Well, it seems that Pitt was ultimately tripped up by the insane NCAA and conference rules that got Nebraska this summer. Darnell Dodson is not permitted to come to Pitt.

Dodson was a class of 2007 commitment for Pittsburgh, but found out last September that he was not going to be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Since Dodson was enrolled at Pittsburgh and declared a non-qualifier, he was not allowed to be on scholarship at Pitt due to the Big East rule not allowing member schools to accept non-qualifiers…

Of course, Dodson had initially appeared eligible, but the NCAA Clearinghouse came back with more questions — in September. They hadn’t ruled on his status prior to the start of Pitt’s fall semester. In fact, they didn’t rule on him until October.

That left him and Pitt in a questionable situation. Especially since he was already enrolled. That meant all Pitt and Dodson could do would be take a chance with an appeal when the time came. It didn’t and an additional upshot is that the Big East keeps him from being recruited by any other Big East teams. Seems the Big East has a rule akin to the Big 12 that says if a non-qualifier is enrolled — even if he is declared a non-qualifier after the fact — he is out at all BE schools after he goes to Junior College. Which is really stupid since the NCAA banned kids from going to prep school when they can’t get eligible — so Dodson had little choice but to go JUCO.

Given Dodson’s from the Maryalnd, I’m guessing Gary Williams and Maryland will be active in pursuing him. Along with schools like VCU and Virginia Tech. Good luck to Darnell Dodson.

Pitt almost immediately, though, filled the scholarship with a power forward/center project in Talib Zanna.

Talib Zanna has impressed the NBE Basketball Report in the summer for the player he has become, but the player he could become has always had our staff very intrigued. Early in July at the Agent Zero to Hero event Zanna showed his ability to run the floor and improved willingness to battle in the post. At the Reebok Summer Championships Zanna displayed ability to face-up and attack off the dribble.

At 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds Zanna has the size to compete in the Big East and the athletic ability that had college coaches watching this summer. One major college assistant watching Zanna this summer remarked he “Has Major upside! Very long and athletic. Rebounds very well.” Zanna finished his summer playing for the Triple Threat AAU program after starting the AAU circuit with the DC Blue Devils. He will compete in his senior season with Bishop McNamara this season.

Tanna also had interest/offers from Georgetown, UConn and Providence. Not to mention VT, Clemson and Villanova.

Rivals.com doesn’t have him ranked or starred. Scout.com puts him as a 3-star and ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. considers him a top-150 player (Insider subs.).

Zanna is a highly skilled and athletic big man who missed most of his sophomore year due to injury. This native of Nigeria has lots of bounce that enables him to get to the ball quickly on the glass to rebound and to dunk a lot. For his size he can face and penetrate, pass off the high post, and drop an occasional three. Able to score with either hand, Talib plays much in the mold of Tim Duncan.

Definitely a player that Pitt looks at as a development project, high-upside player.

Zanna, who came to the United States from Nigeria in 2006, was in Pittsburgh when the Panthers’ played host to Iowa earlier this month at Heinz Field.

Zanna has a reputation as a player who can run the floor and is willing to battle inside.

“He’s a strong, athletic kid,” said Keith Stevens, who coached Zanna on the D.C. Blue Devils AAU team. “He has a lot of potential. He has the ability go 15 feet from the basket and hit shots; and he’s a solid defender. He’s going to be a perfect complement to Dante Taylor.”

Locally, Tom Droney crossed Wake Forest off his list. He’s down to Pitt, Davidson and ND.