Very, very interesting. According to the always plugged in Chris Dokish at NBE Basketball Report, the Pitt coaching staff may pull a rabbit out of their hat for point guard insurance in 2009-10.
Enter Chase Adams. The 5?10? Baltimore native who is currently visiting the Pittsburgh campus with his Mom. Adams has spent the last three seasons at Centenary College in Louisiana where last season he averaged 14.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, and 4.5 apg, while making 39.8% of his three point shots and 70.3% of his free throws as a junior last season. He was also named Summit League Defensive Player of the Year thanks to his 83 steals (2.7.game). He has averaged 2.3 spg over his three year career.
Despite playing for a very poor team, Adams showed that he could also play against major Division 1-A programs. As a junior, against Mississippi State, Adams had 15 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and nailed 4 out of 8 from three point land. Against LSU, he had 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 steals, and against Texas Tech, Adams had 23 points and 6 rebounds, while making 4 out of 5 of his three pointers. For the season, Adams scored 20 or more points eight times, had 5 or more rebounds ten times, and four or more steals nine times.
Adams, who is an excellent student, would be eligible immediately because Centenary is on probation. He will only be eligible to play this season, which would give the Panthers the opportunity to still continue to fill their scholarship limit for the 2010 class.
There will be questions about whether at 5-10, 175 pounds, Chase Adams can handle playing in the Big East for the full year. The thing to remember is that there is no guarantee he would be the starter. He would add some vital depth at the point guard position, and most importantly still allows Pitt to use the scholarship for the 2010 class.
The only risk, if you can call it that, is to the chemistry. If Travon Woodall or Ashton Gibbs take this negatively it could be an impact. Both kids, however, have been team players from HS to college. Woodall volunteered to come off the bench in his senior year of HS. More likely, both would take it as another challenge to be met if they want to get playing time.
