In case you somehow missed it, Khem Birch, part of Pitt’s 2011 recruiting class was named a McDonald’s All-American. The Canadian native who plays in Massachusetts was placed on the West squad.
From ESPN.com’s evaluation of each player:
Biancardi’s breakdown: He is a terrific, young athlete and tremendous shot-blocker. Defensively, Birch can cover a lot of ground and is one of the few prospects who can influence the game without leaving the paint.
Telep’s take: The 2010 LeBron James Academy was the setting, and Derrick Favors comparisons were ringing out from the crowd. Months later, Birch would switch from the class of 2012 back into the 2011 class. He played beat the buzzer, then inked with Pittsburgh giving Jamie Dixon his highest-rated recruit ever as Panthers head coach.
If Coach Dixon can get a few more in the next few years, there is a 20% chance that pundits will stop talking about how Pitt doesn’t recruit big name, top recruits.
Then there is 2012 recruit from New Zealand, Steve Adams. He is going to be part of the Wellington Saints and play in the NBL. Take a breath, his eligibility remains intact.
Adams, who has attracted the interest of NBA scouts, won’t get paid a cent by the Saints because he has been offered a scholarship for Pittsburgh University next year.
But the opportunity for the apprentice to learn from a master like [Wellington Coach Jero] Cameron is priceless.
“I feel privileged to play for the Saints, honoured to be a part of the team as a development player,” Adams said before a Saints scrimmage in Newtown.
“I need to get the experience before I go over to Pittsburgh.”
Adams’ tale, should it continue on its current path, will meet the classic rags-to-riches definition.
While Adams will, undoubtedly still be raw when he gets to Pitt, this will help.
Saints coach Pero Cameron isn’t one for hype but even he can’t hide excitement at helping mould Adams’ freakish natural abilities. “Steve’s a wonderful talent and I can’t wait to have him for the season.
“He’s a true centre, legit, and at seven foot and 17, he’s got it all ahead of him. Hopefully, we can prepare him for the big things that lie ahead of him. He’s so athletic, very strong but lean, tall and he can run and jump.
“A lot of it is up to him but anything’s possible, man — I mean, look at him.”
Wellington hoops fans will get their first glimpse of Adams, who will help fill the void left by Nick Horvath, when the Saints’ season tips off at home against Waikato Pistons on April 15.
Hopefully by then some other website will have the streams going for these sort of games.
I am not saying Birch will not be good, and bear with me on the exact facts here, but overall here is why I don’t get too excited about these rankings:
-Wannstedt’s recruiting classes were always rated pretty high and certainly higher than anyone else in our conference and look how those turned out–I believe he had fewer pros than not-my-fault-Walt in his tenure (it was at least close), and we were never all that good.
-Dixon has a great disdain for recruiting rankings and look how his players turn out, both at the college level and professionally–Sam Young was basically unranked, Blair, Biggs, Fields, Ramon, Troutman, Page, Knight, Gray, etc. all played basketball for $$$ in their post-Pitt careers and none were McD All-Americans and some were very lightly regarded. Gibbs and McGhee are certainly other examples of that and I am sure I am missing more. You can argue that it has to do with Dixon’s ability to coach/develop guys but I would counter that Dante Taylor was an All-American and he is certainly no stud. I believe he will continue to improve but I am not sure he will ever be as good as Aaron Gray, let alone Blair.
Heck, if all these rankings were right, teams that consistently get these great classes like UNC, UCLA, UConn, etc. would never have down years, and yet they do.
I absolutely cringe when we’re on MNF and they show that blast furnace and say “Steeltown”.
Computers, medicine, technology, education are what we are now, and have been for the last 20 years. So frustrating!!
People that live here, and travel here understand that. We’re always named one of the top cities, if not the top, places to live. Always rated one of the top, sometimes top skyline in the U.S., and yet, MNF, here comes that blast furnace!!!!!!!! Ugggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe, according to Rivals, WVU has had the better FB recruting class in each of the lasat 3 years, and Rutgers were better in two of them
Wow, we are going to be really big, with 6’11” Gilbert, 6’9″ Birch and 6’9″ Taylor and then another 6’11” Adams coming in the next year. They could actually play Birch at PF. And we’re going to have really nice sized wing players in Bond & the other 6’7″ recruit. Plus Zanna will get better at 6’9″.
If we can get to the Final 4 this year, to break that barrier, we are going to be loaded for bear in the coming years. Exciting times continue for Pitt hoops. And hopefully Pitt football.
HTP !
