Another year, another Purdue player leaving for Pitt. Really, it’s once more about coming home.

When Jason Kacinko was a senior at Penn-Trafford, the four-star recruit nearly backed out of his commitment to Purdue after Pitt hired Dave Wannstedt.

“He really recruited me hard,” Kacinko said. “There was some interest on my part, but I wanted to honor my commitment to Purdue.”

After two seasons as a reserve offensive lineman for the Boilermakers, Kacinko has decided to finally play for the Panthers.

Obviously, he’ll be sitting out this season, but next year he’ll be in the mix for a job and at the very least add needed depth. Kacinko played at both guard and tackle.

I don’t see Altoona RB A.J. Alexander choosing Pitt, but it’s worth noting that he re-opened his recruitment. He bailed on Florida State. Hard not to see him going to RB deprived PSU.

Nice puffer on incoming freshman defensive lineman, Jabaal Sheard.

“There’s a real good shot for me at Pitt, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” Sheard said. “I think we have a lot of talent on defense, and I can’t wait to see how I fit in. As far as my training goes, I think I work out pretty hard. But people told me about Buddy before I got here.

“Everyone said what I should expect when I get into working out with Buddy. I guess all the guys like that are a little crazy, and as long as what he puts me through doesn’t kill me it should make me stronger. And that’s what I’m looking to do. I want to get stronger and bigger to prepare for the upcoming football season. I’m ready for the challenge.”

It’s always good when players come to school during the summer. I still think it’s borderline nuts to leave Florida and anywhere near the beach in the summer, though.

Some blog-related basketball stuff that I’m going to do at once, because in it’s own way it ties together. Or, at least I’m going to force the effin’ mess to somehow go one after the other.

Earlier in the week I mentioned that I helped put together the FanHouse way too early BlogPoll, there seems to be a case that Georgetown is being underrated by being placed at #6 by the Unsilent Majority — a welcome addition to the FanHouse, Pitt loyalist and part of the outstanding Kissing Suzy Kolber Blog. Considering the preseason poll will be revisited, there is plenty of time for revision.

What does that have to do with Pitt other than getting a plug in for my other work and another blog? Not much but it does bring up the subject of basketball and a new Pittsburgh-centric blog wonders about the ‘Burgh and basketball. Naturally, Pitt is very important to the matter.

In fact, the fan base is strong enough to honestly say that aside from Super Bowl victories and motorcycle crashes, I have likely heard as much talk show debate concerning Aaron Gray and Carl Krauser in the past five years as I have heard on any other topic. Outside of Ben Roethlisberger, I think it is safe to say that the most controversial figure in Pittsburgh this past year has been Aaron Gray. Endless sports columns and radio call-ins implored him to assert his large frame and stop missing three-foot put-backs. Similarly, Krauser appeared to be holding the team and the city hostage with his break-neck pace of play and streaky shooting – a polarizing figure, to say the least. With Sidney Crosby and David Littlefield, there is only so much room for debate on their performances. With Pitt basketball, there seems to always be a debate that the city grapples with every winter.

The discussion is more about the lack of support/passion for basketball, but with a hopeful eye to the future. Especially as high school basketball and the players seems to be improving in Western PA. I would at least posit that with Pitt basketball doing so well right now, it increases the appeal and the willingness of athletes in the area to play more. That the talent is beginning to shine 5-7 years after Pitt basketball became relevant once more reminds me of the fact that the last time there was any crop of quality HS basketball players in the ‘Burgh — like Danny Fortson — came around lag after Pitt basketball had hit a major national upswing. Correlation does not mean causation, but it’s worth considering.

That brings things to another factor that will only improve and increase the interest in basketball in Western Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Pro-Am Summer League. Last year there was a bit of stuff about it and I noted it because of the role Coach Dixon played in helping to make it happen. That isn’t to diminish the job of the real guy who has put it together and has it thriving, John Giammarco. The Big East Basketball Blog has an interview with Mr. Giammarco. Read the whole article, but I’ll excerpt this.

NBE Blogger: Both Pittsburgh and West Virginia red-shirted multiple players last season, after seeing these players in your league this year or last, who should the Big East fans keep an eye on for next year?

JG: All the red-shirts have played well this summer from the action I have watched. Gilbert Brown is an exciting athlete who really gets in the air and plays above the rim.

NBE Blogger: Pittsburgh has a large incoming class of newcomers, regarded as their best new class in the Howland/Dixon tenure, who do you feel looks to be the most ‘Big East ready’ and who looks to be the someone down the road to emerge in time in typical Pitt fashion?

JG: From what I see, Gary McGhee has held his own in the league and will continue to get better and better. Brad Wannamaker looks like he can be a contributor in 2007 as well. Jamie Dixon has built such a good program at Pitt.

Pitt has put itself in a position to help build basketball back in the area and benefit directly right now. I mention this every time with the summer basketball, and I’ll keep doing it. Coach Dixon deserves a lot of credit for helping this happen. Yes it will help him right now and hopefully for a long time at Pitt, but no other coach before him at Pitt ever did it and lent his support (to the extent that the NCAA lets him).