Assuming Ashton Gibbs comes back or Pitt doesn’t add another player to the 2011 recruiting class with the open spot, Pitt presently has two available scholarships for the 2012 class. Odds are, though, that at least one other scholarship will open. But it is hard to see Pitt’s class being larger than 3 for 2012

One is going to be filled by Steve Adams from New Zealand. Pitt is pursuing such top-ranked players like Andre Drummond, Amile Jefferson and Omar Calhoun.

Calhoun is obviously the top target for Pitt at the shooting guard position. The other player on the list for a while has been Myles Davis from Notre Dame Prep (Mass.) — a place new Pitt assistant Bill Barton has connections as the former head coach.

Another shooting guard Pitt has been increasingly intrigued with is Nkereuwem “Kerwin” Okoro out of St. Raymond’s in the Bronx. His coach there is Oliver Antigua, a former equipment manager at Pitt and Orlando’s younger brother.

He played in the Pittsburgh Jam Fest this past weekend with his AAU team, the Long Island Lightning. Now that the live recruiting period has gotten underway, Pitt coaches have watched him and offered.

Okoro, who also has offers from Iowa State, Arizona and Seton Hall, is also being recruited by Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Auburn. But Antigua thinks Pittsburgh could be an ideal fit.

“I think he’s a perfect guy in the Pitt system because they play a lot of guards and they play a lot of guys in multiple positions,” Antigua said. “I think that’s why Pitt is really intrigued by him.”

Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon came in to see Okoro work out during the first week of the live period and on Tuesday assistant coach Brandin Knight came back to The Bronx to offer the scholarship.

“Everyone I talk to love his ball-handling, size and toughness,” Antigua said. “And when they see him knock his shots down they know he can keep defenses honest. If he becomes a great shooter he’ll be ridiculous.”

He played most of the season with a badly injured right thumb, and still was an impact player. He’s now healed, and apparently lighting it up. It will be interesting to see if his ranking goes up, and how many more programs come after him.