[Greetings from Cincinnati — don’t ask.]

Even before anyone was hired, I stated that it was unlikely Pitt was going to see much in the way of transfers. With a large senior class, JUCO, redshirt, a couple of local kids and a sophomore in line for plenty of playing time. That has indeed been the case.

Pleasantly surprising has been the retention of the 3-man recruiting class. All three had other choices with their release — and they did indeed take a quick look about. Corey Manigault was the first to ask for his release, but was also the first to recommit. Justice Kithcart — the player with the most programs coming to poach him — has decided to stay. And now it seems Crisshawn Clark is going to stay as well.

There is one loss, though, Assistant Coach Brandin Knight has decided to leave.

Longtime assistant coach Brandin Knight, Pitt’s all-time leader in assists and steals, announced on Twitter he is leaving the program to pursue other opportunities

“Pitt will always hold a special place in my heart but after careful consideration I have decided to continue my career elsewhere. I can’t thank the administration, fans, alums, the Oakland Zoo and the people of Pittsburgh enough for making my time here amazing,” Knight tweeted. “Coach Stallings and his staff will do a great job continuing the winning tradition of Pitt basketball. While it is difficult to say goodbye to a place that has been home for the last 17 years, I am extremely excited about the opportunities that lie ahead!!! H2P”

Knight did not return a message late Thursday night asking for further comment.

After interviewing for the vacant head coaching position following the departure of Jamie Dixon, the eight-year assistant was asked by Stallings to remain with the program.

After Knight’s announcement, the official Pitt basketball Twitter account tweeted: “.@bknight20 = great player/coach, tremendous representative of Pitt & even better person. #H2P”

It can’t be surprising that Knight has chosen to move on. It would have been very good for Pitt to keep him. He has been the key guy for recruiting, but it is probably much better for his own career to go elsewhere. Rutgers may be where he lands, but Knight will be in demand.

A couple other things.

A good Q&A with the Rivals.com Vanderbilt writer:

Q: We’ve heard a lot about the difficulties of recruiting to Vanderbilt, how much of a challenge is it there really?

I think that has been completely overblown. I think that it’s not nearly as tough as people perceive. I think the challenge is getting kids who can handle it more than it is getting kids in.

Q: So, the pool of recruits isn’t as small as we’ve been told?

No. I do not believe that.

Q: How good of a job did Stallings really do, then, in bringing in talent?

I think in terms of bringing in talent, he did a really good job. I think that’s the most overrated aspect of Kevin Stallings as a coach. They have put a few players in the NBA the last few years. The 2011-2012 team sent three guys to the NBA and Festus Ezeli is still with Golden State. Kevin gets a lot of credit for developing him. I think he’s got three guys on this roster that you’re probably going to see in the NBA. Damian Jones and Wade Baldwin, for sure. Luke Kornet, we’ll wait and see next year, but the scouts that came to practice really loved him and he’s got some real talent. He’s just an unusual get that grew late. I think (Stallings) is good at getting talent and good at evaluating talent. I think he’s really hit the mark in all those areas.

Q: Knowing he’s brought in NBA-level talent but hasn’t been past the Sweet 16 and had that talent this year and lost in the First Four, how good is he at actually coaching the talent he brings in?

He’s recognized as an x’s and o’s genius. I think there’s some legitimacy to that, but there’s also a fail somewhere, I think when it comes to motivating the players. I think that’s his weakness. I even wonder if being at the same place for 17 years, maybe some of it got stale and maybe people had figured him out a little bit. I don’t know if that’s the case, but I think the motivation aspect, I think there was a lot of times a disconnect between him and his players because everything else should’ve added up. He had talent, he’s a smart guy, but it just never seemed to connect the way it should. Almost all of his really talented teams left some meat on the boat, and there’s got to be a reason for that. It’s happened too many times. That’s my perception of it. I don’t know for 100 percent that’s the truth, but there had to be something there for it to never go the way it … to rarely go the way it should have gone considering the talent he had.

Stallings never played up difficulties in recruiting at Vandy. Only saying that the pool would be wider. That was more on AD Barnes trying to sell Stallings’ record at Vandy. There is the concern with not getting everything out of them. The optimist will hope that this is something that revitalizes Stallings to connect better with the motivation side.

And a point on a key to Stallings early success (or failure) lies with developing Damon Wilson.

Wilson is the kind of player whose physical traits tantalize, but his first year in Dixon’s system was an exercise in frustration. He got some significant minutes early, but his playing time dwindled throughout the year, until he flat out didn’t play in either ACC Tournament game, and logged one official minute against Wisconsin, an appearance made memorable by his decision to forgo a potential driving layup in favor of pulling the ball back out. It was a decision that had Dixon’s fingerprints all over it.

Stallings needs to get the most out of Wilson. The Panthers return several other talented offensive players, but they need someone dynamic to get them the ball in good position to score. Wilson is everything that outgoing point guard James Robinson was not—long, rangy, a high level athlete, and able to get past his man off the dribble.

What Dixon never had, what Pitt never truly had during the Howland/Dixon era, was a point guard who could reliably break down a defense off the dribble, and then make plays at or above the rim. They never found an explosive athlete who could also play the position to their liking.

Kithcart and Wilson batting for the starting PG spot will be the big thing in the early part of next season. Right now, I expect both to get at least 20 minutes per game. Both will also see time at the 2. With something of a glut in the backcourt, Pitt will likely employ a lot of 3-guard line-ups in 2016.