Coach Jamie Dixon may know something we don’t. He may be laying groundwork for 2013 recruits. There might be something else.
I’ve assumed that the 2012 recruiting class is done. Finished. Complete. Nothing more to see here. Sure there are the rumblings of a Savon Goodman, but the numbers just don’t work.
Well, it does seem that Savon Goodman is going to draw out his recruitment. He’s visiting Seton Hall this weekend and will take another visit to Pitt.
Savon Goodman will visit Seton Hall early next week and Pittsburgh sometime after that, Philly Constitution coach Rob Moore told SNY.tv.
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Moore said Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon has also been in touch about a visit but no date has been set.
And somewhere in there he has a visit to St. John’s as well.
So, with Goodman, I still don’t have any sense that he is sure of what his plan really is. I really don’t believe Coach Dixon can take him for 2012. Especially with the way Goodman hasn’t been clear about what he wants to do. I have to think that Dixon is going after him, more with the idea that he might go to prep school and be a part of the 2013 class. Something that Goodman also keeps as an option.
“I’m not sure yet,” Goodman said over the weekend. “I’m waiting to make a decision.”
Goodman said waiting a season to go to college would give him another year to work on his game, while it would also shore up any academic or eligibility issues that might come up.
Yet, Goodman is not the only one to whom Coach Dixon seems to still be talking. We have’t heard much from point guard Kaza Keane since Pitt got Zeigler. Unsurprisingly, neither has Keane from Pitt.
Formerly a member of the 2013 class, the 6’2” point guard said he does indeed plan to be on a college campus in the fall, listing his current offers as Towson, Rhode Island, George Mason, and Pittsburgh.
Though represents his only high-major offer as of now, Keane said the Panthers aren’t coming after him as hard as they previously were but still keep in touch with him periodically. He’s still very high on Jamie Dixon’s program but after adding Central Michigan transfer Trey Zeigler, Pitt has no more open scholarships.
That said, Keane apparently stopped at Pitt’s campus and met with Coach Dixon this past weekend while at the JamFest.
The thing that stands out with Keane is that he reclassified from 2013 to 2012, and has not seen the uptick in offers he thought would come his way. I can’t help but think that Dixon — much like Goodman — is recruiting Keane for 2013. Trying to sell the kid to go back to his original classification and possibly being part of the 2013 group.
That makes more sense. Already, Pitt has 4 scholarship players for the 2012 class. Last year it was 4 as well (including Khem Birch). I have a hard time seeing Coach Dixon really churning the roster that hard.
Except…
Reports (behind the paywall) are that Pitt is actually pursing one other point guard in the 2012 class, and that he may be visiting this weekend as well.
Oh, and then there is the strange, late firing (the timing, not the decision which was defensible) of Seth Greenberg by Virginia Tech. In the VT 2012 recruiting class is a top-100 player. 4-star Power forward Montrezl Harrell. The young man, is apparently going to seek his release from VT. Reports are that Pitt will be among the programs vying for his services.
Which just fuels other speculation. Is it just courtesy? Just covering bases? Is there someone else on the team that may leave after the semester ends? A recruit that may not qualify?
Lots of questions and few answers.
Also my friends blog is giving away xbox 360 game (mass effect 3) if anybody is interested…
All that said, I would not be surprised in the slightest if Wright transferred.
dixon has allwas had good classes good kids makes you wonder what the hell happened with these kids and the one that just transferd.
this may have been his worst bunch of kids ever.
“Harrell is a beast mode power forward who is always going 100 mph to make things happen. He is strong, tough, and is a freak athlete which allows him to dominate opponents down low.His skill set on the outside needs to catch up with his physical abilities, but he is very productive despite the size limitation.”
Sounds like a thinner version of DeJuan.
And what’s interesting he wanted to play in the ACC (VT), so there are ONLY 2 ACC teams on his list, PITT & NC State. Only problem is, he grew up in NC I believe. Perhaps Dixon can hire Greenburg for a year or two just to land this guy.
He could use the help on the bench as well !!
We need some players !!
Can we end up with a team of 12 point guards? I sense that JD is once bitten, twice shy and is stocking the shelves with toilet paper so as never to be without. Rumor has it he will be featured on an episode of American Hoarder. Chas, can your behind the paywall people confirm or deny?
Seriously, neither Wright nor Johnson have shown much. Duquesne needs players….
It was clear that the group of people Jamie had last year didn’t work. He HAS to explore all options to upgrade the roster. More than minor tweaking is required. A couple current underclassman may have to leave. Wright is probably first on that list, Zeigler is a direct replacement/upgrade.
The interesting/really tough decision is Taylor. What do you do with him? If he is your starting center next year, you might as well waive the red flag and expect to defend your CBI championship.
