I’ve barely been home today and yet the tabs seem to have multiplied.

Okay, first off a hat tip to Corey for noting that ESPN.com updated their profile on Malcolm Gilbert. The ESPN.com profile (Insider subs) moved Gilbert up to the #12 center and increased his grade to “94.” Here’s some of the updated profile, and I repeat, that this is almost a blueprint for a Coach Dixon Center project.

Gilbert is a well built center and one of the best interior defenders in the country. He has a great build with a good height, a sturdy frame, wide shoulders, and a long and cut upper body. He is an excellent shot blocker both on and off the ball. …  Gilbert’s defense is far ahead of his offense. He is a bit robotic with his back to the basket as the game can move a little too fast for him at times and in need of a go-to move that he can quickly execute. With a motor that is less than consistent, Gilbert is a good, not great, finisher at the rim.

Gilbert has confidence in his offense, but also admits he needs to improve it.

“Most definitely,” he said. “I have a great touch on my jump shot. I can step out and hit that 10-footer and 15-footer. I’m getting progressively better on the offensive end as far as scoring around the basket. I do think I’ll get progressively better on the offensive end.”

So, it’s in progress.

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Malcolm Gilbert has had Pitt’s eye for some time. Over this summer, Gilbert had put Pitt at the top of his list. The 6-11 center apparently decided to join Pitt’s already solid recruiting class.

“Just a great fit for me both athletically and academically — Jamie Dixon is a great coach with great experience and he’ll make me a much better player plus Pitt’s consistency of success makes it a great fit,” said Gilbert on why he committed to the Panthers.

The 6-foot-11 center was one of the top remaining post players in the class. He and his family felt the fit and timing was right for a commitment.

“My family is really in favor of the choice and even though the decision was mine it feels good that we’re all on the same page,” Gilbert said. “It takes a little bit of stress off my shoulders and allows me to focus on my senior year goals both with academics and athletics.”

Gilbert is also an outstanding student that had legitimate interest in, and from, Ivy League schools.

Guess we don’t have to worry about whether he can meet the academic qualifications.

Scout.com and ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. have him as a verbal to Pitt. Rivals.com does not yet.

He’s considered the #!6 or 17 center prospect in the 2011 class. Both Scout.com and Rivals.com put him as a 3-star recruit, while ESPN.com is a bit higher on him. The ESPN.com profile is a year out of date (Insider subs), but it sure seems to describe a Coach Dixon project center to a “T.”

August, 2009: Gilbert is a post player whose defense is far ahead of his offense at this stage in his career. He has very long arms and good timing which helps him block and change shots. He is not a very good defender on the perimeter at this stage because he does not have incredibly quick feet. Smaller, quicker posts blow by him, but he makes up for it with his length and good timing. When he catches in the post, he uses the spin move to try and score. He also likes to face up and has huge hands that help him catch good and bad passes. He does a good job of passing out of the double team from the post and likes to go over his left shoulder for his turnaround jump shot in the post.

Pitt beat out Wake Forest, Ohio St., Virginia, Clemson and VT for the big man.

The thing about his verbal that will fuel discussion and speculation is that he is Pitt’s 4th verbal for this class. Pitt only has 3 seniors (Gil Brown, Gary McGhee and Brad Wanamaker). That means renewed speculation on who might be transferring after this season or whether one of the 4 incoming recruits may struggle with academic qualifications.

A 4-star and one of the top recruits in Pennsylvania made his decision today. Kyoshen Jarrett did the hat thing. He had VT, Michigan, Pitt and Penn St. It was Pitt.

Jarrett is also the fifth Rivals250 prospect to commit to Pitt, along with Chestnut, Poteat, Paramus (NJ) Paramus Catholic defensive tackle Marquise Wright and Atco (NJ) Winslow Township receiver Bill Belton. This marks just the second time in the Wannstedt Era that Pitt has had five Rivals250 members. In the class of 2008, Pitt finished with five recruits in the Rivals250.

Rivals.com and Scout.com both have him as a 4-star recruit. They both rank him closely as the 13th and 16th, respectively, best cornerback prospect in the country. ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. is not quite so high on Jarrett. Listing him as 32nd best and essentially grading him out as a 3-star (Insider subs). Still they say nice things about his talent.

