rhode Island, Providence and Virginia Tech, but Parrom is unsure.

“I was supposed to visit Rhode Island and Providence on Thursday,” he said. “But I don’t know if I’m going to do it."

“I was planning on visiting Virginia Tech, but the chances are slim of me actually visiting.”

Parrom’s former school, Xavier, is still in the picture but he said he wants to see other schools.

When asked what he is looking for in his college of choice, he said he wants to play immediately and also wants to feel a bond to the players and coaches.

“I’m looking for playing time and the chance to make an instant impact as a freshman,” Parrom said. “Also, I’m looking at the relationships.”

Indicative of his decision to originally sign with a school from a non-power conference, the Atlantic-10, Parrom said that conference affiliation will not a play a role in his decision.

“Conference is not a factor,” he said. “I’m not picking a conference, I’m picking a school. I could care less about the conference.”

As of now, Parrom said he is focused on Pittsburgh and Arizona, his top two schools.

“I plan on making a decision within the next two weeks, probably by the end of next week. I want to try to get it over with; I don’t want it to be a long process.”

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Due to technical difficulties at the NBE Basketball Report, this article is posted on this blog. We hope to have NBE back up this evening. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
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Panthers still pursuing forwards

By Chris Dokish

As previously reported, the Panthers coaching staff are doing their best to use their last scholarship available for this recruiting season, a scholarship that opened when All-American DeJuan Blair left early for the NBA. As the NBA playoffs approach, one can see why a player like Blair would be valuable to help the NBA Odds of winning a championship as there will be few pure rebounders like the Panthers' 'Big Fella'.

One player the staff is looking at is 6'6" 200 combo forward Kevin Parrom of South Kent Prep in Connecticut. Parrom originally played for St. Raymond's HS in the Bronx, but was forced to leave after he punched head coach Oliver Antigua. Parrom was arrested for the incident. Eventually Parrom signed with Xavier, but after former Xavier head coach Sean Miller left to take the head coaching job at Arizona, Parrom asked for, and received, his release.

Now that Parrom is free, he is down to four schools- Pittsburgh, Arizona, Virginia Tech, and Xavier. Parrom has a scheduled visit for Sunday to Pittsburgh and next weekend for Arizona.

The Panthers are also looking at junior college prospects and head coach Jamie Dixon recently appeared at Midland Community College in Midland, TX to check out 6'6" 240 pound Kavon Lytch. Midland is one of the premier juco programs in the country and lost in the national championship game this season.

Lytch, a Brooklyn native, is a bit of a vagabond as he spent his freshman season at Redlands Community College in El Reno, OK. He is well known as a ferocious rebounder despite his height (6'6" may be generous), and he also has excellent passing skills, two attributes that Dixon looks for in his low post players. I have seen tape of him and he reminds me of former Panther Ontario Lett, who ironically was another undersized junior college sleeper that Dixon found late in the recruiting season. Cincinnati, Seton Hall, UAB, Iowa State, Texas Tech, and St. John's are among the other schools who have been pursuing him.

One forward the Panthers will probably pass on is 6'8" 230 pound Florida transfer Allan Chaney. Dixon has inquired about Chaney, but sources indicate that he is too similar to the young forwards the Panthers already have.

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NATYAZHKO STILL CONSIDERING THREE

April 10, 2009


DeJuan Blair is moving on to the NBA and left in his massive wake is a gaping hole at center. To help fill that hole, Jamie Dixon and his staff are looking to IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. where 6'10" 250 pound center Kyryl Natyazhko (pronounced KAH-rill NUH-tosh-ko) is located. The Ukrainian import, reached by phone this afternoon, disputes a recent national article in which his coach at IMG, Vince Walden, stated that his decision will come down to Arizona or Arizona State, and that his decision will likely come this weekend.

"I don't know why he said that," chuckled Natyazhko. "It's three schools I'm looking at. Pittsburgh, Arizona State, and Arizona. And I wouldn't say they are even. In fact, I would say Pittsburgh and Arizona State are on top now. I haven't been to Arizona yet. Coach (Sean) Miller just got the job out there and they want me to come out and visit as soon as possible, but the only time I can visit is next weekend. So I'm going to try to do that and use that as my last official visit."

Natyazhko had already visited Arizona State and Pittsburgh, along with Xavier and Ohio. At Arizona State, Natyazhko was particularly impressed with the high contingent of European players on the roster. At Pitt, it was the atmosphere. "I was there when they played UConn," stated Natyazhko. "It was pretty unbelievable".

One thing Natyazhko won't have to worry about is playing time. Arizona State graduated big man Jeff Pendergraph, Arizona is in the midst of a roster overhaul, and the Panthers have lost Blair. The fact that the last two centers for Pittsburgh, Blair and Aaron Gray, have moved on as NBA draft picks is not lost on Natyazhko, and he says that could factor in his decision. "I'm just looking for a coach that will help me get to the next level. I just have to decide who that is".

