Pitt looks like it is working on a small forward out of North Carolina (via Big East Blog).
By the start of school, Marhold, now 6-7, came to campus at 215 pounds, and he hasn’t slowed down his work rate.
“Andre has improved 100 percent from last year,” Lewis said. “He’s a gym rat. He really buys into it. He works hard. He leaves our practices now and goes and works out again.”
Marhold averages 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Vikings, who play at Harding tonight in a second-round game of the N.C. 4A playoffs. Besides the Clemson offer, Lewis said Marhold is getting serious recruiting interest from Charlotte, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, Virginia and Winthrop.
Lewis said the schools like Marhold’s long wingspan, his strength and his athleticism. Marhold dunks effortlessly in games from a flat-footed position and jumps over similar players for soft moves around the basket.
“He jumps so high,” teammate Kyle Gaillard said, “sometimes I think he’ll hit his head on the ceiling.”
Telep, the national recruiting analyst for scout.com, thinks Marhold is a potential national top 100 player next year and among the top five or six in a 2009 N.C. class that could be the best in years.
“He’s a guy who is gradually earning high major-level offers,” Telep said. “He’s got a chance to play in one of the big leagues in college because of his athleticism. He just needs to continue to work on his perimeter shot and his overall game.”
Right now, he’s a 3-star prospect at the small forward position. In the ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. evaluation (Insider subs.), they see him as a tweener at the forward spot.
Marhold is not a true small forward or power forward, but he can do some of the things that coaches look for in both positions. He is explosive, finishes well at the rim and is good in transition. Marhold only has average perimeter skills and needs to improve in all areas as a perimeter player. He needs to work on his 3-point shooting, ball handling and decision making as a player.
The one thing all agree is that he has a high motor, works hard and can get better.
We are the class of the big east but it seems we have too many work in progress type players.
Maybe my perception is wrong, any thoughts?
Wallace, Diggs and McGhee
I think DeJuan Blair qualifies as a kid who is talented and came right in and played. Fields did the same thing as a freshman. That’s two players in three recruiting classes that came in and made an immediate impact.
The negativity surrounding Pitt’s recruiting has gotten out of control. Beasley is tremendous, but his team isn’t doing any better than Pitt’s with Blair. Gordon is a decent player (way over-hyped if you ask me) but his team is struggling to win a VERY mediocre Big Ten. Rose is great and the only one of the three with a chance to win a championship.
Eventually Pitt will land a player that comes in and puts them over the top. Maybe it happens in the 2009 recruiting class. Lamar Patterson is looking like an excellent start to the class. Pitt is going to be alright. We need this win tomorrow. Let’s Go Pitt!!!!
Yep, all three play for North Meck….Marhold is a junior, Gaillard is a junior, and Sullivan a freshman.
In that class that won 2 national championships, he had one 5 star player, the #5 SF in the country. Last year, we got a 5*, #4 center in the country. We also got a 4* SG. Another 4* SG the year before that. 3 4* kids the year before that. We’re getting another 4* kid next year. As a matter of fact, our team as currently composed has more “stars” on it than the florida national championship team.
How bout you people stop worry about “stars” and McDs bullshit and just worry about how the kids who are here develop and play.
You know who does have a couple of McDs all americans? Syracuse. And if they don’t win out, 99% chance they ain’t even making the tournament for the second year in a row.
Some of you people need to come back to reality.
However, I think the pace at which he has improved is greatly impaired by his limited playing time. If he could shore up his defense he’d be on the court more. I’d like to see him playing the five, Blair playing the four and Sam at small forward. It would certainly give us more of an inside presence, perhaps help remedy our rebounding issues and maybe even free up our guards for better looks from the outside.
Pitt needs this one today. -2.5 means a “pick-em”. Hopefully we can get the W. Let’s Go PITT!!!!
