As I noted yesterday about Tyler Smith, he has from tomorrow until May 17 to actually make a written commitment. Pitt appears to be right at the top of his list.
Tyler Smith, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward from Hargrave Military Academy, has narrowed his list of schools to Pitt, Iowa, Kentucky and Memphis. According to Hargrave coach Kevin Keatts, Pitt is one of the leaders.
“The two schools that lead are Pitt and Iowa,” Keatts said.
Smith, rated the No. 56 senior in the country by Rivals.com, does not have a timetable for making a decision.
“Right now, I don’t think the family is in a hurry,” Keatts said. “If you’re asking me if he’s going to sign on signing day, I can’t answer that. I don’t know if he will or not. He could decide today or he could decide in two weeks. The family is going to make sure it’s the right fit for Tyler.”
The signing period is from tomorrow through May 17.
Smith would fill a void in the Pitt lineup. The Panthers have been searching for a small forward since Jaron Brown graduated in 2004. Eight players have tried to play the position the past two seasons.
Sam Young, who played at Hargrave in 2004-05, was supposed to be the small forward of the future, but he played strictly power forward as a freshman. Keatts said there is no doubt that Smith is a small forward.
“He is a very exciting player,” Keatts said. “He’s one of those guys who will bring you off your feet. He is super-athletic. He can do things on the wing. He can guard one through five and he can put the ball on the floor. He has a chance to be a very good player. He is a highlight reel waiting to happen.”
You hate to put too much pressure on a kid who hasn’t even committed, but small forward, a guy who can defend outside and in is something Pitt has been in dire need.
I’m not sure how serious Memphis is in all of this with the questions surrounding Calipari and maybe taking the NC State job. Obviously, the sooner Smith makes a decision, the less likely it will involve Calipari.
The Hargrave coach also doesn’t seem to think Smith’s decision will be based on anything involving Associate Head Coach Barry Rohrssen, that Smith is quite comfortable with Coach Dixon.
Pitt has one scholarship to give this spring. If Smith chooses another school, the Panthers have been recruiting a couple of other top 100 players who are still unsigned — centers Hamady N’diaye and Mike Davis and forward Kiwan Smith. N’diaye is the highest rated player of the group at No. 55, one spot ahead of Smith.
I have my doubts that Davis will ever get his academics together at this point.