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2010 PITT RECRUIT ISAIAH EPPS IMPRESSIVE AT SPRING FLING

April 6, 2009


The AAU season tipped off this past weekend in New Jersey with the annual Playaz Spring Fling, bringing in many of the top programs and players along the East Coast to the RAC on the Rutgers campus.

One very impressive performer in Friday night's action was Pittsburgh 2010 verbal commitment Isaiah Epps.

Playing for the NJ Playaz, the Plainfield HS star excelled showing off his blazing speed in the open floor and the diversity in his individual game as he possessed the sweetest looking shot on the floor.

Epps will give Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon a new element in his future backcourt, and explosive guard play that Epps will likely provide is certain to increase the Panthers' March Madness chances in the future.

While Epps used his elite-level speed to dance around defenders and prove that full court pressure was unable to slow him down, the 6-foot-2 combo guard will use a year of prep school to add weight and strength to his slight frame to be ready for the rigors of the physical Big East come the 2010-2011 season.

Pittsburgh got themselves a good one...

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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.

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Pitt Basketball Notes

by Chris Dokish

As I'm sure most, if not all of you, know by now, Dante Taylor has been selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game. I got the word shortly before it was announced and not long after I broke the news on the phone to a member of the Pitt staff. Needless to say, he was extremely happy to hear the news and thinks it will help recruiting even more. Interestingly, even though it was rumored that Taylor had made the team, and the staff thought he deserved it, they expressed doubt that it was going to happen. A lot of that may be because, according to those close to the situation, Taylor was promised that he would be selected to the Jordan Brand Classic, and was not.

There are also rumors that J.J. Richardson has been suspended, and those rumors are true. I was informed a little bit of the situation, but since it wasn't Richardson himself who told me, I will not repeat it at this time. However, I can say that it is not a criminal matter, and quite frankly, a suspension in this situation seems a little harsh. But I admit that I also don't have all the facts yet. As for any rumors that will undoubtedly start about Richardson's future at Pitt, I can tell you that I got the opportunity to ask Tom Herrion about it and he said, "he will be at Pitt next year and you can quote me on that". The coach thinks Richardson is a great kid and is very surprised that he finds himself in this situation. And regular readers of this site will no doubt remember that I have also mentioned a few times what a great kid he is. Bottom line, he acted up a little, it wasn't that big of a deal, and he is still on target to be at Pitt next season.

In recruiting news, one player to keep an eye on is 6'4" SG Doron Lamb. The NYC native, who is currently playing at Oak Hill Academy, is a big time scorer and one of the top 20 prospects for the 2010 class. Lamb is starting to drop Pitt's name a lot recently, no doubt due to the fact that Pitt is getting major buzz now. Pitt is looking to capitalize on that by turning up the heat up not only on Lamb, but also 6'4" wing Will Barton and 6'9" center Adreian Payne. Barton and Payne are also top 20 prospects.

For more on Lamb, check out the Primetime Shootout Players Evals; Class of 2010 at NBE Basketball Report, which also updates his recruiting.

Jamie Dixon showed up in Florida today to check in on '09 big man Kyryl Natyazhko. The 6'10" Ukrainian is an offensively skilled post player that Herrion has been watching a lot lately. The fact that Dixon made a point to see him shows that the Panthers interest is very strong. Word is that since Dixon was in Bradenton, he wanted to quietly sneak in and see the Pirates in spring training. But when you have one of the marquee teams in the nation, sneaking is no longer an option, and he was immediately surrounded by cameramen.

Lastly, one name that recently came up with Pitt, since Herrion was spotted watching him play, is 6'11" junior college center Jarrid Famous. But word is, Herrion was checking out local high school players in the area so he took the opportunity to see Famous, too. However, the big man would only be an option if DeJuan Blair left early for the NBA, and by the time Blair's situation is known, it's expected that Famous will be out of play.

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Talented Wing, Lamar Patterson Looking Forward To The Future

by Matt Whitfield


Lamar Patterson is one of the Garden State’s top seniors. He is a 6’5, 220 pound Small Forward who has committed to play next year for Jamie Dixon at Pittsburgh.

Patterson is the younger brother of former Syracuse QB Perry Patterson, so it is no surprise that he choose to play basketball for a top school school in the Big East, rather than a well known school in another top conference such as the ACC or Big Ten, where he attracted a fair amount of interest, including scholarship offers from Michigan, Miami, Rutgers, and Penn State. However, according to Patterson he choose Pittsburgh because, “It was my style of play. [They're] real physical, [they] bring it up and down the court.”

Patterson transferred to nationally ranked powerhouse St. Benedict’s for his senior from Mccaskey High School in Lancaster (PA) with an eye on his future.

“I just wanted to get in shape to get ready for there [Pittsburgh].”

