This weekend is the seemingly venerable ABCD Camp. It’s started well for Pitt, as a verbal has been given. Pitt’s first recruit for the basketball class of 2007 is not from New York or New Jersey. That alone is a shock, given recent years.
The University of Pittsburgh basketball team has added DARNELL DODSON of Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland. The 6’6″ Dodson was on Pitt’s radar before the Panthers added his former A.A.U. coach, David Cox, as director of basketball operations, but the arrival of Cox was the final straw for Dodson to choose the Panthers. Dodson chose Pitt over Boston College, Georgetown, Providence, Rutgers and Virginia Tech.
Dodson has well above average athletic ability and is good offensively, both from three point range and taking it to the basket. However, in what has become true Pitt basketball tradition, he is not a good free throw shooter.
Dodson is a 3-star recruit according to Scout.com and not ranked by Rivals.com. Chris Dokish comments that Dodson is a lot of unrealized potential at this point, that can be a lot better. That would explain why BC and Al Skinner were interested in him, since they specialize in those “diamond in the rough” types.
DeJuan Blair out of Schenley is also at the camp, and Pitt of course is watching him. Along with some other players.
Most of their attention is on the usual suspects, but two players PSR has noticed they have paid special attention to thus far have been giant New Jersey center HAMIDU RAHMAN and Philly combo guard BRADLEY WANNAMAKER.
Both Rahman and Wannamaker are listed as 3-star recruits by Scout.com. Rivals.com hasn’t ranked either Rahman or Wannamaker at this time. Rahman seems to have interest from a lot of schools in the Big East (St. John’s, UConn, Seton Hall, Syracuse), but it would appear that Pitt is the only one to actually offer at this point. Wannamaker has drawn some interest from Wake Forest, Virginia and Villanova as well as Pitt, but it would seem no actual offers have been made to him at this point. Of course, that could change following the camp.
Another player who could be adding Pitt to his list is Julian Vaughn.
Look for Pitt to be a player in his recruitment. The Panthers hired David Cox, a former DC Assault assistant coach. Vaughn said since playing at the USA U18 trials, Washington has now entered the picture. He also said Kentucky has jumped into the picture. The ACC is recruiting him, too. That hasn’t changed. On the court, Vaughn is playing with more confidence and poise than he did at the end of the spring. He’s shed about 10 pounds thanks to a crazy Rocky Balboa-like workout regime. Minus the raw egg shakes though.
Rivals.com has Vaughn as a 5-star recruit, the 19th best prospect and the 5th best PF in the 2007 class. Scout.com is a little cooler towards him. Making him only a 4-star, 34th best overall and 12th best PF.
Vaughn has lots of interest and seems to be hoping for an offer from UNC.