He can’t play the four.
So that leaves him competing with Gilbert for back up center minutes. Gilbert clearly has more upside. He will be the starting center when Adams leaves after next year. Can you afford to redshirt him? Would you waste another year eligibility giving him only spot duty?
Wouldn’t it be better for the program and for Taylor, for him to transfer to somewhere where he could play his senior year?
I am asking if TAYLOR should transfer, not Gilbert.
Boubcar, maybe Taylor will be better at the 4 with the focus squarely being on Adams at the 5 .. he may turn out to be a really good support player.
But even if he were able to improve in those areas, he still has the same problem at four that he has at center: Jamie has better (not great) options at four so he’ll still be fighting for PT.
Zanna is the best option right now. He is a good weak side rebounder and would benefit most from Adams’ presence inside. Zanna has a better jumper and has better face up moves. Zanna has better lateral quickness allowing him to be a better defender. Clearly Jamie agrees, Zanna has played a ton at four in his two years, Taylor hasn’t played a minute.
Pitt would be better off playing Patterson in spots at the four than Taylor. Patterson is also a good weak side rebounder. Having Adams, Zeigler and Moore on the court with Patterson, Pitt would have PLENTY of rebounding. On defense Patterson can guard a four on the perimeter and Adams can help him in the paint.
None of the current options at four are ideal. But even with that said, I think it will be as tough to find Taylor minutes at four as it will at five.
I don’t think Greenberg will come to Pitt, mainly because Dixon doesn’t seem keen on opening up a spot on his staff. That being said, if Greenberg goes the assistant coach route, I think he’ll be successful (both as a coach and a recruiter) and try to follow the path that Tom Herrion did after losing his head coaching job.
I see almost no room for Taylor, Johnson, or Wright next year. At least two of these guys will be on the bench all year.
No idea why we would be going after Kaza Keane. He’s no better than john johnson. no upgrade there.
We have no idea about Durand Johnson, other than Dixon picked him to redshirt. From what I saw in Greentree, he has potential, but John Johnson was much better in that setting.
Wright has had two years with Jamie. By bringing in Zeigler (a better version of Wright, with the same remaining eligibility), Dixon told us what he thinks of Wright.
Pitt’s biggest glaring need is an athletic power forward. Both Goodman and Harrell appear to address that need. If Wright or Taylor has to go, so be it.
Greenberg has much more coaching experience than Dixon himself, so there’s that to consider as well. (and whether Dixon can deal with that as well)
Since it’s pretty late in the year, the chances of Greenberg landing another HC job is minimal. Everyone has bills to pay and he does have some history with PITT. Again it would have to be a package deal with Harrell.
Whatever they have to do, to infuse some talent onto this team and not waste the limited year(s) of Adams at PITT. Greenberg would be a very nice addition as well since he knows the ACC, both coaching against them and recruiting in it.
That phone call should CERTAINLY be made if only to explore the possibilities !!!
As for Johnson and Wright, while neither excites me at this point, I think back to Brad Wanamaker’s first two years, and recall that he drove me crazy with his play and lack of shooting ability. Not saying they will turn out that good, but who saw Wanamaker turning into what he was?
Also on Johnson – wasn’t he recruited as a point guard?
That said, wanny always had more upside than either wright or Johnson are showing
I would bet he ends up on TV for a year then lands another big job.
Has anyone considered Dixon ruined this kid. I realize All-Star games are not an exact baromter but when your playing against the best and score 15 points in limited playing action you must have some skills (not at a position you never played)
The crap pointing out the other players who from the 2009 Mac game who have not meet expectations is completely unfair. He is the only player who was asked to play a completely new position. Anyone who knows basketball knows at the high school level this is difficult. Then put 20 pounds on so you can hold your ground will not help anyones quickness or jumping ability.
We all know that because most of us are 20 lbs heavier than we were in high school. Are you qucker, stronger, faster?
My opinion and its is only an opinion is that if Taylor lost 15 pounds worked hard on regaining his quickness and jumping ability he showed in the Mac all-star game (watch the video) he would far better than Zanna at the 4.
And its entirely conceivable that Taylor’s lack of quickness is partially due to his increased weight begetting tendinitis and back problems. But i think he’s missing something else too. That said its not out of the question he could serve some minutes at PF against particularly slow oppsing PFs.
And all this to say that I do not think that a PF for 2013 is a pressing need given that Zanna is very possibly serviceable there, Taylor could eat up a few minutes in certain circumstances, and Moore, Patterson (or who knows even D Johnson) could play other minutes. It may not be our strongest position, but its not a situation where you take risks on potential head-case prospects and push out a current player to recruit for the position. The risk/reward isnt right.