Playing on a team coached by Danny Hurley, and going up against talented teams such as Lincoln, St. Patrick's, Mater Dei, Whitney Young, and Rice will certainly do that for Patterson. Being in the Garden State also, Patterson indicated he connected with future Pittsburgh Panther, slashing Point Guard Isaiah Epps.

“The coaches up there were telling me to talk to him before he committed,” Patterson said. “It’s good we got a point guard like that.”

Patterson and Epps should be a tandem to be reckoned with in the future. But for now Patterson is known for being a tough, physical wing that pounds the glass and has a great work ethic.

Sure Patterson will have to improve some things but according to Patterson, Coach Dixon, “gets what he wants out of his players,” and thus, while not expecting to start right away next year, Patterson stated, “I [do] expect some playing time.”

Things for Patterson are certainly starting to get interesting as besides being a part of a good Panther recruiting class, Patterson stated, “I was always at Syracuse [visiting my older brother] so [now] we have a little family rivalry going on.”

Sibling rivalry or not, with the basketball pipeline flowing for both Pitt and SU, these schools should have great matchups for years to come in the Big East.

For more on Patterson, including his play at the recent Newark Invitational, visit the NBE Basketball Report to learn about everything on the Big East.

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PITT PANTHER BASKETBALL FUTURE AS BRIGHT AS PRESENT

January 26, 2009


While the present of Pittsburgh basketball is mighty impressive, the future is not too shabby either and a big part of it was on display yesterday in the featured game in the Lehigh Valley Hoop Group Showcase. While St. Benedict's Proves It's Worth (Morning Call) in a 79-70 overtime win over Bishop McNamara, it was Lamar Patterson and Talib Zanna putting on a show of the future of the Panthers.

Patterson was game MVP and finished with 21 points, going eight of 10 from the field and four of six from the foul line. Zanna, matched up against elite 2010 Texas-commit Tristan Thompson, matched Patterson's 21 points and added 14 rebounds, 4 steals and four thuderous jams. Zanna was nine of 16 from the field and three of five from the line.

The Gray Bees prevailed in OT, 80-70.

Joining Patterson and Zanna in Pitt's highly touted class will be an elite 2009 forward prospect in Dante Taylor of the National Christian Academy program. Taylor is quite a success story as at the age of 14 he and his mother made the tough decision for him to leave home and enter the NCA program under Trevor Brown. Taylor's Taken a Long Road from Greenburgh (The Journal News), NY to where he is today, but it was worth it to his mother.

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Pitt basketball Q&A

Obviously with things getting hot with Pitt's recent recruiting efforts, I received more emails with questions.

Q: Does Pitt have a shot with Lance Stephenson?

A: Well, that's the million dollar question, I guess. Pitt has been talking to Stephenson's camp off and on for months. I didn't report it for all that time because right now there's not much to say. Basically, Stephenson has interest in Pitt, and Pitt has a little bit of interest in Stephenson. It's true that Tom Herrion was at Stephenson's game the other night, but he was also there to check out some good young players in the game. So I wouldn't put too much stock into that. Coaches check out games all the time when they are free. They are always recruiting. Now, obviously this kid is a high school superstar, and I'm not using that term lightly. He may be the most talented high school senior in the country, but he also has baggage. For both those reasons Pitt is going to keep a toe in the water. But I wouldn't get too excited yet. There are a ton of variables in the recruitment of Stephenson and for the moment Pitt is just lurking around the periphery. Consider it a long shot for the time being. If they decide to get serious, I'll let you know. But right now they aren't.

Q: What's your thoughts on Isaiah Epps?

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A: The kid is a big time talent. He is a combo guard that Pitt is going to try at the point. That's fine by Epps because he loves having the ball in his hands. He needs to get stronger, but he has the ability to be an elite Big East player because he is an excellent athlete and he can really light it up. And he has the right kind of cockiness to him, too, which is what you need to be a Big East point guard. He's the best point guard prospect Pitt has had since Vonteego Cummings, who was a top 20 prospect coming out of Georgia. Imagine what a talented kid like Cummings could have done with Dixon as his coach. Ralph Willard is great coaching the less talented kids, but he had no idea what to do with somebody like Cummings. But I digress.

Q: How does Epps feel about competing against his cousin, Travon Woodall?

A: Technically, it's his second cousin. And he feels fine about it. They are good friends. And Woodall welcomes the challenge.

Q: What does the commitment of Epps mean for Travon Woodall and Ashton Gibbs?

A: Woodall has been hurt all year so they are hoping to get a redshirt for him at the end of the season. They are hoping he can progress enough to be the starting point guard next season, but that will be a big jump since he hasn't been able to play much this season. If he can't do it, it will be Gibbs, who they feel has really progressed with his point guard skills. And as we know, he can flat out shoot.