Jarrett brings good size, closing speed and athleticism to the corner position. He has above average height and a well-built frame. Utilizes his size to his advantage out on the perimeter jamming and rerouting receivers aggressively off the line. Closes fast and strong. Shows good plant and drive skill. Effective blitzer off the boundary and can set the edge on run support. Does a good job fighting through the stalk block. Is a strong tackler and reliable in the openfield.

What the question ultimately seems to come down to in the evaluation is his overall speed.

This is probably a bigger blow to Michigan and ol’ DickRod than for Penn St. or VT. What with Turner leaving and now Troy Woolfolk out for the year. It hasn’t been a good time to be a CB associated with the Wolverines.

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Your 2011 Pitt basketball recruiting class has an abundance of Johnsons with Durand Johnson joining the John Johnson and Jaylen Bond.

“Pitt,” said Johnson of his choice. “It was the perfect fit for me.”

Johnson chose Pitt over Marquette, Louisville, St. John’s and Seton Hall. Johnson visited Pitt last fall and they have b.een his leader ever since.

“It was just a family to me,” Johnson said. “They showed me a lot of love. It’s a great fit all around for me.”

While Durand Johnson is ranked as a 3-star recruit by both Scout.com and Rivals.com, there is no shortage of recruitniks raving about him.

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Michigan under Rich Rodriguez has struggled with depth and transfers. Especially on defense. It doesn’t look to be getting much better.

Today’s announcement that redshirt freshman cornerback Justin Turner is leaving the Michigan football program shines an intense spotlight on one of U-M’s biggest concerns for this season — secondary depth.

Turner, from Massillon, Ohio, asked for and was granted his scholarship release Tuesday, according to U-M spokesman Dave Ablauf.

The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Turner, the top-ranked recruit in the 2009 state of Ohio class, was expected to compete at either safety or cornerback, depending on his skills or the need.

Turner was a 5-star recruit and he’s looking at his options now that he is free.

…Turner is looking over more than a half dozen offers from Division I colleges since he announced he would leave Michigan. Turner fell out of Rich Rodriguez’s good graces this summer because, reportedly, he missed some summer workouts.

That probably isn’t the end of the story and there is likely a Justin Turner side to this, too. Turner has not spoken publicly about it.

People close to him say Pitt and Cincinnati are the two schools most likely to attract Turner.

Now few programs in their right mind would turn down this kid. There is one red flag, however, relating to Turner.

It sounds like the 11 pounds Turner put on in the offseason were not the good variety, and that he was never in a position where he was physically ready to play because of sheer lack of desire.

Turner ended up redshirting in 2009 because of some delays because of academics.

You hope it was just a clash with Rodriguez and the coaches there. If it is a conditioning issue and Turner isn’t willing to put in the time, then he wastes his own talent. I don’t see how Pitt wouldn’t at least take a shot at him.

It isn’t quite the minimal risk that Josh Marks was (and failed), but it’s worth a scholarship spot for the potential.

A little odd by the end of last week. Deonte Gibson, a Cleveland-area DE had committed earlier and by Thursday/Friday two more DEs had made verbals to Pitt.

First Max Isska out of New Jersey picked Pitt over Rutgers.

The deciding factor in making a nonbinding commitment to play for the Panthers, who are picked to win the 2010 league championship in a Big East media poll, was that Issaka simply wanted to be farther from home.

“Believe me when I say it was so tough,” said Issaka, who announced his decision to become the fifth New Jersey player to commit to Pittsburgh’s 2011 recruiting class on Friday.

“Everybody wanted me to go to (Rutgers). I wanted to go there for a certain point. It was like back and forth. So I finally decided what I wanted to do was stop talking (to others) and just think for myself for one minute about where I want to go, where I can start new.”

Issaka (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) had several scholarship offers, including ones from Michigan State, Maryland, UConn, Central Florida, Duke and Temple. He was also being recruited by Miami, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Cincinnati.

Issaka is a 3-star DE by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. Rivals.com also ranks him the 13th overall recruit from NJ. Issaka is something of a tweener, almost certainly will be redshirted. Depending on his development in the weight room could stay at DE or end up at linebacker (Insider subs).

