The IUP exhibition game was notable since former Pitt assistant Pat Lombardi took less money and less prestige, but a slightly less stressful lifestyle to be the IUP head coach. Lombardi was one of Pitt’s effective recruiters in the Eastern part of the state and Maryland/DC/Virginia.

“I spent a lot of time coaching those players, so it’s going to be kind of neat to come back and watch them,” Lombardi said. “I’ve always looked at recruiting as a team effort. With a lot of these kids, it’s how they develop. My job is to identify the players. But we wouldn’t have gotten them without Jamie Dixon, Barry Rohrssen or Orlando Antigua or Pat Sandle. I take pride in those kids that are over there. But Gilbert wouldn’t be playing as well as he is this year if it wasn’t for the people who are on the staff now. It’s great how they’ve developed.”

Off a recommendation from Lombardi Pitt was the first major Division I school to offer Young a scholarship in 2004. That worked to Pitt’s advantage when Young became better known in recruiting circles and received offers from Georgetown and Maryland, two schools closer to his Maryland home. Young had an affinity for Lombardi and Pitt because they were the first to identify him, and he rewarded them by signing with Pitt.

Brown was a consensus top 100 recruit, and Lombardi, through his Philadelphia connections, got the inside track on Cook after he decided to transfer from East Carolina.

And for that service, Pitt beat on IUP to the score of 83-31. Sam Young led it against the guy who recruited him.

Young had a game-high 16 points and Blair had 12 points and 12 rebounds. The other Pitt player in double figures was reserve power forward Tyrell Biggs with 10 points. The question mark about the front line will remain until Pitt plays more serious competition, but their performances in the two exhibition games is a positive sign for coach Jamie Dixon as the Panthers get ready for the season opener Friday against Houston Baptist.

Young and Blair led the Panthers in scoring in the two exhibition games with 16.5 and 11 points a game, respectively.

“I feel like we’re ready to go,” Young said. “We have a lot of young but experienced players. I feel like we’re ready to take off and do a lot of big things, a lot of unexpected things.”

Not worried too much about the frontline’s offense. Watching them develop on defense will be the bigger issue.

Bradley Wanamaker looks like he will be a welcome defensive stopper off the bench in the backcourt. Zero turnovers again, and 4 steals and 5 assists. His scoring touch isn’t there, but that isn’t a surprise. When he was recruited/committed it was about his grittiness, defense and potential. The offense will take time, but I think we could use some extra toughness on defense. Especially off of the bench.

Looks like Pitt is trying to bring in a player from the Bahamas, by way of Texas. Dwight Miller has been getting a lot of attention on the East Coast. Rutgers got him to attend a football game. He’s getting tutoring from Hakeem Olajuwon (video here). The 6′ 8″ player is getting a lot of late interest.

Pitt is one of those late getting involved in his recruiting, but it seems he is very interested.

Rutherford informed the Journal that over the weekend the campus of the University of Pittsburgh was the focus but before a final decision is made many other top colleges will be visited.

“Miller is being recruited by all of these big programmes to come in and be an impact player as a freshman. Most of them feel he is good enough to start in their programmes right now,” said Rutherford.

Miller is piling up the credentials. His reputation skyrocketed after he won the Reebok Camp MVP earlier this year, out-shining players from 130 high schools. Overnight, he earned the status of being one of the top prospects in the U.S.

Will Pittsburgh be the eventually winner?

Mentor Rutherford does seem to be impressed with Pitt’s programme.

“Pitt has become a basketball power over the last nine years, winning the Big East title almost every year and making it to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Sweet 16 for the last five years,” said Rutherford.

The interest there is high for Miller.

Other schools to be visited are St. John’s University, Temple University, the University of Kentucky and Illinois.

The kid won’t be making a decision in the early signing period of the next couple weeks, but then neither was a decision expected from Kevin Jones either. Miller seems like a fall back if Jones doesn’t choose Pitt.
He’s obviously being considered a sleeper player with a lot of potential.