That’s some good company.
In case you still haven’t heard, Khem Birch committed to Pitt late last night.
“I chose Pittsburgh because I really feel comfortable with Coach (Pat) Skerry and Coach Dixon, and I feel that they can help me develop,” Birch told FOXSports.com
The 6-foot-9, 200-pound Birch, who hails from Quebec, spent last season at Winchendon School (Mass.) and has transferred to nearby Notre Dame Prep this year.
Birch is a long and extremely athletic frontline player who can change the game on the defensive end with his shot-blocking ability. If his ranking holds up, he’d be the highest regarded player ever to sign with the Panthers.
“Khem’s long-term goal is to be a pro,” Notre Dame Prep coach Ryan Hurd told FOXSports.com “Coach Dixon has done a terrific job developing pros, and he’s also made it clear the door is always open for Khem to return and finish getting his degree.”
“He hasn’t even scratched the surface,” added Expressions coach Todd Quarles, who runs Birch’s summer league. “He’s got so much upside and wants to be great.”
Birch is ranked #4 by Scout.com and Rivals.com. ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. has him as the #2 overall player. All three recruiting sites, though, rank him as the #1 power forward in the 2012 class.
The Sporting News’ Mike DeCourcy reminded me that this would be the highest ranked commit to Pitt since Brian Shorter. Which may also apply to Birch’s game as well — another good thing.
The credit goes to Coach Jamie Dixon on closing the deal on Birch, and for making the hire that put him in the position to close it. Hiring Pat Skerry from Providence after Tom Herrion took the HC job at Marshall did it. Skerry had the best relationship with Birch, that had the big guy leaning towards Providence.
“He’s a fairly obvious common denominator in this one,” Hurd said. “I think it’s a level of comfort with Coach Skerry and Coach Dixon’s personality and demeanor. It fit really well with what will help him be successful.”
Hurd praised Birch’s athleticism and shot-blocking skill. “It’s funny for us during open gyms to see the college coaches sit on the sidelines and hear the collective gasps occasionally with the things he does,” Hurd said.
Birch is listed at 6-8, 180 pounds. He participated in the LeBron James Skills Academy and King City Classic during July’s evaluation period. Scout analyst Dave Telep called Birch the “best rebounder we saw” during one King City session. He praised Birch’s ability to rebound in traffic and out of his area and compared him to a young Derrick Favors.
Astounding that the 2012 class is close to being complete — and he and Adams can’t sign until the early period in November 2011. Speaking of Steve Adams, Scout.com now classifies him as a 3-star while Rivals.com says 4-star.
As for 2011, that class of Johnson, Johnson, Boyd and Gilbert is presently ranked #21st nationally by ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc (Insider subs).
This brings me to an article I’ve been dying to mention on the blog for a couple weeks. I tweeted it when I read it, but it deserves more attention. A great article from Gary Parrish at CBS Sports about recruiting and how some coaches are too dumb to know when to stop recruiting a kid.
But the situation is hardly unique in the recruiting game, which got me thinking about a larger question: Why do so many college coaches — head coaches and assistants alike — spend so much time recruiting prospects they know, deep down, they don’t have any real shot at signing? It can be an incredible waste of money and energy, and it can also cost guys jobs because while one coach is out scrapping to finish third for a future pro he was never going to get, another coach — i.e., a smarter coach — is focused on a more realistic target, locked in and building a program.
“I’ve had so many coaches make comments to me about it looking good to be on [an elite prospect’s] list,” said Scout.com recruiting analyst Evan Daniels. “That’s bogus. Quit wasting your time and be realistic. Half of recruiting is knowing when to move on and making the right decisions.”
As an example of one coach that gets it: Jamie Dixon.
Multiple coaches told me over the past few weeks that Dixon is one of the best at distinguishing between what’s realistic and what’s not, and that he doesn’t waste much time with what’s not. That’s why Pitt rarely finishes third for an elite recruit. Dixon has no interest in finishing third. In baseball terms, he only swings at strikes, and he’s happy to let others battle North Carolina and Duke each July. While that’s happening, Dixon is in a gym focused on signing the next Ashton Gibbs, getting ready to win another 25 games.
“It’s not about who you can get to visit,” said former Pitt assistant Tom Herrion, now the head coach at Marshall. “It’s about who you can get to commit and sign.”
There have been criticisms in the past (not that there will be many today) of Coach Dixon not going after the top players or why Pitt isn’t involved in more of the really big name recruits. The reason, apparently, has a lot to do with a smart coach that recognizes when he legitimately has a shot for a player and when he doesn’t.