Q: With the commitment of Epps, does that mean Pitt will no longer go after Sterling Gibbs?

A: It doesn't mean that at all. You can never have enough talented guards. If Sterling is good enough to wrestle the starting job away, then both Ashton and Epps can easily play the two. But Sterling is still a long way off. I know some Pitt fans have penciled him in already, but that's premature. He's not destined for Pitt. He will be a hot commodity.

Q: Will Pitt still have room for Will Barton now that Epps has committed?

A: I think I'm noticing a trend here. Let me make this easy. Pitt will not turn down an elite player that wants to sign with them- period. And Barton is an elite player who could be a star in the Big East.

Q: Is Pitt still recruiting Tom Droney?

A: They really like Droney as a player and as a person, and in past years they would have definitely taken him. But right now, they are so loaded and there doesn't appear to be room at the inn for him. If they thought that he had point guard skills, it would have been a different story.

Q: What do you think Pitt's chances are with Adreian Payne? And what kind of a player is he?

A: Too early to say what their chances are. Payne is known for being somebody who doesn't really talk much. And I'm talking literally one word answers for the most part. So getting anything out of him is difficult. His coach, on the other hand, was impressed with Brandin Knight and Jamie Dixon. What most got my attention was that the coach made a point to say that Pitt's system was ideal for Payne. And he's right. Pitt is trying hard to get him on campus and that's half the battle. If they can achieve that, then there odds go up.

As for what kind of a player he is, he is 6'9" and VERY long. Think of Blair's long arms on a kid a few inches taller. He's skinny, though, and certainly not a beast like Blair. And his offensive game is not there yet, though that's almost always the last thing for big men to get down. Dante Taylor was similar at this time last year, though he was a little better offensively then. But Payne is also highly athletic and as far as offensive rebounding and shot blocking, he is in the elite class for both.

Q: I guess most of us have heard that we are now after Barton, Stephenson, and Payne, but is there anybody else?

A: Like I wrote previously, Pitt is not "after" Stephenson at this point. Barton and Payne are major targets who they will take under any circumstances. They also liked Eric Atkins and Tyrone Garland at the point, but now that they have Epps, that will no longer be the case. And for the front court, they like 6'10" Massachusetts center Carson Desrosiers, and he could be an option if they fall out of it with Payne. Kyryl Natyazhko is still an option for '09, in case Blair leaves for the NBA, though that could muddy things with Payne if he didn't decide yet.

Q: Is it me or do we have two excellent recruiters as assistants?

A: It's not you. Herrion is a known commodity and is considered one of the very best in the business. Knight, I thought it would take a little longer, but being an assistant for the No.1 team in the country has opened more doors for him. Now, when I talk to kids, its not, "I like Pitt, but Kansas just offered me!" Now its, "Pitt's the No.1 team in the country and they just offered. That's pretty cool". Plus, Knight is really helped by the fact that he's close to the age of these kids, and by the fact that he was a very known college player not that long ago. It has to be pretty cool to have a guy who was the Player of the Year in the Big East just seven years ago walk into your house and tell you that he wants you to play in the same league, and that league just happens to be the best one in the country. It couldn't get better for Pitt right now and that's why the staff is in overdrive to load up while they still have the buzz.

Q: Do you think Pitt will over recruit Gary McGhee?

A: McGhee is an awesome young man and gives it his all constantly. So from a personal standpoint, I hope it doesn't happen, unless he wants it to happen. But he is pretty much at the level I predicted when he signed. I wasn't really high on his abilities as some may remember. At least not as a starting center, which is what Pitt desperately needed at the time with Aaron Gray graduating. And at the time it didn't seem ideal to put a 6'6" freshman at center, even if he was a beast man. But ultimately I think people are down on him now because, as I feared at the time, they saw Gray get turned from a plugger into an All-American, and people expected the same with McGhee. But McGhee was just meant to be a guy that is physical in the paint and gives the big guys a few minutes rest. Anything more than that would be considered a bonus. Contrary to popular belief, no team has, or even tries, to land 13 elite prospects. That's a recipe for disaster. The truth is, you need the Gary McGhees on your team as much as you need the DeJuan Blairs on your team. Now, if he starts all season, then you screwed up. But you screwed up by not replacing your highly talented center with another highly talented center, and not by getting McGhee earlier. Not everybody was destined to be an excellent Big East player. It just seems that way sometimes when you watch Pitt.

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PANTHERS PUSHING TO BRING THE PAYNE IN 2010

by Chris Dokish


With the recent verbal commitment of 6'2" PG Isaiah Epps, a top 50 prospect from Plainfield (NJ) HS, the Pittsburgh basketball program has no current openings for the 2010 class. But, like all programs, the Panthers staff has not stopped recruiting, and they are still looking to add top talent.

