As previously documented, Danny Hurley declined to interview for the vacant Pitt assistant gig last year. He cited family/lifestyle issues. Looks like, with a second chance at the gig he is reconsidering Hurley has actually interviewed with Coach Dixon for the job (via Big East Basketball Blog).

Hurley, the son of future Hall of Famer Bob Hurley of St. Anthony’s HS in Jersey City, has transformed the Newark, N.J. prep school into a national power and has a blue chip junior in 6-8 center Samardo Samuels, who is a Top 25 prospect nationally.

Samardo Samuels caught a lot of coaches attention, and is a 5-star blue-chipper. Rivals.com lists him as #7 overall and the #3 power forward prospect. Scout.com has Samuels as the #1 Center prospect and #5 overall. While he wouldn’t be a lock to bring Samuels with him, it sure would vault Pitt into the lead for his services.

Pitt has one scholarship open for the 2008 season (barring a transfer). Pitt is also waiting on 5-star guard Power Forward Eloy Vargas out of Miami. How’s that for a choice?

They keep throwing out names, and I’ll keep looking for a little more information about the possibilities. Here’s another bit of information.

Former College of Charleston coach Tommy Herrion and St. Benedict’s (N.J.) coach Danny Hurley appear to be the front-runners for Jamie Dixon’s most recent opening at Pittsburgh.

Dixon lost two assistants a year ago and one this year. Two other coaches who are under consideration are Providence assistant Steve Demeo and South Carolina assistant Ken Potosnak, who hails from Pennsylvania.

Steve DeMeo is considered a very good recruiter for Tim Welsh in the NY area. He’s credited with getting Ryan Gomes, Geoff McDermott and Sharaud Curry. He’s been an assistant for Welsh for 9 years, going back to the Iona days. DeMeo was also in the running for the Iona job this past spring that went to Kevin Willard. I’m really not sure what he would be bringing to Pitt from the recruiting standpoint since Orlando Antigua is supposed to be working the NYC area. Seems like it would be a lot of overlap.

As for Ken Potosnak, yes he is from New Kensington, but his recruiting connections are all elsewhere. He went to school in Virginia and helps run a basketball camp in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Georgia and more Southern recruiting connections, he has developed a reputation as something of an international recruiter. He has gone on international coaching clinics to Spain, Greece, Turkey and China. It may be a coincidence, but South Carolina’s recruiting has improved since Potosnak joined the Gamecocks in 2005. Before that, he had been an assistant at Furman.

Obviously at this point, there is a real issue of separating rumor and speculation from what is actually happening. What’s worth noting is that Potosnak and previously mentioned Scott Rigot are both assistants with reputations for being able to recruit internationally.

I would have to think Herrion or Hurley still make the most sense among the 6 rumored candidates at this point.