It’s nice that a “source” says Lance Stephenson has an interest in Pitt. I mean, if a blue-chip, 5-star, presumed 1-and-done player wants to come to Pitt it’s hard to say no. I just don’t see it happening unless DeJuan Blair leaves after this year. There’s the lack of the scholarship to actually give him at the moment. There’s also a sense that this is just a little passing fancy thing. Pitt has made attempts to recruit him, now Pitt is #1, so there is a little reconsideration.
It’s worth watching, but I’m not going to expect anything. Hmm. Apparently that is also what Dokish is saying (and lots of other recruiting stuff).
Plus, Pitt is pursuing a top player out of Ohio. Adreian Payne is a big man, that Pitt had identified previously and now pushing harder.
Of other interest is whether Travon Woodall is going to redshirt or apply for a redshirt. Apparently they feel he’s had enough little injuries to make a case for a redshirt.
That doesn’t mean that teams like Pitt are infallible .. it is just that the teams that win pretty leave a much bigger impression on analysts and pollsters.
On the subject of Doug Gottlieb, he was a commentator on last night’s Memphis/ Tulsa game (Great game BTW!). At one point Memphis really buckled down on defense tight and Gottlieb paid Pitt a compliment when he called the defense something like “Pittsburgh-esque”. There was also an audience text poll on who would be the last undefeated team still standing. Pitt took 50% of the vote and won. ESPN cut to some Blair and Sam highlights and Gottlieb commented that in Sam, they have a player who can bear a heavy burdon on his shoulders into the NCAAs.
With the 28th pick, the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES take LeSean McCoy, running back, University of Pittsburgh.
I think that there are some guys who Dixon would take, even knowing they were “one and done”, but Stephenson is not one of those. He’s not a talented PG who makes everybody else better or a beast inside who keeps your team in the game on the boards. Instead, he’s a ball-hogging, scoring wing who doesn’t even shoot that well and gets most of his points because he overpowers guys from the wing on the HS level.
If you’ve seen him play, then you realize what a problem he would be on the court for Pitt. He’s one of those kids who’s been a star in NYC way too long and it’s gone to his head.
No thanks……….but it is nice that kids like him mention Pitt these days. That’s certainly reflective of where the profile of the program is.
link to lance-stephenson.com