Sorry. One of those weeks where I am everywhere but home.
As much as I wasn’t enamored with Marcus Carr as a true point guard by the end of the year, the fact was he was the only option. And he was just a freshman. And, given the upheaval, he was someone Pitt and Jeff Capel wanted to keep.
But from the moment he got his release, major conference teams came calling. Him not coming back was unsurprising. Just annoying at how long he took to make that decision.
Thankfully, the annoyance was short-lived.
Shortly after Carr announced his departure, Jeff Capel landed his first recruit. And it was a good one.
The new Pitt head coach landed his first big recruit on Tuesday when four-star guard Trey McGowens committed to the Panthers. McGowens is the first commitment for Capel since he took over as head coach at Pitt last month.
McGowens, a 6’4” 175-pound guard at Hargrave Military Academy and originally from South Carolina, picked Pitt over more than 40 offers. He currently ranks as the No. 75 recruit in the class of 2019 but plans to reclassify to the 2018 class and join the Panthers this summer.
Landing McGowens is a huge boost for Capel, who lost his point guard last week when sophomore Marcus Carr decided to transfer. With no returning point guards on the roster, Capel needed immediate help, and McGowens can provide that.
This is Pitt’s first top-100 commit since Mike Young way back in 2013.
Even though he is reclassifying, he isn’t exactly falling in the recruiting rankings. Rivals is still ranking him as the 80th best player nationally. McGowens was originally in the 2018 class but had planned to take an additional prep year.
McGowens is not a true point guard, but a combo guard. Still, he can run point, Pitt needs guards that can handle the ball, and he’s really good.
“I just felt comfortable with Coach (Jeff) Capel and the vision that he has for me,” he said. “They were telling me that I could come in and run the point and that he would teach me how to be great at it. I just feel that he played the position that I played at a high level and I feel like with what he knows, he will be able to put me in the best position to reach my dreams.”
McGowens is a tremendous pick-up this spring as he was one of the top available prospects who can immediately affect the ACC program thanks to his toughness, athleticism, versatility in the backcourt and improving jump shot.
Selecting Pitt over Clemson, Ole Miss, St. John’s and Minnesota, McGowens has the opportunity to impact the program from day one. The Panthers recently lost Marcus Carr and Parker Stewart to transfer and will see Jonathan Milligan to graduation, so there will be many minutes available in the backcourt and at either guard position.
On Monday, Capel and his staff hosted another top available senior guard, former Nebraska commit Xavier Johnson, who took an unofficial visit. An official visit to South Carolina could be in order for later this week, but with the news of McGowens’ commitment and quality ground made up with Johnson, a commitment doesn’t seem too far off, one that could give the Panthers two hard-playing, athletic and competitive freshmen that could stabilize its backcourt.
There seems to be a lot of optimism around Xavier Johnson and Pitt, but we’ll see.
Capel and the staff have been hitting the recruiting trail hard. While they are trying to find some players for the 2018 class, they are also focused on 2019.
Capel and his staff were all over Dallas over the weekend and more and more players are mentioning the Panthers. Class of 2019’s top point guard Cole Anthony is a prime target, the Panthers are working to bring four-star Trey McGowens (who they landed on Tuesday) in as a class of 2018 player and others who are getting strong interest include big names Josh Green, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Stewart, Tre Mitchell and many others.
Capel has to prove again that he can land top players at a new spot, but he and his staff are putting in the early work and it would be tough to bet against them landing at least two or three Rivals150 prospects from the class of 2019.
It’s not unexpected that Capel has and will be landing some significant talent. It’s just not something I’m used to.