Two 2009 recruits, top 25 prospect Dante Taylor, a 6'9" PF from National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, MD, and fast rising 6'9" C/F Talib Zanna of Bishop McNamara HS in Forestville, MD, are a strong start for a future excellent front line, but Jamie Dixon is aiming high again in 2010. This time Dixon is putting the full court pressure on 6'9" C/F Adreian Payne, a top 10 prospect from Jefferson HS in Dayton, OH.

"Dixon came here a few days ago," says Jefferson head coach Art Winston. "It was a good visit. Pitt offered a long time ago and it was nice to see them come to see Adreian."

While the Panthers offered long ago, Dixon's visit marked the beginning of the push to land Payne.
"They wanted us to visit for their game Sunday against St. John's, but we played the night before and we couldn't drive the four hours there the next morning," says Winston. "But we are trying to get there by the end of the month".

"I definitely want to visit Pitt," says Payne, a man of very few words. "I'm going to go for an unofficial soon. It's nice to have them recruiting me."

Payne, who can play both center or forward in college, according to Winston, is an ultra athletic, ridiculously long big man with great rebounding and shot blocking skills. But he hasn't scratched the surface yet, according to Winston.

"Most kids play AAU ball from when they were very young, but Adreian didn't play until he was a freshman," says Winston. "Not only didn't he play much before then, he didn't even watch basketball. But we saw him when he was in 7th Grade and he was already 6'3" or 6"4", and he had a great feel for the game. So we knew then that he had a chance to be special."

As expected for such an elite prospect, Pittsburgh has a lot of competition for his services. Dayton, Ohio State, Cincinnati, and Xavier will do everything they can to keep him in state, and Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisville, Memphis, and West Virginia are just a few of the many who have either offered or have recruited Payne hard. But, according to Winston, Pitt has made a major impression on both himself and his star big man.

"(Pitt assistant coach) Brandin Knight came down to visit not long ago and he was really nice" says Winston.

"And he was a big time player in college, too, so he really made an impression on us. Dixon was very nice, too. They have been great and they showed what kind of a classy program they have there."

While recruiting as the head coach of the current No. 1 team in the country no doubt has its benefits, Winston said Pitt has something much better going for them.
"It's not even about them being No.1," says Winston.

"What we like so much about Pitt, besides how nice they've been, is there system. It's perfect for Adreian".

Winston says they were going to wait until the season was over before making a decision, but now it may come sooner. "We will probably do it before the season ends now," says Winston. "We will take a look at where he fits in best then do it".

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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: PITTSBURGH

January 12, 2009


2010 Verbal Commitment Alert: Isaiah Epps, 6'2 (G) from Plainfield (NJ) High School.

Pittsburgh basketball and coach Jamie Dixon have found that being ranked No. 1 in the country has its privileges. Following last week's win over Georgetown, the Pitt head coach had been on the recruiting trail, including a stop at the Playaz New Year's Jump-off where he watched 2010 Jersey guard Isaiah Epps. Epps certainly noticed an ended his recruitment less than a week later as Pitt Lands the Jersey Guard (ZagsBlog.com) to get a head start on their 2010 class.


PROJECTED 2009-20010 PITTSBURGH ROSTER:

Senior: Jermaine Dixon (G)
Juniors: Gilbert Brown (SF/G), Bradley Wanamaker (G), Gary McGhee (C), DeJuan Blair (PF)
Sophomores: Travon Woodall (PG), Nasir Robinson (G/F), Ashton Gibbs (G)
2009 Commits: Lamar Patterson (SG), Dante Taylor (PF), J/J. Richardson (F), Talib Zanna (BF/C), , Dwight Miller* (PF)
2010 Commitment: Isaiah Epps

* Dwight Miller is expected to redshirt the 2008-2009 season and have freshman eligibility in the 2009-2010 season.

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Nothing like striking while the iron is hot and the Panthers venture back into New Jersey, using assistant coach Brandin Knight's ties to the NJ Playaz AAU program, to land 6-foot-2 guard Isaiah Epps out of Plainfield High School to kick off their 2010 recruiting efforts. Epps is a combination guard that is projecting as a point guard in college, but is also a very capable scorer with range beyond the three-point arc.

His former high school coach, Pete Vasil, told Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com that Seton Hall and Rutgers both offered scholarships in the summer of 2007 and other schools under consideration included Maryland, Marquette and Kansas was also showing increased attention.

Epps has several ties to the Pitt program as current Panther frosh Travon Woodall is a second cousin and he knows Ashton Gibbs, another Jersey product, well. The familiarity and relationship he has built with Brandin Knight swayed Epps to commit early to the Panthers.

There is expected to be a limited amount of scholarships available in the class of 2010 as well (one on paper). Local guard Tom Droney had the Panther coach at a recent game this week, so Pitt is still showing interest in the local prospect. The other top target seems to be 6-foot-5 wing Will Barton out of Lake Clifton High School in Maryland. Also, coach Dixon made a trip out to the Dayton (OH) area this week to watch menacing 2010 post prospect Adreian Payne, a highly touted 6-foot-8 PF/C.

