Pitt’s 2014 recruiting class is done.
The 2015 class has two very good early commits in Damon Wilson and maybe Maverick Rowan (unless he stays in the 2016 classification).
Now Pitt has another commit for 2016. Mustapha Heron just gave a verbal. This is another big get. Heron is already considered one of the top recruits for 2016. He’s already a 4-5 star talent — depending on the site and position. Already 6-4 as a high school sophomore, Heron is listed as a small forward, a shooting guard and point guard.
Heron has had a hell of a 2013.
The 6-foot-5 point guard from Wilbraham & Monson (Mass.) was one of the most impressive players at the National Prep Showcase last weekend, scoring 35 points in his team’s Saturday night loss.
“I think I played well, but down the stretch, I just didn’t make good decisions with the ball,” Heron said. “That’s something I’m going to get in the gym and work on. Technical stuff.”
Ranked No. 7 by 247Sports and No. 32 in the 247Sports Composite, Heron is one of the tougher matchups in his class. He has terrific size for his position, and is capable of playing multiple positions. He handles the ball, and uses his strength and size to finish at the rim and through contact. Heron can also knock down shots from the perimeter.
Being one of 23 players invited to the USA Basketball U16 Developmental Team in the summer cemented his spot among the best players in his class.
And here’s some notes from the ESPN.com scouting report (INsider subs):
He’s capable of taking on the alpha male role with his high school team, but can then settle in to more of a motor based energy role on the national team. He’s an excellent ball-handler for his size, has a sound understanding of the game, can absorb contact on his way to the rim, and make open shots from the perimeter. He’ll also get after it on the defensive end of the floor.
…
While he’s physically mature, he’s also got the type of sound fundamental base to his game that should allow him to remain an elite level talent even as his peers begin to close the gap physically.
Now the next step will be keeping him. It’s nearly 2 years to the early signing period. He was being pursued by top schools. That pursuit won’t stop.
Meanwhile, Bostad may be returning to the South Side Facility but for the wrong team … Syillers just fired their OL Coach
*Pitt seems to have altered their recruiting profiles slightly. While they’re still going after versatile players who may not be “prototypical”, they are now landing longer, taller more athletic, not quite as physical players. This may be an adaptation to the new rules emphasis on defense. Length and lateral quickness are now much more valuable on defense as compared to weight and strength.
*While I like what the commitment of Heron says for Pitt recruiting (thank you Slice), we shouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves. He is a barely 16 year old sophomore. A lot can happen (or not happen) over the next three years. Remember Isiah Epps? He was a HUGE get for Pitt as a soph. Unfortunately, he was physically mature and didn’t get any bigger or better.
*TJ McConnell, on the other hand was an immature 5’7” sophomore and was lightly recruited accordingly. But by the time they were both freshmen in college, TJ had grown to 6’ and was by far the better player. Really glad to see TJ having so much success at Arizona and kudos to Sean Miller for having the foresight to land him. He could easily be the difference in Arizona making the Final Four this year.
*Pitt was smart to wait, then offer, Ryan Luther. IF Luther continues to grow (a big IF since he’s almost 19) and develop he will be a nice get/fit. I had the chance to see him play in person recently. While I wasn’t blown away like I was when I saw Devin Wilson, I was impressed. Based on the hype, I was expecting more of a skilled four. He’s not. Right now, he’s a wing, more of a two or three. The rest of the scouting report is right. He has NBA range, a very high basketball IQ, good frame/length (although I question the 6’8” listing), good (not great) athleticism and a great ball handler/passer. I wasn’t crazy about his ability to finish a dribble drive or post up. He was a man among boys, but didn’t really take advantage of it. He had a skinny 6’3” sophomore guarding him in the post, yet he didn’t dominate him. And he struggled a little to finish when he did get the ball inside. Regardless, even if he doesn’t get to 6’10 as they’re hoping, he’ll still be a nice role player at Pitt.
*Speaking of Devin Wilson, he’s doing really well at VA Tech. He’s started every game, is averaging more than 25 minutes a game and is leading the team in assists and steals. He would have fit VERY WELL with the “new Pitt”. He is long and lightning quick.
