This seems like a move born out of desperation by Trey Zeigler, than anything else.
The 6-foot-5, 203-pound Zeigler averaged 4.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in 31 games this season for Pitt after transferring from Central Michigan. Zeigler’s father, Ernie, a former Pitt assistant, had been fired from Central Michigan following the 2011-12 season. Zeigler was granted a special waiver from the NCAA and was immediately eligible at Pitt.
“We will assist Trey in finding the best situation for him to reach his goals both academically and athletically,” Dixon said. “He’s a great kid, hard worker and good player. We thank Trey for his contribution to our program over the last year and wish him much success in the future.”
I’ve said it a few times, but the worst thing for Zeigler was getting that immediate waiver to play. He didn’t have time to get familiar with the style of Pitt’s offense. Spend a year practicing against his teammates. He tried so hard to fit in on the fly that he was too deferential, tentative and stayed on the perimeter. Rather than utilizing his ability to attack the basket. He needed to be a little more selfish and drive to the basket.
Even Seth Curry struggled at Duke in his first season of playing after transferring from Liberty. And he sat out a year.
Not that Jamie Dixon escapes some blame here. It did not appear throughout the season that he worked particularly hard to put Zeigler in a position where he could attack the basket and penetrate. I don’t know if he never felt comfortable trusting Zeigler, or if he learned in practices that Zeigler was not as good as advertised. But this was not a case where he seemed particularly happy to have Zeigler.
That said, it is a curious — to say the least — decision by Zeigler. He will have to sit after this transfer and only one year of eligibility left. If he is trying to salvage some sort of chance at being drafted by the NBA he is taking a big gamble. He was exposed this season as not being able to do a lot of things against better competition.
He doesn’t have great ball control. His outside shooting and free throw shooting are sub-par — and flat out abysmal when you look at the position he plays. His defense is barely adequate. Part of why it seemed he didn’t attack the basket as frequently as he did at Central Michigan, was that he wasn’t able to handle high-major defenses.
It will be interesting if drops back to the mid-major level.
This is a good kid who needs help and a massive shot of confidence…he should go back to a mid major school.
Wish him nothing but luck and a great future.
Hope somebody is out recruiting.
If Pitt was smart they would insist that he transfer to an ACC school. What a disappointment this guy was.
just finished the comments from last night’s shell post, ready to go on to today’s blog and see this. echo emel “oy vey”
keep calm
h2p
Don’t quite know what worse news could come but I’m sure it’s out there. My guess is that Pitt will soon be rejected from the ACC on some legal technicality and not have a conference to play in for next season. That’s about the only thing that could be worse than this week of news.
stay away from pitt.
put this with the shell thing this is not good
do we have a revolving door at pitt every one wants to leave.
it does not make a diff that it is not are fult
it looks real bad to recruits.
when will we catch a brake.
Next years team has talent just no size. Looks like we might finally get our wish for a running Pitt team. Will have to run and gun with Zanna starting at the 5.
they are not going to want to come here to mutch shit happening.
and we dont have a good recruiter on staff any more
no more NY pipe line no slice no barry rohrssen.
we will be back to low rated 3 stars if we are lucky
but then agein dixon did better with thoes kind of players but we are fucked next year for sure.
We now have 3 open scholarships available with the latest defection.
And just about anyone of significance or note is already signed to play.
I hope he doesn’t just bring in 3 stiffs to fill the roster !
There’s a football recruit we signed who’s like 6’4″ or 6’6″ or was great in HS and considered a potential D1 player. Maybe we could get him to play, rather than wasting a scholie on a stiff.
Adams leaving is a disiaster. Combine it with Zeigler and Shell same day and another in a long series of “black eyes” for Pitt PR wise.
Pens down 4-1. This has NOT been a good day for Pittsburgh Sports!
Basketball team will still make NCAAs. Get a couple Ontario Let type big guys from JuCo they will step in right away and contribute. When you have a legit PG like Robinson it makes things easier.
When bad things happen, they always seem to happen in 3’s (as in we can’t make many 3’s in big games)
Everyone is reporting that Adams has declared for the NBA.
This is frickin unbelievable !!!
Why?
Because anyone with a pulse knows our athletic department is always going to underachieve.