Here are our previous notes on Pitt's 4-player 2009 recruiting class:

Talib Zanna has impressed the NBE Basketball Report in the summer for the player he has become, but the player he could become has always had our staff very intrigued. Early in July at the Agent Zero to Hero event Zanna showed his ability to run the floor and improved willingness to battle in the post. At the Reebok Summer Championships Zanna displayed ability to face-up and attack off the dribble.

At 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds Zanna has the size to compete in the Big East and the athletic ability that had college coaches watching this summer. One major college assistant watching Zanna this summer remarked he "Has Major upside! Very long and athletic. Rebounds very well." Zanna finished his summer playing for the Triple Threat AAU program after starting the AAU circuit with the DC Blue Devils. He will compete in his senior season with Bishop McNamara this season.

It was a very productive summer for J.J. Richardson playing with the Houston Elite AAU program. His blue-collar style and constant energy and effort in the paint caught the eye of the Pittsburgh coaching staff and they found a perfect fit for their program to continue the success they have enjoyed in recent years. A source close to Richardson and his recruitment believes Pitt got one of the biggest sleepers in the country as the 6-foot-7, strong and athletic forward is just beginning to put things together on the basketball court.

Despite modest stats on a loaded high school team last season at Hightower High School in Fort Bend (TX), the former state of Ohio native impressed this summer at events such as the Reebok All-American Camp and during his time in Vegas. He recently visited Pittsburgh and his commitment only seemed like a manner of time afterwards.

"I loved it," said Richardson of his visit. "The players were all very nice and they brought me in to everything they were doing. They're definitely number one right now. I almost committed, and I really thought about it, but I wanted to have someplace to compare it to first."

That 'someplace' was supposed to be Oklahoma State, another school that Richardson was offered a scholarship from, but he never made it to campus as the Cowboys' frontcourt scholarships seemed to be taken up with some recent commitments.

Richardson and Zanna join Dante Taylor, whose dominating summer AAU season got the attention of Memphis, UConn, Syracuse, and Kansas, among many others, as a trio of frontcourt players in the 2009 class. Taylor was targeted by Pitt assistant coach Tom Herrion last year and Herrion put the full court press on Taylor ever since, and that made an impression on Taylor, who cites Pitt’s loyalty as one of the main reasons that he chose to be a Panther.

Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon landed his biggest commitment yet in his time as the Pittsburgh head coach when Taylor pulled the trigger and committed to the Panthers. The Pitt staff had made Taylor their priority in the class of 2009 at power forward nearly a year ago and their hard work paid off as the entire Pitt staff had been seen at many of Taylor's games this spring and summer, especially at the Reebok Summer Classic in New Jersey.

Taylor, Zanna and Richardson all fit in well at Pitt as strong and athletic forwards who are tremendous rebounders and will play strong and physical near the rim. Taylor has played his high school career for Trevor Brown at National Christian Academy and also plays for the NCA AAU team, which is also run by Brown as part of their high school program. Taylor has excelled at the NBA Top 100 camp and the Lebron James Skills Academy, solidifying his status of one of the top players in the class of 2009.

Rounding out the current Pitt class of 2009 of verbal commitments is Lamar Patterson, a guard/forward who will be attending St. Benedict's prep in Newark (NJ) this coming season. The Lancaster (PA) native committed to Pittsburgh last year during the high school season. Patterson is a versatile backcourt performer who offers very good size to the wing.

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2010 RECRUITING UPDATE: EPPS & BARTON IN SITES

by Chris Dokish



The Big East boasts the No.1 team in the land, but this time it's not Connecticut, Georgetown or Syracuse. Instead, after nearly a decade of excellence, the program on top of the heap is the University of Pittsburgh. And to the victors goes the spoils.

For the Class of 2009 the Panthers have inked an excellent class of four, led by Top 50 prospect Dante Taylor and quickly rising 6'9" center Talib Zanna. But looking to strike while the iron is hot, Jamie Dixon and his staff are looking to continue their recruiting success in 2010, with two perimeter players especially in their sites.



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Senior point guard Levance Fields is down to his last few months as a Panther and 5'11" freshman Travon Woodall will be the only true point guard remaining on the roster next season. That's why the Panthers are targeting the position for 2010, and why they are zeroing in on 6'2" Isaiah Epps of Plainfield (NJ) HS.

Epps currently holds offers from Pittsburgh, Maryland, Seton Hall and Rutgers, while also receiving a lot of interest from Kansas, Marquette, and Houston. With the two New Jersey schools close, Epps has visited both unofficially, while he has visited Pittsburgh and Maryland.

"I loved both my visits to Pitt and Maryland a lot," says Epps, who was reached in the locker room last night after he scored 11 points in a 59-49 win.

