It’s the July recruiting period. That means Coach Dixon and assistants Brandin Knight and Bill Barton are out watching kids at tournaments all over the place. Twitter updates when sited by the various media folks also watching. Right now, so many players that Pitt is potentially pursuing for 2012 (2 scholarships), 2013 (2 scholarships) and 2014 (3 scholarships).
It’s nice seeing Pitt listed in the mix with players that have big name interest, but at this point in the recruiting cycle it is hard to be sure how realistic some are — especially for 2014 recruits. There are actually some good recruits from Pittsburgh on the radar. Granted, James Young, is going to HS in NJ, but he is a kid from the Pittsburgh area.
Still, some of it are from the kids themselves just rattling off names of schools they heard from. Not even always with confirmed offers. The compliment is seeing Pitt listed among the top teams at least looking at the kids.
Gilbert Brown has made a deal to head to Germany, assuming the likelihood of the NBA lockout taking out part of the season. Good agent to get him an option to come back to the states. Brown also made his debut in the Greentree summer league.
I highly recommend subscribing to the Panther Sports Network YouTube channel. Here are some of the highlights from this past Wednesday.
The PSN channel has highlights from other pro-am nights.
Jumping back to the NBA. If/when the lockout ends, Aaron Gray will have be a free agent following his decision to opt out of the final year of his contract held by New Orleans. While Gray has hardly been a star and at times subject to some media mocking for being a bench player, one good playoff series actually put him in a good spot as one of the more sought after free agents as a center:
11. Aaron Gray: His stock got a major boost from the work he put in against the Lakers, giving the Hornets an opportunity to compete. His size is a major asset, so count on him hanging around with playoff contenders for years to come.
Still can’t teach 7-feet.
I too don’t watch much NBA. In fact, I just read that this is the one year anniversary of ‘The Decision’ by Lebron. I actually watched that for about 45 minutes (“The Office” was a rerun) and remember that being about twice the amount that I had watched the entire playoffs last year.
I don’t trust any sport that has a rule called “illegal defense” and appears to have hired Vince McMahon as its chairman of the rulews committee.
– star takes 2 1/2 steps after giving up dribble and scores (what, no traveling .. but instead a great play by a great player)
– opposing team score with 2 seconds left to take lead. after timeout, Team gets to take the ball out at the other end of the court ??? If the Ravens score the go-ahead FG with left, do the Steelers get the ball on the Ravens 40 ys line?
– defensive 3 seconds?? a team should be allowed to play all 5 of its players under the basket if it wants to. Baseball allows a shift to let side or right side if it wants to; football allows goalline defense and prevent defense … both of these would be disallowe in NBA.
– Pat Ewing 1st pick of ’85 draft — riggged!!
Vince mcMahon — all the way!!
I don’t recall any NCAA or NFL official being thrown in jail recently for throwing games …. UNLIKE THE NBA!!!!
1) there IS illegal formations in other sports, esp football. how is that any different than the three second rule?
2) Ball bounces out of play, automatic double. ball kicked into the endzone, play starts on the 20yrd line. Arbitrary rules for the field of play that help the game be more sensible/exciting. Why is b-ball’s rule hard for you to swallow?
3) what about all the protection for QBs in football or the “tuck rule” or rule changes mid-season?
4) if you think the NBA is the only sport that has refs who susceptible to outside influences, then you’re pretty naive. (i’m not saying YOU are naive, just pointing out your comment is silly).
5)…screw it, i don’t care anymore.
But even the NFL wouldn’t lower itself to rig the 1st pick of its draft.
i’m not sure that i understand what you are trying to say. are you trying to say professional sports are a sham? please explain the point of this commentary.
Good for him, and allthough I don’t watch much NBA, I did see him on sportscenter many times during that playoff series.
Good for you Aaron!!!