Issaka is a prospect who could play defensive end in college or make the move to linebacker. He has solid size for both positions and which spot he plays will likely have to do with the scheme and needs of the program he attends.

After Issaka committed, another 3-star DE narrowed his choice down to Pitt or Iowa (Insider subs). Quinton Jefferson out of Woodland Hills made it known that he had eliminated schools like WVU, Wisconsin, BC and Cinci.

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The big man from New Zealand won’t be at Pitt until the 2012, yet his legend seems to be growing every day. By the time he gets here, he’s going to be expected to single-handedly lead Pitt to the Final Four in his freshman year.

Every time that 2012 Pitt commit Steve Adams goes up against better competition, you cannot help but be more impressed with his skill level as his performances do not drop off in the slightest.  This time, in his first test against true elite competition, it was at the Adidas Nations event in Chicago.

Yes, Steve Adams was continuing to play in the US, and getting noticed. This from Rivals.com’s view of his potential based on the Adidas Nations:

Can’t say enough about the job done by Jamie Dixon and his staff at Pitt to identify and lock up New Zealand big man Steven Adams. A physical, athletic and strong 6-foot-10 center, Adams plays rugged basketball on both ends of the floor and doesn’t stray from the paint. From start to finish he was the event’s best rebounder and maybe the most physical player.

The closest thing to a negative evaluation came from NBADraft.net.

Pitt bound New Zealand center Steven Adams doesn’t have the greatest hands, seemed to miss a few easy rebounds. He’s still raw but shows a lot of potential.

So there is that.

Considered something of a surprise in the midst of training camp, but hey.

Pitt received a verbal commitment from St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) defensive end Deonte Gibson tonight.

Gibson (6’3”, 225 pounds) chose the Panthers over scholarship offers from West Virginia, Stanford, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Colorado, Louisville and Kansas.

I expect that the Plain Dealer will have something at some point, but nothing at the moment. Gibson is a solid 3-star recruit. Rivals.com lists him at #36 in their top-50 Ohio recruits.

ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. also has him in the solid 3-star range (Insider subs.) that will likely take a redshirt in Pitt’s program.

He plays defensive end and while there could be a possibility that he moves to linebacker in college we feel he will most likely stay at end at the next level. He displays the frame to be able to add more bulk once he gets into college weight program. He can help himself at times by crowding the ball more, but displays for the most part a good get-off.

It is the dead period for college basketball. No “official” recruiting. The summer AAU circuit is winding down. So any basketball news is surprising beyond reports of high school kids and where they are leaning.

It is also how you know that your team is either controversial or expected to be good next season (or both). The team keeps getting mentioned in stories or features about the upcoming season.

Jeff Goodman at FoxSports.com posts a little on Pitt’s recently completed Ireland trip. The focus is the NCAA changing the rule to allow freshmen to make the trip. Coach Dixon (obviously) liked the rule change and thinks more teams will take the opportunity. Before, it was only teams with very small freshmen classes taking the trip, simply because there weren’t enough bodies on the roster.

Dixon said this year’s Pitt group will be much bigger and longer than a year ago. Don’t be surprised to see a frontcourt that features much-improved big man Gary McGhee and Zanna – a long and skilled 6-foot-9 native of Nigeria who averaged 8 points and 7 boards on the trip.

“We think he’s going to be pretty good,” Dixon said. “He’s another body so we can play bigger.”

Dixon also has plenty of size on the wing with guys like Gilbert Brown (6-foot-6), Brad Wanamaker (6-4), Patterson (6-5) and freshmen J.J. Moore (6-6) and Cameron Wright (6-5).

This could be Dixon’s deepest team since he took over – although he was cautious.

“Everybody is deep in the summer,” he laughed.

Not in Kansas and Memphis if the NCAA isn’t clearing top-5 players.

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Just trying to finish as many projects around the house and get family visits finished before the end of August. Once the games begin, well, nothing gets done.

The Ireland trip is finished and Pitt didn’t lose a game — including beating the Melbourne team that included the still hateable Eric Devendorf. Cardiac Hill has a nice recap on things with the scoring averages and some thoughts for the upcoming season.

