For the record, I’ll be liveblogging the NBA Draft tomorrow, as I did last year.

A couple days ago the P-G had an article about how Aaron Gray could be the first 1st round draft pick of the Howland-Dixon era. That was after Gray had already dropped to the second in most mock drafts. So, now they get around to revising and noting he will likely go in the second round.

That’s what NBA draft experts are saying about Pitt’s All-American and his immediate future on the eve of the draft. No matter what Gray did in those big games on the national stage, he would be in the same position today — a borderline late first- or second-round pick.

“He has established a body of work as a player over time,” ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas said. “That’s what the NBA people will look at. They’ll look at what he did over his four years.”

Gray will be staying home with his folks to watch the draft. He’s actually enjoyed traveling all over the place to do workouts for teams.

”It’s been exciting,” Gray said. ”I was in San Antonio, and they just won the championship. The city was crazy. We [other draft candidates] were walking around, and people were thinking that were were part of the team.

”And I was like, ‘Nah, nah, I’m not part of ya’ll yet.”

Yeah, I can see how a bunch of really tall young athletic men would be assumed to be members of the Spurs.

Looks like Pitt has had luck in reshuffling a bunch of games to finally make that Pitt-Duke game at Madison Square Garden a reality (Insider subs).

The Pitt-Duke game is finally getting closer to becoming a reality on Dec. 20 in New York City. Pitt needed Dayton to move its Dec. 22 game against the Panthers to another date. Pitt didn’t want to play Duke in New York City with one day prepare and travel for Dayton. Dayton has finally relented and is willing to move the game to Dec. 29 in Dayton, but that means more games have to be moved. Dayton is scheduled to play Lipscomb on that day, and Pitt was scheduled to host Lafayette on Dec. 28. Those games are being moved to make it acceptable to all parties. Pitt is also moving a game with Buffalo on Dec. 19 because of the Duke game.

Beautiful.

This also fills in a bit more about what teams Pitt has in the non-con puzzle. Lafayette (Dec.), at Duquesne (Nov.), at Dayton (Dec.), Duke (Dec.), Buffalo (Dec.) and Washington (Feb.). That leaves 5-6 more games for Pitt’s non-con.

ADDITION: I forgot Oklahoma State also in December.

A bunch of Nic DiLillo committing to Pitt stories yesterday. From his local paper,

While it might seem like a major switch to go from a high-profile ACC school in the south to a blue-collar Big East school a few hours away from home, DiLillo said his choice to play college football after a lengthy recruiting process ultimately came down to just two schools – Pitt and Clemson.

The Panthers have always been among his favorites as far as college choices. Now, Pitt will be DiLillo’s college home.

“One of the hardest things I had to do was call the coach at Clemson and tell them I wasn’t coming, but it wasn’t as hard as when I told Pitt (I was initially going to Clemson),” DiLillo said. “I just always had a great connection and relationship with Pitt and the coaches, and I guess in a way, I always knew that is where I belonged. This is a big relief for me and it feels great.”

The backhanded smack is not surprising. It is the Cleveland area. Maybe I’m throwing stones, but “high-profile ACC school?” Clemson? Really? 2-3 in the last 5 bowl games which were the Humanitarian, Tangerine, Peach, Champs Sports and Music City.
One of the big issues that led to DiLillo changing his mind and committing to Pitt was the travel for those who would want to see him.

“Distance was a very big factor for me, that last trip down there just seemed so long,” DiLillo said. “My family, friends and coaches have always been there for me and if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be where I am at today. I owe it to them and myself to stay close to home so they can all be there to see me play.”

I know that proximity to friends and family that will support and want to see you play is a big reason why so many kids commit to local schools. I have to say, it comes off as unintentionally arrogant and funny if you read that last sentence again without the context.

Kevin Gorman’s blog fills in the regular story with much more detail on just how hard Pitt continued to recruit DiLillo.

“Every other week, I’d have a hand-written letter from every coach,” DiLillo said. “They treated me like family. No other colleges did that.”

Even after DiLillo made a verbal commitment to Clemson in May, the Pitt football staff never backed off its pursuit of the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder who is ranked a top-20 prospect at his position by recruiting services.

The Panthers first won over DiLillo’s parents, sending a Mother’s Day card signed by every member of the staff to Christine DiLillo and a Father’s Day card to Tony DiLillo.

The cards, Nic said, are hanging on his refrigerator.

“They were struck by that; I wasn’t going there and they were still recruiting me,” DiLillo said. “My mom got teary-eyed. She was wishing that I was going there. From day one, they’ve loved Pittsburgh.”

Both Wannstedt and Rhoads stopped by his school during the May barnstorming recruiting period as well.

The Pitt Athletic Department has hired someone to assist in developing the facilities for the non-revenue sports and help with raising funds to pay for them. Paul Klaczak is the new Associate Athletic Director for Business Development, Facilities and Special Projects.

Klaczak, a Pittsburgh native, comes to Pitt from Cincinnati where he served as an Associate Director of Athletics for nine years, overseeing operations, facilities and numerous other areas within the athletic department.

“Paul’s extensive background and success in athletics, particularly in the areas of facility construction and renovation, will be a great asset to us in the near future,” Long said. “A focus of the Pitt Athletic Department is to provide the best facilities, equipment, training and health care to ensure our student-athletes have the opportunity to excel. The addition of Paul to our staff continues to move us in that direction.”

The Marietta College undergraduate earned his Master’s degree in Sports Management from Robert Morris in 1988. Since that time, he has been with the Bearcats in various roles including serving as a member of the Senior Staff.

Klaczak was the project leader for Cincinnati’s $112 million Varsity Village, including its construction projects and all facility renovations. He assisted in raising more than $40 million from the private sector and played a key role in the strategic planning, presentations and solicitations.

The project at Pitt is “only” around a $35 million affair.

Hmm. He’s coming from Cinci. Maybe he can pass along the Redlich’s address and phone number to AD Jeff Long.