Looks like there was some more good from that Buffalo win a couple weeks ago. J.J. Richardson visited that weekend, and just gave his verbal.
It was a very productive summer for J.J. Richardson playing with the Houston Elite AAU program. His blue-collar style and constant energy and effort in the paint caught the eye of the Pittsburgh coaching staff and they found a perfect fit for their program to continue the success they have enjoyed in recent years. A source close to Richardson and his recruitment beleives Pitt got one of the biggest sleepers in the country as the 6-foot-7, strong and athletic forward is just beginning to put things together on the basketball court.
Both Scout.com and Rivals.com list Richardson as a 3-star recruit. ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. doesn’t have a numeric value on him yet, but they do have this observation from the summer (Insider subs.).
Richardson showed a high basketball IQ that was impressive (2008 Reebok All-American Camp). First of all Richardson is a strong and athletic, but what was so impressive was his ability to help or hard edge on high ball screens and his ability to meet guard coming off the screen was better most college programs. He is an excellent passer out of the post, sprints the floor with regularity, can rebound on the defensive end and start the fast break and has excellent timing when blocking shots. This kid does all the little things to help his team that will not be recorded in the score book.
It’s always tricky to separate puffery and nearly every player that isn’t a 4- or 5-star recruit seems to get labeled a “sleeper.” Still, the summer evaluations look really encouraging and making him a great fit and possible glue-guy for Pitt in the future.
Back to the initial report from Dokish, there’s more about the recruiting.
Still, Pitt seems to be very intent on adding another member in the 2009 class. They are swinging for the fences with players like Dominic Cheek, an elite shooting guard from St. Anthony’s (NJ) and Durand Scott a G/F from Rice High School in NYC. At this point, both players are looking like long shots as neither has scheduled an official visit to Pittsburgh at this time, despite the efforts of the staff to bring them to campus.
However, there will be players visiting the campus this weekend when the Pitt football team hosts the Iowa Hawkeyes. Lamar Patterson and Dante Taylor are expected to make their official visits this weekend and potential big men targets Talin Zanna and James Padgett were scheduled to be visiting prior to Richardson’s commitment. The Panthers will be honored at the football game by being presented with their Big East Tournament championship rings.
While their 2009 recruiting is near completion, there is expected to be a limited amount of scholarships available in the class of 2010 as well (one on paper). Local guard Tom Droney could be close to accepting a scholarship offer from Pitt and they are also, at least, the co-leader for New Juersey guard Isaiah Epps.
Remember, the Pitt basketball team will be there to receive rings for winning the Big East Tournament.
The Pitt website offers this as a wallpaper.
UPDATE: Durand Scott, will indeed, be at the Iowa-Pitt game this weekend.
