Pitt’s 2012 basketball signing class is probably complete — with all the requisite officialness of signed documents. Trey Zeigler sent in his official transfer paperwork, and Chris Jones sent in his Letter of Intent.
The University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball program signed Chris Jones (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck H.S.) to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Jamie Dixon announced on Wednesday. In addition, Dixon also stated that Trey Zeigler (Mount Pleasant, Mich./Central Michigan) has submitted the necessary scholarship paperwork in order to enroll at Pitt. The NCAA Division I spring men’s basketball signing period began on Wednesday, April 11.
Jones and Zeigler join Steven Adams (Rotorua, New Zealand/Notre Dame Prep, Mass.) and James Robinson (Mitchellville, Md./DeMatha Catholic H.S.) as Pitt’s four-member 2012 class. Not including Jones and Zeigler, Pitt’s 2012 class is considered a consensus top-15 nationally ranked unit. Pitt is ranked No. 13 by ESPNU, No. 10 by Rivals.com, No. 15 by Scout.com and No. 13 by CBSSports.com. Adams (top-10) and Robinson are both consensus top-50 ranked recruits.
I haven’t checked how the rankings look, but the only reason Pitt might move in the rankings will be due to other late signees and how they affect the movement. Transfers do not count for recruiting rankings, so Zeigler will not have an impact on the rankings.
The Post-Gazette’s Pitt basketball beat writer, Ray Fittipaldo was able to speak briefly to Coach Dixon last night. Asked about any more additions to the class:
When asked if he could still add another player to the recruiting class, Dixon said: “At this point, we’re done.”
So what does that mean regarding Savon Goodman? Well, most recruiting reports have started indicating that Goodman is very likely headed to prep school because of his grades. Presumably, Pitt is still recruiting him for 2013.
Then there was the report yesterday evening that Coach Dixon was in Atlanta today — on the late signing day — speaking with LSU AD Joe Alleva about the now vacant LSU job. Coach Dixon did his usual “I don’t talk about other jobs” thing, but it’s worth noting that Dixon spoke to Fittipaldo from the Consol Center. It’s worth noting that the reporter that said that, later made a correction to the story.
A previous report on Nola.com that Alleva met with University of Pittsburgh Coach Jamie Dixon was inaccurate.
Pitt officials also denied the report saying that Dixon was at his offices in the Pete all day.
Let’s be realistic. LSU and Dixon make no sense. TCU couldn’t get him to come to Texas or anywhere to meet to talk the job. But Dixon would make a trip to Atlanta just to listen?
Is it conceivable that LSU could make Dixon some sort of Godfather offer to lure him? Yes, it is an SEC school with plenty of money and a big commitment to athletics. But, Dixon would be so out of place in that region.
More practically, the LSU job is not very good. It is in need of total rebuilding, and at least a 3-year process. Not an appealing notion.
Then there is this recruiting class. Forget the quality. Look at the ties. Dixon is bringing in Steven Adams — whose mentor in New Zealand is an old friend of Dixon. And now having Trey Zeigler sign transfer paperwork? Zeigler? The son of another friend and former coaching colleague? There is no way he would let him sign that paperwork at the beginning of the late signing period — and get the appeal submitted for a waiver to play right away — if he was even thinking about another job
it sucks that zeigler wont count on rankings of the class.
if goodmen goes prep i think we have a shot of geting him next year.
I’m more likely to blame injuries and Birch leaving than assistants due to Pitt being down this past year.
Not blaming the coaches for this year. I think it was a series of things, asst coaching being 1 of them.
My argument is mostly based on player improvement of 2 interior guys, Dante and Nasir. Nasir was working with a shorthanded toolbox to begin with, just based on size alone, but I just didn’t see anything this year that he had become better at over his 4 years. FT Shooting, no. Ballhandling, no. Shooting, no. Im not saying that’s entirely on the coaching staff though. Ditto for Dante…
And I dont really think they are bad coaches. I just think we lost some REALLY, REALLY good assts, and its not always easy to do so when losing guys in bulk like they have over the last 5 years. Perhaps another year under their belts will help. I really do have complete faith that Dixon is one of the very best in the business and will get the ship turned around.
Pitts got the highest ranked recruit in the class and arguable the best overall class in the BE.
We ended up in the “don’t sleep on us” group at the end.
I agree that you take these rankings with a grain of salt but No. 6 is pretty impressive for the Friars
He is proven, mature and fills an immediate need. He turns the weakest position in the starting line up to potentially the strongest, especially on defense where Pitt MUST improve next season.
And not only does he upgrade the weakest spot, but he allows Patterson and Moore to BOTH start, one of them (Patterson) will play the four and subsequently upgrade that position.