Over at Pitt Script, there’s a look at Pitt recruiting. Steve Adams is getting good reviews from his play in the States. Khem Birch is looking good and Malcolm Gilbert has Pitt near the top of his board.

In more basketball stuff…

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The one downside to the Ireland trip for the Pitt basketball team is that it cuts into recruiting. Technically an evaluation period, but you get it. So, Coach Dixon and the staff had to be extremely busy up until they left. Coach Dixon kept a close eye on top talent at the USA Basketball U-17 practices and games.

Andre Drummond (Middletown, Conn./St. Thomas More) had a solid opening day at the U-17 nationals. The athletic big man played with good energy and most importantly concentrated on dominating the paint, instead of drifting to the perimeter too often. Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon and Georgetown coach John Thompson III were front and center for both games, while North Carolina’s Roy Williams was on the baseline for his afternoon game.

Drummond is one of the top players in the 2012 recruiting class and already considered to be a potential #1 pick for the 2013 NBA Draft.

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Big East Media Day, the start of camp. Too much coming too fast to take my time getting to links piling up in my tabs. So I’m just going to pass along the links and let you do all the work.

Starting with remaining Terrell Chestnut stories.

Chestnut had a hard time deciding between Pitt and Rutgers, but ultimately felt more comfortable at Pitt.

He is looking forward to playing defensive back full-time when he gets to college — whether it is cornerback or safety.

While Chestnut appears more comfortable at cornerback, he said he’s willing to make a change if necessary. That, of course, bodes well for Chestnut, considering Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt routinely suggests some recruits switch positions in an effort to maximize their potential.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to play — and win,” said Chestnut, who has 17 career interceptions, including four in 2009.

Solid local paper article on Chestnut and his commitment. He is just happy to have made the decision to try and enjoy his senior year.

“I went out there and felt it was the best place for me,” Chestnut said. “I want to major in pre-med, too, and (Pitt) is one of the best pre-med schools in the country.”

“Right now, though, (making a decision) is a big relief. It’s just a lot of stress off my back.”

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Maybe it says something about recruiting and the whole spectacle it creates, but I am already very happy about Terrell Chestnut becoming a Pitt Panther.

Chestnut’s local paper shot some shaky video of his announcement — unfortunately they used a non-embeddable video player so you have to go to the story. The other annoying thing is that they broke it up into two parts, but set both to auto start.

Still, they aren’t particularly long, and worth the annoyance. The first clip is of Chestnut’s high school coach speaking glowingly of his character, intelligence and leadership. He also calls it the biggest signing at the school since he has been the coach.

The second clip is Chestnut making the announcement, or as he puts it “one of the best moments of my life.” Chestnut’s announcement is almost entirely about thanking family, teachers, coaches, teammates, and everyone who has helped him. There is nothing about the process. Nothing about himself and making the choices. Then at the end, simply putting a Pitt hat on his head and saying he is going to the University of Pittsburgh.

No multiple hats. No self-aggrandizement. Just taking the opportunity to acknowledge and thank the people that helped him, before announcing his choice.

I don’t begrudge the kids who make it a spectacle. I don’t particularly like it, but I don’t begrudge it. They are young. For the great majority, they will never again receive that kind of attention and interest. Once they get to college all power shifts away from them.

Yet, watching the video of Terrell Chestnut make his decision, fills me with pride that he chose Pitt.

Once again, Bryan at Pitt Script was all over a verbal commit. So be sure to check his stuff out. The kid from Pottsgrove picked Pitt.

“I loved the campus, the city, and what the school has to offer education-wise,” the 6-foot, 180-pound senior said. “It’s a great fit for me.”

On Wednesday, Pittsburgh received an oral commitment from Jameel Poteat, a running back from Harrisburg’s Bishop McDevitt. The 5-11, 195-pound speedster, rushed 269 times for 1,664 yards and 27 touchdowns last season.

Chestnut, a four-year starter projected to be either a cornerback or safety in college, chose Pittsburgh over runner-up Rutgers, West Virginia, and Penn State. “Pitt edged Rutgers out at the end,” he said.

Terrell Chestnut could have been influenced by plenty of factors on his high school team, but was not.