*Went to Thompson Boling Arena at Tennessee to see the Virginia game last week. To Hugh Green’s point, Virginia is embarrassingly bad, like finish 6th in the Patriot league bad. UT blew them out. I didn’t see anything positive from UVA. Tennessee, on the other hand, was really fun to watch. They play fast, spread you out, throw it inside, drive and kick out for open three’s. And the arena was very nice, big. I found myself feeling a little guilty for how much I was enjoying the Tennessee experience. Kind of like being married to skinny a blonde for years and finding yourself being attracted to a curvy brunette…..I guess the grass is always greener.
*Last take, Pitt has got to speed up the offense and move the ball faster. I would play Newkirk more, play Durand more and be careful about playing too much with Patterson, Robinson and Wright together. The ball just seems to get stuck. I do like how Wright is playing. But am concerned that Patterson, and especially Robinson just don’t move (either themselves or the ball) quickly enough.
*Pitt will struggle tomorrow, TJ Warren is a tough matchup and the big Aussie will make rebounding problematic. Pitt must hit some threes.
Good news, I think, on Jennings. Don’t think Pitt is going to land Kamara. Sounds like it’s going to be UVA. Even though London may very well be fired next year, it sounds like home is where the heart is.
Jennings has official visit scheduled here on Jan 17th, so it’s kind of surprising he may announce on Sunday. If it is Pitt, the sooner the better, as it may give Pitt some momentum as we’re a month away from LOI day.
Big game tomorrow for hoop team, going to be real tough game. Would be great to start ACC slate with a W.
Hopefully Zanna, who has a tough assignment, does not do his annual disappearing act come January. If this team is going to make any noise in ACC him and Patterson have to continue to play at high level.
Looking forward to inaugural ACC season…
Hail to Pitt!
Anxious for the game tomorrow. However
still have questions about our BB team.
Key question can this team score enough
points?
Comment by Boubabcar Aw 01.03.14 @ 2:56 pm
This is a big key and has been for a couple games now. Whether this is due to better competition or what I don’t know. Cincy was better, but Albany wasn’t. When the ball stops, whoever has it, the rest of the players seem to stop as well.
Noticed the last game when it got closer, they were bringing Lamar out to the top to control the offense and put JR on the wing, since he doesn’t have the ability to penetrate. When he does, it’s a problem, as he doesn’t have the hops or the moves to finish, as it usually ends in him throwing up a prayer. I was expecting Newkirk to play more against Albany, as he needed the minutes, and he has a much larger upside than JR.
But it appears based on his lack of minutes (9), JD is gonna sink or swim with JR playing 30+ minutes. Which will be ok I guess when we play teams with average or below average PG’s.
You would have thought JD would recognize the limitations of JR and played Newkirk at least 20 minutes per game.
We would have still won most if not all of them anyway, maybe by not the same large margins. But is that the important thing. We still had the ‘Epic Fail’ at the Garden and our play seems to be regressing into bad shots, late in the shot clock and long stretches of not scoring at all (even against Albany).
I just don’t understand.
He’s averaging 15 ppg, 7.5 rpg & 6 apg for undefeated #13 Iowa State Cyclones.
Why didn’t we want him, I forget.
Wouldn’t he look nice coming off our bench or starting.
He certainly would be most welcome here
Pac-12 and Big 12 are the two best leagues in the country right now. Let’s see if it holds up.
Don’t know where that leaves the ACC.
Hey at least we joined at a good time, other than UNC & Duke, the league is the worst I’ve ever seen since I’ve been following the league since the 1970 era. lol
All it does it lead to massive feeling of rejection and negativity concerning the 2 programs.
If they come fine, but didn’t we all just get bent out of shape when the latest supposed phenoms said “no” to Pitt.
This is the part of college sports I dislike the most.
How cold is it up there, it’s even cold down here, only reached 28 as a high. Back to mid 40’s tomorrow. 🙂
Without “hype”… it’s just no fun.
