Okay, so the win over VT hasn’t yielded any immediate results in football recruiting. But that weekend left an impression on point guard Josh Newkirk. The North Carolina point guard gave a verbal to Pitt today ($) after Coach Jamie Dixon followed up with a trip down to North Carolina.
Josh Newkirk is a 3-/4-star point guard. He’s 6-2, 175. He’s got quickness and loves to attack the basket (Insider subs).
He easily transitions from scorer to playmaker and can do both. He owns a presence at his position and the kind of head strong game you want out of a playmaker. Newkirk uses his quickness to can get into the lane sometimes at will. Newkirk is a good athlete as well. His ball handling and passing are solid and he can hit the open jumper off the catch or dribble with range to the arc. Newkirk is also a good defender that plays with great energy. Pressuring the ball and anticipating in the passing lanes are also strengths of Newkirk.
On the weaknesses, his perimeter game is a work in progress. He also needs to get stronger. He is considered to have a high ceiling that could result in the kind of player who’s performance will outstrip his recruiting ranking.
He has a ceiling that could take him to higher levels which will be predicated on the resume he builds with his high school team. Adding a jumpshot will enhace his PG ranking. Overall Newkirk is a solid all around point guard that has great upside.
This puts two in the 2013 recruiting class. Technically that fills the class as the only seniors are Dante Taylor and Travon Woodall. But the expectations are that Pitt is looking to add one more big man.
Interesting.
NEED another PF..
Is Dixon going to change style of play??? More ACC style… up and down… uptempo… 4 guard??
who would that be.
ACC is really going to be fun in football and hoops. Can’t wait.
Sounds like Jamie went after what he needs most.
“A transfer from South East Raleigh Josh is an up coming So. point guard with a tremendous amount of upside. Has a great feel for the game and is a natural point guard. He is able to get anywhere on the court, finishes well around the basket, and has the ball on a string. Needs to improve on his jump shot and when he does you will hear his name on draft day.”
He also sounds like he has a chip on his shoulder because the Carolina schools passed him over.
Welcome to Pitt Josh!
His shooting is no worse than Wrights.
He is the best rebounding, defending, and driving guard we’ve had since Knight. He also has a little bit of Knight’s attitude. Plus he is a good three or four inches taller than Knight.
Pitt’s transition defense is usually an abomination and then Dixon gets all anxious and reverts back to walking the ball up the court and playing half court basketball.
Since he’s only learned from one teacher, that being Howland, who is also into snail ball, one has to wonder. And last years staff had only “yes” men who were content just to be on the staff. Optimally he should bring in an asst. who knows the ACC, who know’s what teams tendencies are, coaches tendencies, home court oddities, etc.
And can add some teaching skills in uptempo game.
Video tapes only provide so much info.
Tough Pitt defense, dominant rebounding, and deliberate offense with good shot selection is a wining formula in any league. It actually could be an advantage because ACC teams don’t see that style every night.
Jamie needs to keep improving the recruiting and Pitt will continue to have the same kind of success in the ACC as we’ve seen in the Big East.
Hail to Pitt!