“Terrell has got the whole package,” Pottsgrove coach Rich Pennypacker said. “Pitt is getting a gem. Besides being a terrific football player, he’s an outstanding kid and student. He’s well respected. It’s a proud day for us.”

Last season, Chestnut, clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and scored 19 TDs as the Falcons went 14-1, claimed the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship, and won the program’s first PIAA District 1 Class AAA title.

Chestnut, of Pottstown, was not swayed by the fact that Pennypacker went to West Virginia and several of the team’s assistant coaches had ties to Penn State. “We didn’t put any pressure on him,” Pennypacker joked.

Chestnut’s high school coach wasn’t kidding about Chestnut being an outstanding student. His intent is to major in pre-med at Pitt.

Credit on the recruiting goes to Tight Ends Coach Brian Angelichio.

With Chestnut and Poteat yesterday, there is little doubt that Pitt has the best recruiting class in the Big East at this point.

Chestnut is the 12th verbal for Pitt’s 2011 class, and the 4th 4-star.

Mike Vukovcan, though, does make an interesting list of other 4- and 5-star recruits in Coach Wannstedt’s tenure. I think he’s a little hard or premature on some, but it is a good reminder of the vagaries of recruiting and rankings.

Still, getting a kid like Chestnut coming to Pitt is nothing but a positive. Regardless of what happens on the football field.

Bloodlines, pipelines, whatever it is Jameel Poteat is ready to embrace the challenges of being a top recruit following others who came before.

Numerous college coaches told Bishop McDevitt High School (Harrisburg) standout Jameel Poteat that, if he chose Pitt, he always would play in the shadow of former McDevitt and Panthers star LeSean McCoy. They also told him he should come to their school to carve out his own legacy.

Not only did such a sales pitch not work, it had the opposite effect on Poteat, who made a verbal commitment Wednesday to the Panthers in large part because he wants to carry on the Panthers’ running-back tradition.

Poteat is close to McCoy.

McCoy and Poteat are very close. The pair go way back, starting from the time McCoy was at McDevitt and came to see Poteat play in a Pony League game.

The relationship has grown since then. McCoy is both a mentor and big brother to him. Every time McCoy stops back to Harrisburg, he offers advice to Poteat about on and off the field matters, including how to conduct himself and what goes into making a pro.

“I speak to Shady every day,” Poteat told MaxPreps last November. “I saw him one time signing autographs here and I told him it was crazy. He told me if I keep doing what I’ve been doing, stay focused, and keep working hard, the same thing could happen to me. We started talking about recruiting. He’s helped me running the ball, telling me I have to realize that every carry is not a touchdown. He tells me to get what you can get and be patient.”

Then there is the fact that Bishop-McDevitt has seen several of its best players head to Pitt since Coach Wannstedt came back to Pitt.

Not only did the school produce McCoy and former cornerback Aaron Berry but also incoming freshman receiver Salath Williams. Tight ends coach Brian Angelichio recruited Poteat, and Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt has made McDevitt a priority on the recruiting trail.

“I’m starting to take heat from other schools. They’re saying, ‘Your top kids are going to Pitt,’” Weachter said. “Honestly, they’re outworking people. The six allowable visits, they’re here every time. Whether we have a top kid or not, Dave’s here every time.

“Shady had nothing to do with it. He said, ‘I picked my school. You’ve got to do what’s best for you.’ Every time I turn around, Pitt is here and our kids are really comfortable with the Pitt coaching staff and football program.”

Not to mention his cousin Hank Poteat was a standout at Pitt, when there was little else to enjoy with Pitt football in the 90s. Then there is  family, development and atmosphere aspects at the Pitt program.

I asked him what was your number one reason for picking Pitt. Poteat said” It was close to home, his family wanted him to go there, he had a great relationship with coach Walker the running back coach, great history with running backs, and it feels like home. Poteat also said it’s a big relief to to get this big moment out of the way so he can be a kid again and focus on playing football for McD.”

I am honestly amazed that some SEC school hasn’t thrown a boatload of money at Coach Walker. His track record at developing backs at Pitt and before that Syracuse is so outstanding. I’m not complaining that he is still at Pitt, I’m just surprised Pitt still has his services.