There has been much speculation that Pittsburgh and Maryland are the current frontrunners for Epps, but Epps says he is in no hurry to make a decision. "I'm just focusing on this season, to be honest with you," says Epps.

But one thing that Epps is thinking about is the possible future of Maryland head coach Gary Williams. It's not a secret that Williams and Maryland Athletic Director Debbie Yow do not see eye to eye, and with the recent teams of Williams not faring well, including a recent loss at home to Morgan State, there is growing speculation that Williams will not make it to next season.

"I've heard that Williams may be in trouble," says Epps. "He told me he'll be there, but I don't know. To tell you the truth, I'm kind of confused."

That may open the door for Pittsburgh, who is looking to bring the combo guard in as a point guard, a position that Epps covets. "I love the thought of playing the point," says Epps, getting excited. "I want the ball in my hands at all times."

If Epps does end up at Pitt, he would battle Woodall, who just happens to be Epps' second cousin. Would that bother Epps to battle a relative? "Not at all," replies Epps. "He's always trying to get me there to Pitt".

Woodall has played very little this season and has not cracked the ten man rotation for the Panthers, but his lack of early progress may help the Panthers in landing Epps. When asked what was the main thing he was looking for when making a decision, he answered, "I want to play a lot from the get go".

As of now, the Panthers only have one scholarship open for 2010, but they are also looking to upgrade the shooting guard position, and the player they are pursuing the hardest at the position is 6'4" Will Barton of Lake Clifton HS in Baltimore, MD. But they aren't alone. Besides the Pittsburgh offer, Barton also holds official offers from Georgetown, Maryland, Central Florida, South Florida, Providence, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Villanova, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Xavier, James Madison, and UNC-Charlotte. If that wasn't enough, he is also receiving heavy interest from Connecticut, Memphis, Louisville and Florida.

While the competition for Barton's services is extreme, the Panthers ace in the hole may be their current top 50 signee, Taylor, the best friend, as well as teammate of Barton last season at National Christian Academy. Barton has said that he would love to play with Taylor again, this time in college.

"It does help Pitt that Dante is there," says Barton. "Pitt is recruiting me very hard, they are No. 1, and Dante is always trying to get me there."

But Barton is not in any hurry to commit. "I could happen any time," says Barton, "but right now I am wide open. I haven't even made any visits yet and I would at least like to make some visits first."

Barton does know what he's looking for, at least, saying, "I am looking at academics, a program that is family oriented, somebody that will push me to the next level, and someplace that I can make an immediate impact".

Barton's offer list should only grow and the competition should get tougher. Lake Clifton is currently 8-0 and Barton says he is currently averaging 22 points and 12 rebounds a game. But only one college team is currently No. 1, which is why Jamie Dixon and his staff have been seen all around the country since they were deemed the best in the land.

Both Epps and Barton are top 50 prospects, something Dixon has only had four of since he has become Pitt's coach. The first, Chris Taft, was a star before leaving for the NBA after his sophomore season. The others, Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, are All-American candidates this year and will be first round draft picks. The other is Taylor, who should start at power forward next season and is considered a future NBA player.

All of this shows that Dixon is more than just a coach that can take a slew of good prospects and make them a team that wins a ton of games. He has proven that he can also develop elite prospects into elite college players, who also end up in the NBA. All he needs is a Top 50 prospect or two and he can be No. 1, as he is currently proving. Now all eyes will be on Pitt to see if Dixon can turn the program into one of the handful that will always have the players to be a national title contender. And for the Class of 2010 that starts with Epps and Barton.

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BREAKING DOWN PITT'S RECRUITING CLASS

by Chris Dokish

It's been almost a decade now that Pitt basketball has been a national power and that longevity near the top is showing itself on the recruiting trail where prospects no longer have memories when Pitt was not a power. In the entire Ben Howland/Jamie Dixon Era, no class has more pure ability and talent then the four member 2009 class that the Panthers just signed during the early signing period.

The main point man for the class was recruiter extraordinaire Tom Herrion, Pitt's Associate Head Coach and head coach Jamie Dixon's right hand man. Now that he is allowed to talk about each prospect, Herrion was gracious enough to tell NBE his thoughts on the newest Panthers.

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Dante Taylor, 6'9" PF, National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, MD): "Plays with tremendous energy and effort. Has developed his overall game and is able to now play both facing and with his back to the basket. A relentless and passionate rebounder on both ends. Elevated his play in the summer against elite competition. He knew for a long time he wanted to be a Panther."

Lamar Patterson, 6'4" SG/SF, St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, NJ): "A young senior and his body is beginning to take shape and develop. He is a very skilled and versatile perimeter player and will benefit greatly playing at St. Benedict's this year. An ankle injury limited his exposure this summer, but had a great Spring before the injury. He has been a great ambassador of our program having committed so early."