5) Adams – even if he is 80% of expectations will be a huge upgrade, Gilbert will be a good back up
4) Patterson – can guard most fours, Zanna can play against bigger post fours
3) Moore – made big strides, D. Johnson off the bench for shooting
2) Zeigler – All Big East potential, great rebounder, J. Johnson comes in for shooting and end of game free throws.
1) Woodall – will be weakest starter, best case Robinson gets major minutes by year end.
Not sure where Dante and Cam fit in. If they had Birch’s handlers, they’d transfer.
Deep and versatile. Much improved on defense. More athletic. More balanced. On paper, that team looks like a big east championship contender.
Patterson is capable of playing limited minutes as the backup 4. Hes just as big as NAS and is a very good rebounder. Zanna will start at the 4, though. No way does adams play at the 4.
PG- Woodall; SG – Zeigler or Patterson; SF – Moore or Patterson; PF — Zanna; C – Adams.
Thats still a good line-up with good subs for each position.
Let’s not forget Zeigler has or may have some warts. Us fans are really hungry for some upgraded talent, and Zeigler is just that, but he doesnt really bring better outside shooting and causes a minutes problem among him, Moore, Patterson, not to mention D Johnson, J Johnson and Cam Wright. The latter 3 will likely and should have limited minutes, but that’s still a lot of guys to juggle at basically 2.5 positions (that is SG + SF + sort of the PF which is really Zanna’s to lose and even then Dante may getsome minutes there).
Will be interesting to see how Dixon juggles the minutes. Non-conf schedule we’ll see a bunch of different looks.
Zanna, unfortunately, will have to start.
Of the MANY reasons why this Pitt team underachieved this year, one of the biggest was a lack of defensive presence in the paint. Gilbert solves that problem immediately.
Next year with Adams, Gilbert represents less of a change than would Taylor. Gilbert’s skill set is closer to Adams’. The “system” wouldn’t have to change much when Gilbert comes in.
For the record, Gilbert’s redshirt was burned (needlessly) before Birch left. Once he played a single minute he was not eligible for a redshirt for convenience. He still could have been eligible for a medical redshirt if he participated in fewer than 20% of the games AND suffered a season ending injury.
The case for starting Patterson at the four:
Dixon has said, repeatedly, that he starts the best five without strict regard for position. Zanna is the ONLY true 4 on the roster (don’t even go there with Taylor, he’s not played a single MINUTE of 4 since he’s been here FOR A REASON – he can’t). Zanna will play a ton (probably even the majority) of minutes at 4. But Zanna can’t play all the minutes. Patterson is going to have to play there some.
They did go with that small lineup a lot at the end of the year. And they had some success with it.
With the added rebounding provided by Adams and Zeigler, even with Patterson (who isn’t a bad rebounder) at the 4, Pitt will still be a very good rebounding team.
Patterson IS NOT good defensively. He won’t be any worse guarding the 4 than he would be guarding the 3. He might even do less damage guarding the 4, his lack of quickness will be less of an issue.
The coaching staff thinks Zanna lacks toughness. I don’t think the coaches will reward him with the starting position when they have a legit alternative in Patterson and Moore at the 3. I think the coaches like the 4/3 combo of Patterson/Moore more than Zanna/Patterson.
I am a huge Zanna fan and expect he should thrive next year due in part to Adams’ presence in the middle. And I would probably start Zanna, but don’t think Jamie agrees. We’ll see.
In the game played at Ambridge, Adams guarded a quick 6’8″ kid who BLEW BY HIM like he was standing still.
I still have not completely dismissed Taylor at the 4. If he loses 15-20 pounds he is a much better rebounder and defender than Zanna and possibly could regain some of his offensive skills facing the basket he had in high school.
Gilbert will be solid off the bench next year. Remember he had nagging injuries all year. A whole year of conditioning should do him wonders.
Also no one except for drw mentioned Dante Taylor. You do realize Taylor is going to get 20 minutes a game at some position. It will be interesting to see how Dixon juggles everything next year.
Zanna averaged 5.5 rebounds a game. Taylor averaged 4.9. Both have similar size and strength (neither good).
Taylor blocked a few (10) more shots, but neither is a shot blocker, both had fewer than one block a game.
Niether demonstrated any kind of post moves. Both routinely got their shots in the paint pinned against the glass.
Zanna is a better shooter and is more polished offensively. Zanna handles the ball better and had fewer turnovers.
Bottom line, neither are good centers.
In the few opportunities that Zanna had to play 4 he did ok.
Taylor does not play in space (offense or defense) well enough to play the 4. Whether he losses 5, 10 or 15lbs, he just doesn’t move his feet very well. Plus he has never played the position while at Pitt.
Taylor is fighting with Gilbert for back up minutes at center. I expect Gilbert to win that battle.
If Taylor starts next season, Pitt will be going for a repeat title in the CBI.
Someone obviously wasn’t doing their job this year.