Coach Dixon appeared to have recognized at the beginning of his coaching tenure at Pitt, that he was not automatically going to get big name players at Pitt based on the recent success of his predecessor and certainly not on Pitt’s history/name recognition.
Instead he went and got the best players he could to fit what he was doing. It has worked, and now Pitt keeps bringing in bigger recruits. Coach Dixon can and will pursue top players, just don’t expect him to waste time when there is no point.
Let’s hope this dude is the Charley Hyatt for this generation.
Of course I’m sure some will find fault by saying something like “Another PF? We need shooters!” because they have nothing better to contribute.
Hail to PITT!
Good to see you back, and looking forward to another year of Pitt hoops!
“here’s what we can give you for 10 years and longer………..” With Jamie, as sports fans, and watching all the games, we may openly wonder sometimes, “wonder why he didn’t play him tonight, or wonder why he went to that”, that’s just being a sports fan, nothing at all to criticize, thank you Ben and Jamie for the great ride!!! Now, about Wanny……………..
kid will tear up the Big East by his 2nd season. I don’t post much, but I promise this from a source that is with the team.
In terms of opening another spot for 2012, the short answer is that someone on the current team would have to leave. It could very well be a hedge against an early NBA departure (doesn’t seem likely at this point), or someone would have to transfer. It’s way too early to figure that out now, but looking at all of the possible players, somebody is sure to be left out of the rotation.
Nothing is guaranteed, but I’ve never felt so good about Pitt’s chances at a Final Four and possible championship as now.
Generally, the Big East is thought to be a little down this year. Most pre-season rankings have Pitt/Nova at the top of the conference and somewhere near the top ten nationally. Syracuse and Georgetown are the only other two schools getting much top 20 love. They will have to rely on freshmen to replace some big time players who left. WVU, Uconn, Louisville are expected to be rebuilding. Both UConn and Louisville are bringing in some talent but are thought to be a year away. St. Johns and Rutgers, with new coaches, are bringing in good classes but are also probably a couple years away.
Is that a definite? Where’d you hear that?
What I want to know is, if there isn’t room for both Bhuller brothers in PITT BB, can the other gain some weight and strength and play low enough to be an OT for PITT? Wouldn;’t it be fun to have a 7ft 390lb Tackle who could be a legit Tackle eligible on pass plays and could step in as a FB on short yardage TD attempts like the Fridge did in 1986?
He has taken a slow, methodical approach to building a top program. He continues to bring in top notch assistant coaches. Knight will be a head coach someday, Herion was a good head coach and now is a head coach again. Bringing in Skerry was brilliant. Not only is he helping to bring in top recruits, but he will certainly help with the product on the court. Some young coaches would be hesistant to bring in these kinds of experienced, motivated, head coach capable men(oops I just channeled Mike Tomlin).
The program is absolutely JAMMED with talent and the pipeline is full. Even if all the starters left the team tomorrow, Pitt’s second 6-7 players could go .500 in the big east this year. Not only does Pitt have talent, but they are solid kids too. They are all willing to buy in to the plan, none are selfish, and all willing to work. None have run into major off court problems (Gil Brown’s one academic transgression aside).
Dixon did his best coaching job last year. He totally revamped the offense to suit the talent he had. He continued to get them to play “Pitt Defense”. And they won a bunch of games they had no business winning.
Dixon took on the USA U19 World team when a lot of other coaches passed. He used that experience to learn and try new things. He got Gibbs some valuable experience and confidence. And if Adams ends up at Pitt in a couple years (and there’s no reason to think he won’t) it may have gotten him the best center in the class.
Dixon is doing it right, every year Pitt will have a chance. They won’t have a roller coaster like some of the top programs who are filled with one and done kids. Pitt will consistenntly be in the top 20, and when things go right will have a shot at the final four and maybe even a national championship. Would you trade positions with Kentucky fans? No chance.
Really, there isn’t a program in the country in better shape right now than Pitt. Certainly, Duke, Michigan State, Carolina, Kansas, Syracuse all have great programs, Pitt doesn’t take a back seat to any of them.
Final Fours and Championships will come, I am convinced. But even if they don’t, Jamie will have put the program in position to succeed, consistently. And that’s all you can really ask.
Amazing how a pretty clear point can be misconstrued. Mike Tomlin would call folks “reading-incapables”.
Just wanted to say, Sykes Reed was my dentist when I was a kid.
What kind of guy was he? Seemed nice, but he drilled without novacain.
Lastly, I’d really like to a see Taylor stay long enough for there to be a 1yr overlap between his stay and Birch’s. I’m gushing, i know, but this is pretty awesome.