Meaningless, other than the fact that Pitt signees are not exactly getting overshadowed at the defense-free all-star games. Down in Florida, Travon Woodall took home MVP honors.

But the smallest guy on the floor, 6-foot point guard Travon Woodall of consensus high school national poll champion Jersey City, N.J. St. Anthony’s, walked away with Most Valuable Player honors for Team USA.

Woodall, a Pittsburgh signee, had 22 points and several key plays in the comeback.

Another NJ guard signed with Pitt, Ashton Gibbs, took home NJ all-star game MVP honors.

The Pittsburgh-bound guard made the most of his opportunity, totaling 15 points — all on 3-point baskets — and earning Most Valuable Player honors when his North team defeated the South, 137-120.

“It was weird having the season end early,” Gibbs said. “I didn’t know what to do. I watched some games and started working out to get ready for Pitt.”

Gibbs was hot in the early going, hitting four 3-pointers in the first five minutes to boost the North to a 22-11 lead.

“It was great to play with some of the best players in the state,” Gibbs said. “I wanted to show what I could do against that kind of competition.”

All-star games are fun, but not vital. The nice thing out of this to me was that Gibbs also won the 3-point shooting competition. The 3-point shooting will be something Pitt needs from another guard next season.

Nasir Robinson was part of the Philadelphia Inquirer All-area team.

Another member of the 1st team was Aaric Murray who Pitt is looking at for 2009. He’s 6’9 -6’10, and a raw project. He has been in trouble for missing school. Lots of school.

When he was a youngster growing up at 20th and Susquehanna, he thought otherwise. He once skipped 150 days of class in a single school year. He repeated the eighth grade twice. And despite standing 6-foot-91/2 in his socks, basketball was something he watched only on television.

Today, after making a commitment to the hardwood and making dramatic academic improvements, he is a college-prep-course-taking, can’t-miss college prospect.

He is Aaric Murray, a junior center at Glen Mills, a residential school in Delaware County for court-adjudicated young men.

“Coming here was a blessing,” said Murray, sent to Glen Mills for years of truancy. “That’s why I thank God every night. It was definitely a blessing.”

So much of a blessing that he will remain at Glen Mills even after his 14-month sentence concludes next month.

Craig Mellinger, the Bulls’ longtime basketball coach, marvels at Murray’s transformation.

“Two of the biggest things that he has had in growth the last year is, No. 1, maturity,” Mellinger said. “And along with that maturity has come the confidence to interact and ask questions. He’ll tell you that a year ago, you couldn’t pull five words out of him.”

He also hasn’t played a lot of basketball. But he has potential.

“I only saw him one time,” said Dave Telep, Scout.com’s national basketball recruiting analyst.

As a result, Murray isn’t ranked nationally by the Web site. But. . . .

“The one time I saw Aaric, he showed the ability to be a major Division I player,” Telep continued. “I really had a positive impression of him.”

SLAM had him on their radar last January, listing him at #13.

Mixed feelings. He seems to have a lot of potential, but he is a definite project. The kind that will need a redshirt and some time. As long as he isn’t planning to decide until after the summer, Pitt might be best served by seeing how McGhee is coming along over the summer and if Austin Wallace will ever be able to comeback. Not sure Pitt can afford to have too many big men projects at once.