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January 31, 2011

2011 Recruiting Coming to Close

Filed under: Football,Recruiting — Chas @ 12:50 pm

The final recruiting weekend brought more commits and seems to have at least put Pitt in the finalist category for a bunch of players that will do the whole reveal on signing day.

Last night Roderick Ryles and LaQuentin Smith got back to Orlando, Florida from their recruiting trip to Morgantown. As with many, seeing West Virginia that close was enough to make the decision for them.

Ryles and Smith both committed to the University of Pittsburgh on Sunday night, hours after returning home from a visit to West Virginia.

The pair talked to their families and friends and both decided Pitt was the best place for them to continue with their education and football career.

“It’s real cool, because we are family already,” Smith said of he and Ryles being able to continue playing together. “We can make our relationship even better.”

And the word family came up several times when both players talked about what it was that put Pitt over West Virginia in this latest of Backyard Brawl stories that will surely increase the hatred between these two interstate rivals.

“It was just the whole part of me feeling like family,” Smith said of his Pitt visit compared to the visit to Morgantown, W.Va. “(Pitt) also has some great coaches and players and, also, the school aspect was even better.”

For Ryles (6-1, 187), the all-time leader in career interceptions at Dr. Phillips with 15, seven of which he picked in both his junior and senior seasons, the feelings were similar.

“I just felt that God sent them my way,” Ryles said. “I vibed with the coaches and everything just was a family.”

Or it could just be common sense, when comparing the two.

(more…)

A Week To Recruit

Filed under: Basketball,Recruiting — Chas @ 10:52 am

No, not football. Basketball. Pitt has a week between the Saturday game at Rutgers and this Saturday at home against Cinci.

How do you know when your team and coach are getting respect? When it is reported, and players are excited to know you are coming to check them out.

In particular, Okoro is starting to become more consistent, and colleges are starting to take notice. Okoro said that Pitt coach Jamie Dixon is expected to be in attendance in the Bronx on Sunday when the Ravens face Xaverian. While Pitt has been recruiting him, it will be the first time that Dixon sees Okoro in person. He’s also received interest from Iowa State, Rutgers, and St. John’s, he said.

“I was in a little bit of a slump,” said the 6-5 Okoro. “I’m hoping I have another good game on Sunday.”

Nkereuwem “Kerwin” Okoro plays at St. Raymond’s for Oliver Antigua. He’s a 3-star wing forward/guard for the class of 2012 with potential. He’s got a lot of teams looking at him, and watching. But not a lot of offers yet. Rutgers, St. John’s and Iowa St. are the only major conference teams to offer so far. He’s a high motor player (Insider subs.).

Guys don’t have the motor this kid does. He brings it and that’s a calling card of his. There energy and his ability to hawk the ball puts him in position to be a play maker at both ends.

It is also, his weakness as he doesn’t know when to turn it down at times. Seems like the kind of player that could be a key supporting player at a program.

Coach Dixon also took the time to stop and see one of the top targets for the 2012 class, Omar Calhoun, play.

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