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November 17, 2006

Recruiting Class Made Official

Filed under: Basketball,Recruiting — Chas @ 9:54 pm

It’s been unofficial for over a week since the early signing period began, but Pitt made the press release official yesterday.

Those five student-athletes include power forward DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh, Pa./Schenley H.S.), center Cassin Diggs (Williamsport, Pa./Cloud County C.C.), small forward Darnell Dodson (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt H.S.), center Gary McGhee (Anderson, Ind./Highland Senior H.S.) and guard Bradley Wanamaker (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic H.S.). The NCAA Division I fall signing period ran from Wednesday, Nov. 8 to Wednesday, Nov. 15.

The class, comprising four top-150 recruits and one top-25 junior college player, has been ranked No. 4 nationally by Hoopscoop.com and No. 17 nationally by Collegehoops.net. In August, 2007, Blair, Dodson, McGhee and Wanamaker will enroll as freshmen while Diggs will enroll as a junior.

The press release has short bios on each of them.

Hoopscoop.com has its rankings on subscription basis. I don’t see where the CollegeHoops.net has the 2006-07 rankings.

Coach Dixon downplayed the whole ranking thing — at least publicly.

The highest-rated player is Blair, the Schenley High School star who is No. 46 according to Scout.com. The only other consensus top 100 recruit is Wanamaker, from Roman Catholic High in Philadelphia. He is No. 91 player according to Scout. Diggs, from Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kans., is rated a top-25 junior-college player.

“I care little about [the rankings],” Dixon said. “Our guys always seem to be ranked higher after [their senior] season. No one was recruiting Sam [Young] when we were. Then, he had a good senior year, and everyone was ranking him.

“There are different things you look at. You have to look at character, grades, if they come from winning programs, all those different things. I’m excited about them. They’re great kids, good people. They had good coaches. I like all five of them.”

Well sort of downplaying it.

“We’ve never had a class ranked this high,” Dixon said. “If they are ever right, I hope this is the year.”

The Panthers are traditionally down the list when the annual recruiting class rankings are released. In the past five years, for instance, Pitt has finished 152nd, 23rd, 51st, 34th and 130th in the national HoopScoop rankings.

Even the Class of 2005, which included Tyrell Biggs, Levance Fields and Sam Young, was ranked 23rd, one spot behind Middle Tennessee State.

This year, Pitt is 11th in the rankings. Two other scouting services also have Pitt among the top-20 recruiting classes in the nation.

“By far, this will be our best class,” Dixon said. “These are great kids who were heavily recruited. Everybody wanted them, and we wanted them.”

While on the subject of recruiting, a good piece on Jeannette’s Terrelle Pryor and his growing options.

Terrelle Pryor was talking to a guidance counselor at Jeannette High School recently when Pryor told him what happened the previous day.

“He told me he got a scholarship offer from the University of Nebraska for football — and the University of Connecticut for basketball,” said Rick Klimchock. “I told him I’ve had some good days in my life, but I don’t know if I ever had a day like that.”

But such days are becoming common for Pryor.

He still envisions playing both sports, but few really believe he will be able to do both at a high level. Eventually he will have to choose.





Two things I’d like to mention about this team:

1st, remember how Krauser would regularly infuriate and motivate opponents with his taunting and takedown tactics? Not this year and not missed at all.

2nd, so far reporters have portrayed the unfair advantage the team has…Gray’s presence, great point guards and unbelievable depth. For Pitt fans of all sports, this is a welcome and refreshing about face.

Back this team, people, it’s a oner.

Comment by steve 11.18.06 @ 8:54 am

You know, I’m going to have to follow BB this year because it sounds so promising. I’ll try not to root too hard for them though, as I did for the football team and look how that turned out.

Comment by Reed 11.18.06 @ 9:44 am

Steve,

1st, NO Reason to bust on Krauser. This team is better for having played with him. Both our point guards learned from him over the last couple of years. Having Brandon Knight around this year can’t hurt either.

2nd, Reporters takes on things are a non-issue. They really only care care about selling advertising.

3rd yes this team looks real good and very deep. The only concern is that Jamie can keep the hot players on the floor and give them all enough playing time.

4Th Yes this team can be a big winner and we have a tougher schedule then they are used to playing against which should help come March but it will all come down to seeding,(We have to be better then a 5 this year) the venue we are playing in (don’t even think about Idaho) and match ups (NO Dwayne Wade in the second round) when the big dance rolls around.

Comment by Tony in Harrisburg 11.18.06 @ 11:03 am

The boy could score, but KK’s protection of the ball was horrendous. He was great and all but the PGs we have this year are true points.

Reed you are a Pitt fan cheer all you want.

Comment by Kenny 11.18.06 @ 11:22 am

Chas:

Since our BB recruiting has been ranked over the last few years as low as 152nd, 23rd, 51st, 34th and 130th in the national HoopScoop rankings but we must admit that we have been very competitive during that time.

We have had a top 15 program on average over those years, I think we all agree that JD really knows how to milk the talent from lower rated players.

One other observation is that national pundits still see Syracuse and UConn as long term elite established programs because of the highly rated recruits they have year in and year out.

Hopefullly, JD can get them past the sweet 16 this year and this can be the spring-board that we need to attact a top 10 player(s) that you need to make it to the final 4.

Comment by jimbo b 11.18.06 @ 11:54 am

anyone remember Charles Smith or Jerome Lane? they came and launced the program. why can’t Dixon get this type of player. Blair will never play due to grades so really, where is this class ranked?

Comment by Kurt 11.18.06 @ 4:35 pm

Tony, what exactly did this year’s point guards learn from Karl? I’ve watched them closely and it looks like they’ve learned if anything what not to do.

To wit, have you sen them take anything but open shots?

Comment by steve 11.18.06 @ 9:23 pm

Steve,

How about getting the ball into Gray under the basket? Something they both had issues with early last year. A big postive this year is that Graves and others are driving the ball to the hoop so niether of them should have to. That was Carl’s job last year.

Comment by Tony in Harrisburg 11.19.06 @ 2:28 am

Tony, the modus operandi this year is pass, pass, pass, pass. Last year it was pass it inside, chuck it back out to Carl,pass to a small forward/shooting guard, back to Carl with 10 seconds left and …..

Comment by steve 11.19.06 @ 8:10 am

Carl Krauser was a great player and one of the best rebounding guards you will ever see. He was a credit to the university and the coaching staff. They may be better without him, but I will miss watching the young man play. Pitt basketball is better for having him for 4 years.

Comment by Omar 11.19.06 @ 10:03 am

Omar, if I may comment, well said and I agree with you 100%.

Comment by steve 11.19.06 @ 10:34 am

“Carl Krauser was a great player and one of the best rebounding guards you will ever see. He was a credit to the university and the coaching staff. They may be better without him, but I will miss watching the young man play. Pitt basketball is better for having him for 4 years. ”

Omar, I agree with you as well. Krauser was definately a great player and ambassador for Pitt BB. From a PG standpoint their is no doubt in my mind that they will be better.

I too will miss seeing him play but I will not miss him puting his head down and taking on two defenders in the paint or the un-forced TOs.

Comment by Kenny 11.19.06 @ 1:20 pm

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