J.J. Richardson, 6'7" PF/SF, Missouri City (TX) HS: "Truly someone who benefited from a great summer. He caught our eye as one of the harder playing kids we saw. He has a great work ethic and it has helped him to develop and expand his entire game. He has strength and toughness and is a very competitive player. He should have a terrific senior year on one of the best teams in Texas."

Talib Zanna, 6'9" PF, Bishop McNamara HS (Forestville, MD): "He just gets better and better all the time. Did not get much exposure this summer. He was adding some classes in summer school. An excellent athlete who can run the floor effortlessly and has worked hard on his ability to face the basket. He plays in one of the best high school conferences in the country. He has a ton of potential."

What Herrion doesn't say is how hard he and the Pitt staff worked to get their best class in over a decade. Richardson, for example, is one of the biggest sleepers in the nation who was hidden on one of the most loaded high school teams in the country after moving from Ohio. But Herrion found him at an AAU tournament and was enamored with his 6'7" 235 pound size, understanding of the game, and unparalleled effort. Herrion was so enamored with Richardson that he and Dixon drove through hurricane damage in Texas to seal the deal. Richardson averaged 6 ppg and 5 rbg as a junior, but this season Richardson will be more of the focal point of the game, and his production is expected to rise sharply. The staff feels it's all about to come together for the combo forward. Richardson is also extremely mature for his age and that should benefit him greatly as he moves on to the college game.

While Richardson is similar to former Panther Chevy Troutman in the way he plays, there is no recent comparison for Taylor, who is generally considered a top 25 prospect in the class. The staff was looking at Taylor's former teammate at National Christian Academy, 7'0" center Anthony McClain, who the staff eventually decided not to pursue. McClain ended up at Cincinnati, but the staff stayed enamored with the then raw, but physically gifted Taylor. The staff, as they do so often, was ahead of the curve on Taylor. He was targeted as somebody who would explode as a player over the summer so the staff recruited him hard immediately, before other big time schools became involved. Their due diligence paid off when Taylor turned into a top 25 prospect. Herrion, ever the bulldog, never let up on Taylor, and his effort was rewarded when, citing longstanding loyalty, Taylor committed to the Panthers. Unless something drastic happens, expect Taylor to start as a freshman.

Patterson was one of the better players in Pennsylvania at J.P. McCaskey HS in Lancaster when Herrion once again became intrigued, this time by the wing's great passing, athleticism, defense, and shooting. Not long after committing to the Panthers, Patterson transferred to powerful St. Benedict's Prep in northern New Jersey. St. Benedict's, coached by Danny Hurley, is one of the best high school programs in the country, and both in practice and in games, the better competition should bring out the best in the highly undervalued Patterson. Expect him to see significant time for the Panthers as a freshman and if he develops as expected, look for him to have a good chance of starting as a sophomore. He is the full package with a very high ceiling.

Last but not least is the Nigerian born Zanna. This may prove to be very serendipitous for the Panthers staff since they were targeting other frontcourt players before landing Zanna. Zanna is another diamond in the rough due to his great length and big time mobility and agility. On the recruiting circuit, he had the reputation as an interesting prospect who could be really good if it all came together for him. On Herrion's recommendation, Dixon stopped in to watch Zanna late in the recruiting season and he came away very impressed that Zanna was progressing so quickly. There are now signs that Zanna is about to explode and is already unstoppable in early scrimmages, just recently getting 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 blocks in one game.

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ALL LETTERS IN FOR PITT RECRUITING CLASS

November 17, 2008


by Chris Dokish


The Pittsburgh Panthers' staff has received the signatures from their entire four-member 2009 recruiting class, as well as their parents.  

Dante Taylor, a 6'9 forward ranked among the top 25 prospects in the country, 6'9" center/forward Talib Zanna,  6'4" SG/SF Lamar Patterson, and 6'7" forward J.J. Richardson all chose to sign during the early signing period which began last week.  

While the Panthers no longer have scholarships available, the staff is still trying to obtain another wing.  The most likely to get that scholarship could be 6'4" DeAndre Kane, formerly a teammate of DeJuan Blair at Schenley HS in Pittsburgh, and now at the Patterson School, a top prep school program in North Carolina.  The Pitt staff helped Kane to enroll at the school.

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CHEEK CANCELS PITT VISIT

By Chris Dokish

According to sources close to the situation, 6'6" wing Dominic Cheek of St. Anthony's HS in Jersey City, NJ, has decided to cancel his visit to Pittsburgh this weekend. The visit was originally scheduled for the weekend of October 31st and was pushed back a week. It is unknown whether he will reschedule the trip to Pitt. He is currently scheduled to visit Memphis on Nov. 14 and Rutgers on Nov. 21 and Cheek has already taken official visits to Kansas and Villanova earlier.

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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.

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