Chris Dokish, Connecticut Recruiting, Georgetown Recruiting, Pittsburgh Recruiting

PITTSBURGH LOOKING AT 2008 GUARD, 2009 BIG MEN

By Chris Dokish

The Pitt basketball season has not gone as planned, but the program is trying to turn their fortunes around for future years starting with a five man recruiting class that may not be done just yet. With the recent addition of 6’3” shooting guard Jermaine Dixon of Tallahassee (FL) CC, the program is currently one over the thirteen scholarship limit. Medical hardships, transfers, an ineligible freshman, or Sam Young going to the NBA are all possibilities to get the limit back down, though according to a source close to the program, the staff does not yet know which, or how many, of those things will occur. Young, who will be 23 years old by the start of next season, is expected to seriously consider a jump to the pros.

Despite four of the five incoming freshmen being perimeter players, if another player is added, there is a good chance that he will also be a perimeter player. The player in question is DeAndre Kane, a 6’4” shooting guard from Schenley HS in Pittsburgh. Kane, who was a teammate last year of current Pitt star freshman DeJuan Blair, will most likely be forced to go to a junior college, but he is working hard to become eligible and there is still a possibility that he could somehow pull it out in the end. If he does make the grade, he will almost assuredly sign with Pitt, who thinks Kane is the best senior in the state not named Tyreke Evans. Kane is athletic, confident, and well sized, but his main asset is his superior long range shooting, that would come in very handy at Pitt.

For the 2009 class, the program has already landed yet another wing in 6’5” sharp shooting bulldozer Lamar Patterson of J.P. McCaskey HS in Lancaster, PA, plus are involved with many other top perimeter players, including 6’6” Dominic Cheek of St. Anthony’s in Jersey City, NJ, 6’4” Maurice Creek of South Kent (CT) School, 6’4” Durand Scott of Rice HS in New York City, 6’6” Brian Oliver of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, VA, and 6’6” Kevin Parrom and 6’3” Omari Lawrence, both of St. Raymond’s HS in the Bronx. All are top rated players who the Panthers will not turn away, but the focus of the ’09 class will be interior players, with three major targets in the forefront.

Leading the way on that front is Venezuelan native Greg Echenique of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ, a 6’8” 240 pound beast at center who would pair nicely with fellow beast DeJuan Blair. The problem is that the competition is tough for the Top 40 prospect and Duke and Florida are among his many suitors.

Also on the top list is 6’8” 220 pound Dante Taylor of National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, MD. Another Top 40 prospect, Taylor is a highly athletic and wiry strong rebounder with a quickly developing offensive game. Right now it’s a battle between Pitt and Maryland, but look for UConn and Georgetown to possibly join the mix.

Last, but not least, is the curious story of 6’10” 230 pound Aarick Murray of Glenn Mills in Concordville, PA. Glenn Mills is a school for court adjudicated youth in eastern PA where Murray was assigned after missing too many days of school, once nearly six months in a row. Murray, however, has turned his life around and has received high praise for his maturity and work ethic, both on and off the court. A huge success story, Murray has even scored high enough on the ACT to be eligible for college already. On the court, he is raw, but he has the great size, strength, and athletic ability to be a major college talent.

The three big men are the only low post players that currently have offers from the Panthers and all three have been invited to attend this Sunday’s home game against Louisville. None of three have verified that they will be attending yet, but if they can’t make it this weekend, all are expected to visit the campus in the future.

Other big men that have yet to receive offers, but are still being monitored by the Panthers staff include 6’8” 225 pound Dan Jennings of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, VA, 6’11” 210 pound Zeke Marshall of McKeesport (PA) HS, 6’9” 230 pound Will Coleman of Miami-Dade JC, and 6’8” 210 pound Andre “Scooter” Gillette of Neumann-Goretti HS in Philadelphia.

Jennings is a New York City native whose grades forced him to Oak Hill for this season and another prep destination for next season. The Panthers are once again waiting to see if he makes it academically and they will not give up easily on Jennings because of his very high ceiling. Marshall is a rare local prospect that has the great height and speed, but is still very much a project. He also has some trepidation about whether or not he could fit in a conference known for big bodies banging down low. Despite media reports he has yet to receive a Pitt offer. Coleman is originally form Georgia and signed with Arkansas-Little Rock last year. Now, however, he is turning into a force with his great size and explosive athleticism. Gillette is lanky but is best in the post where he can use his quickness and long arms.

Gillette’s teammate at Neumann-Goretti, 6’1” point guard Tony Chenault, is one of the top 2010 targets for the Panthers. A lighting quick point guard who can score and pass with the best of them, he is expected to be one of the better guards in the country, despite only being a sophomore.

Locally, 6’5” Tom Droney of Sewickley Academy in Pittsburgh can play the one, two, or three with ease and that’s why Pitt has to fend off Duke to get him. The Panthers staff thinks he will be a star.

A 2010 big man that the staff is already enamored with is Canadian import Tristan Thompson of St. Benedict’s in Newark, NJ. Currently considered one of the top ten sophomores in the country, he is already 6’8” and has all of the major colleges coveting him.