Adams is a first round pick. $$$$$$
Wow, I’m pretty good at my job. Maybe Pitt will hire me so I can get more money and do less.
Jamie is nowhere near prepared for this and will get some JUCO with two left feet and no thumbs.
Pitt is always vulnerable because it is always a half step behind.
Good luck to Adams and Zeigler. Duquesne could use Z.
Look on the bright side we have two more scholarships for either this year’s class or next. I believe this is why JD is still recruiting players for this class.
I for one look forward to better things to come in both basketball and football instead of heartache and misery. What can I say, am prone to look on the bright side of things and am not so fanatical to let these things affect more than 30 seconds to a minute….
Guess I can’t blame the kid, he came from a dirt poor family and Dixon has no clue in how to use him.
So this leaves us with one……Talib Zanna to play Center next year.
You know the guy who annually disappears after the rent-a-win season is over.
The backup at Center right now would be, idk.
Young, Patterson, Moore….. Arnold Ziffle.
Maybe we could bring back Yuri Demetreous.
Adams & Zeigler, We Hardly Knew Yee !
he looked like a Black Herman Munster.
Was about as nimble as Herman too !!! lol
Pitt on the other hand….I mean what can you say. Huge loss.
And here I was looking forward to attending Pitt Road games down here in Dixie.
Somebody up there(or down there) don’t like us.
Maybe Jopa was really the DEvil
Or the curse of Wannstache lives on !
Can someone FED EX me a bottle of the highest proof bourbon(preferably at least 100) you got? COD
Mama Mia……what a day !
all most every one is signed for this year
and they are not in line to come to pitt any way
we are not the first pick any more.
we have no ace recruiter no NY pipe line any more
no slice no barry rohrssen
to many transfers we look like a bb school in trouble to these kids they are not going to want any part of us.
Some fans need to get a grip. Yes, this a huge blow to Pitt in the short-term. But if he’s picked in the first round of this year’s draft, it could be quite beneficial to the program in the long-run. If it wants truly elite recruits, the program-changers, then Pitt needs to start sending kids to the NBA on a consistent basis. Hopefully, Adams is the beginning of such a trend.
next years team plus there have been to many
transfers in the last 2 years dont think outher schools wont use that when we are recruiting
they will they will say to thoes kids you dont want to go to pitt every one transfers out of there.
and as dockish said we dont have a top notch recruiter any more.
for next year we are fucked.
Impact on recruiting will be minimal. Recruits don’t care what other guys do.
Dixon completely destroyed Adams confidence by limiting his minutes (treating him like he was just like Carmen Wright in his freshman year).
There is no question now that Dixon sucks and it was not Birch, Adams, Zeigler that did not meet their potential it was Dixon favortism to headcases like Gibbs and Woodall.
If I were Robinson I would get out while he can and Young if he is only a verbal to get back in the pool.
It seems that only the bad apples those who can only play in a rigid structure stay at Pitt.
I am sick of this shit until Dixon is fired I will follow Adams career in the NBA.
Schell is small potatoes compared to the ability of Adams and what is left of a program that has been sinking since 2009 regarding quality players.
Dixon is a terrible recruiter and got Adams by luck not recruting ability.
Despite Adams statement about money as was often visable on his face last year he realizes regardless of what he does he progression under Dixon will be limited so he will not move up by staying another year at Pitt.
Better to go now get a guaranteed contract as first round draft pick, get considerably better coaching and opportunities then if he stayed at Pitt that ruined other careers, Sam Young, and work toward big pay day when contract expires.
should take the money. Millionaire at 18. He helped us win
24 games. Trey needs to transfer….clearly not as good as
advertised….transfer to get playing time. Disappointed
about Shell however better that he transfers now rather
than becoming a malcontent. Pitt teams will survive.
at 18. He play at least 10 yrs in the NBA.
Think Aaron Gray. Trey never fit. Would
like to see film of his games at CMU.
Lets go Pitt! Better days ahead.
Where will we find another player that can recklessly drive into the lane and turn the ball over time and time again?
Adams is a loss but the kids family needs money and he is going to get a BIG payday as that’s how it is.
The good news we have opened two positions on the roster.
Another one !
Top 50 or 100 player to boot.
Another scholarship is available.
Can’t wait for another Epps or Johnson or Gilbert to arrive. 🙂