Ole’ Dick Rod has agreed to pay the $4 million buyout to the Hoopies. Damn.

I wanted this to go to trial. I wanted to have his wife deposed. Pastilong. Everyone. It was just so much fun to follow, watch and laugh.

Summer camps, U-18 basketball and the recruiting battles in full swing. The time of year where if there’s a camp with top players there’s usually pictures popping-up on blogs of lots of coaches sitting in the stands in school polos, sweat suits and t-shirts watching. That also means pieces or notes on various high school kids.

Pitt has 3 scholarships for 2009 (Young, Fields, Biggs). Maybe more depending on potential transfers and the mystery that is Mike Cook’s medical redshirt status. Pitt has at least one spot filled with Lamar Patterson. There is possibly another assuming Darnell Dodson handles his second year in junior college and both sides are still committed. So, almost all the names that have been associated with Pitt are likely not coming.

Some are stories longform like this story on Dominic Cheek. As one of the best recruits in the country, not committed, and someone who shined at the U-18 USA Basketball tryouts, there will be no shortage of attention and recruiting of Cheek. He’d be a tremendous coup for Pitt — or any team that gets the wing guard/small forward — but I’m not holding my breath right now (plus, he’s not a need with Patterson).

One of Pitt’s earliest targets for this class has been 6-9 power forward Donte Taylor. He’s only seen the interest in him grow.

With scholarship offers from schools such as Pittsburgh, Maryland, West Virginia, UNC-Charlotte and Connecticut, and broadening interest from schools such as Syracuse, Kansas, Villanova, Georgetown and Seton Hall, Taylor will have plenty of attractive options of schools to visit and ultimately decide on to play his college basketball with.

One school on his list has had his attention for quite some time while growing up in Big East territory. “When I first started playing basketball, I wanted to go to UConn,” Taylor shared. “But now since everybody’s looking at me, I pretty much don’t have a favorite right now.”

Taylor says he has no favorites and he has caught the attention of many others at the camps.

National Christian’s Dontae Taylor has established himself as one of the camp’s most talented big men. The 6-foot-9, 225-pounder rattled off a list too lengthy to print.

That “camp” is the LeBron Camp all the top players attend.

Another front court target (also at the LeBron Camp), Andrew Fitzgerald, has a new suitor.

Add the name Andrew Fitzgeraldto the list of Louisville targets. The 6-foot-8 senior post from Owings Mills (Md.) averaged 22.1 points, 18.5 rebounds, six blocked shots and 5.1 assists a game as a junior. He said he has offers from Texas A&M, Baylor and Pittsburgh and is also getting serious interest from U of L and Tennessee.

Moving to 2010 targets where at the moment it appears that there is only one scholarship available (definitely likely to change). Pitt has already offered a couple players including the ever-rare, Western Pennsylvania prospect with talent — Sewickley Academy guard Tom Droney.

“Without a doubt, he’s the most highly recruited player in the area now that (Jeannette’s) Terrelle Pryor and (Moon’s) Brian Walsh have moved on,” Sewickley Academy coach Win Palmer said.

“It’s a great reminder that in today’s world of recruiting, even if you go to a smaller school, if you’re good, they’ll find you.”

Droney has certainly already been found, given the fact that he and Palmer have already spoken with coaches from Duke, Texas and Wake Forest, among others.

The junior even has his own recruit page on ESPN.com, where his strengths (ballhandling, passing, academics) and weaknesses (3-point shooting, strength) are broken down.

So what has Droney heard from some of the interested teams?

“Lately, the two schools that stand out are Texas and Wake Forest, they’ve been recruiting me pretty hard,” he said.

He’s also been hearing from WVU and ND.

Another shooting guard is in Maryland. Dante Holmes — a rising shooting guard out of the Baltimore area. is one of the players Pitt has an interest.

Capitol Hoops – You all are coming off a great season at St. Frances playing alongside Maryland State Player Of The Year Sean Mosely. Have you learned anything from playing with Sean and will that benefit you in your career?

Dante – Sean showed me that you have to work hard all of the time. Listen , learn and continue to work. I also acquired leadership skills from playing with Sean and will have a more active role orally on my team.

Capitol Hoops – As you enter into your junior year , what are you doing to continue to improve on your game? How do feel about having former standout Mark Karcher as the Head Coach for next season?

Dante – I am working hard on my weaknesses and overall game. There’s plenty of room for improvement. I feel good about Coach Karcher going into next year. He’s tough on us because he knows what it takes to win and get better as a player and as a team.
…
Capitol Hoops – Who are your top college choices and has anyone emerged as a leading candidate in your recruiting status?

Dante – My top college choices are Clemson, West Virginia, Tennessee, Temple, Memphis, and Pittsburgh. As of right now West Virginia has a slight advantage but it is still to early to call.

Sterling Gibbs is the big prize in 2011. Incoming Pitt freshman Ashton Gibbs’ younger brother is already considered one of the top point guard prospects in that class.

Gibbs is already starting to get looks from colleges, as many expect him to be rated as one of the top point guards in the country for the Class of 2011. He said that Pittsburgh, Florida, Maryland, Seton Hall and Rutgers are some of the main schools interested in him.

“I’m looking for a good education, and somewhere that’s not far from home,” Gibbs said. “I also need a style of play that will fit me, and a place where I will fit in.”

What about a possible reunion with his brother at Pittsburgh? Gibbs wouldn’t rule it out.

“I don’t know, maybe,” Gibbs said. “It was good playing with him in high school.”

The offers will pile up for him after this season.