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BREAKING NEWS: 2011 Wingman Durand Johnson Commits to Pitt

Durand Johnson is Pitt's third (and likely final) 2011 commit. (i95ballerz.com)

I love the internet.  Here I am, finishing up dinner and checking out what I missed today on Twitter, when Eric Bossi of Rivals tweets that he has confirmed that 2011 wing Durand Johnson has committed to Pitt.  In the old days, I guess I’d have to wait for the morning paper or some other sort of prehistoric communication.  I hope this is what Al Gore had in mind.

Johnson is a 6’6″ wingman from the Baltimore area who transferred to prep school in New Hampshire for his senior season.  Rivals.com lists him as a 3-star, while ESPN grades him out as a 91.  Not too shabby.  He chose Pitt over offers from Georgetown, Louisville, Seton Hall, Maryland, Xavier and many others.  He publically announced that Pitt was his first choice a few weeks ago, but so did center Malcolm Gilbert. Pitt will have three open scholarships for 2011 (Wannamaker, McGhee and Brown), so I’ll be interested to see if they go one over again and take Gilbert – assuming he still has Pitt on top.

NBE Basketball Report breaks down his game:

The 6-foot-7 small forward is considered an excellent defender and long-range shooter. His impressive performance this summer at the Hoop Group Elite Camp in Reading (PA) and the Hoop Group’s West Virginia Jam Fest showed his competitive nature and the improvement in his all-around game.

Alex Kline of TheRecruitScoop.com spoke to Johnson today:

Durand is Big East bound and will play close to home. “I just committed to Pittsburgh,” Johnson stated. “It was a great fit for me and the coaching staff is great.” Johnson, who is an aggressive scorer as a wing, joins a Pitt class that is already stacked for 2011. He will be accompanied by Jaylen Bond and John Johnson, both of Pennsylvania.

“I had been favoring them for a while but I informed the coaching staff recently,” he said. “I’m looking forward to being a Pitt Panther.” While Johnson embarks on a new lifestyle at Brewster, he will be watching plenty of college hoops on television this year as he anticipates his arrival into Pittsburgh basketball.

I’ll update this post tonight as more articles and information becomes available.

Welcome, Durand!

UPDATE 1: I’m assuming you’re dying for a video of a Rivals 150 recruit beating up on scrubs.  Ask and you shall receive:

UPDATE 2: The Post-Gazette and the Tribune-Review are up with a blurb about the commit.  Looking over the 2011 freshmen is getting me excited: you have the versatile guard in John Johnson, an athletic scorer in Durand Johnson and a high-motor power forward in Jaylen Bond.

Jamie Dixon on Your TV

Today.

6 p.m.

ESPNU.

That is all.

(h/t to KDKA’s Mike Vukovcan and Kevin Reitmeyer)

First Scrimmage Is In the Books

Dave Wannstedt described Saturday’s scrimmage as “vanilla,” and that’s to be expected in the first scrimmage of camp, but there were a few things that appear to be newsworthy.  Obviously the biggest question is how Sunseri did in limited reps – an unremarkable 5 of 11, 61 yards.  This has to get better and I expect it will once Sunseri settles into the job and works out his timing with the receivers.  Frank Cignetti doesn’t seem too concerned:

“We always talk about helping the team win and when you looked at what we did, we did a lot of things that will help our team win games,” Cignetti said. “I think we scored six [actually seven] touchdowns, we were efficient with the first three units, we minimized the penalties, we minimized the sacks and we stepped up and made a few big plays on the perimeter.

“Tino missed a couple of throws but we know that eight times out of 10 he is going to make those throws. You are not going to complete every ball, the most important thing is that you come back and make the next play. There were definitely four plays out on that field that were big chunks that were wide open that we would expect to make.”

…

He said there is no question that the players on offense in general — and Sunseri specifically — are much further ahead at this point than they were last year after the first scrimmage. A lot of that has to do with the fact that this is Cignetti’s second year as a coordinator and the players have a much better understanding of what to expect from him and know what he expects from them.

Of course, the numbers would likely be better if Sunseri wasn’t running for his life.  As was the case last season, the defensive line seems to be getting the better of the offensive line.  Similar to last year, though, Pitt’s d-line will probably be the best competition the o-line sees all year.  Wannstedt praised oft beleaguered center Alex Karabin after practice yesterday:

“Alex Karabin is doing a very good job at center,” Wannstedt said. “He really is. You have to give the guy credit. He is coming on, he is making the calls, he is smart, he is tough and it was good [to see].”

Here’s hoping. At right guard, Greg Gaskin and Ryan Turnley are battling for a spot – whether that means both are impressing or that neither is a good option remains up for debate.

Bostick had some big throws with the second team offense – 51 and 43 yards – but again, Dave Wannstedt has made clear that Tino is the guy.  You also have to keep in mind that Pitt’s second team corners – Buddy Jackson and K’Wuan Williams – leave a bit to be desired.  However, K’Wuan Williams is impressing as a freshman and it’s looking more and more likely that the Montvile, NJ, product will avoid a redshirt this season.  Whether he’s competing for the fourth corner spot because he’s that good or that the rest of the corners are that bad is up for debate.

One player who seems to be disappointing it JUCO transfer Saheed Imoru, who seems to have lost a spot on the second team defense to the freshman.  Disappointing, but it was worth a shot, I suppose.

On Second Thought, a Little Less Tough Would Be Preferable

(Rebecca Drond / Post-Gazette)

The intensity of practice on the South Side has picked up and of course, so have the injuries.  No idea what is going on with Romeus and the back issues that have kept him on the sidelines, but he’s a guy I wouldn’t worry about being ready for September 2nd.  Romeus is a fifth year senior who may be the best at his position in the country – he’ll be ready.  Move along; nothing to see here, folks.

But there are guys who need the reps.  First up was Ray Graham.  Following Monday’s puff piece on the Pitt tailback in the Post-Gazette and Saturday’s version in the Trib, it was just a matter of time.  Cue the knee injury:

One player who went down with an injury during the scrimmage was backup tailback Ray Graham, who was carted off with ice on his knee after a collision with Jarred Holley.

Graham stayed on the ground writhing in pain, though he did get up and attempt to the return to the huddle at the urging of his teammates. Wannstedt pulled the plug on his return, however, and he was sent to the locker room in a cart.

“Ray went back into the huddle but we jerked him out and took him in to put ice on it,” Wannstedt said. “I don’t know [how bad it is]. Hopefully it is nothing serious.”

Uh-oh.  Thankfully, KDKA’s Mike Vukovcan tweeted that the injury has been diagnosed as just a sprain and doesn’t appear to be too serious.

Although that wasn’t the case for true freshman Brian Murphy, who went down Sunday:

Pitt freshman defensive end Bryan Murphy is out for six to eight weeks with a broken foot.

Murphy had been pushing for playing time this year, but the injury and subsequent missed practice time increases the likelihood that he will be redshirtted this year.

Disappointing, but these things happen.  Murphy was a highly touted recruit out of New Jersey and had really been having a solid first week at camp, but it looks like he’ll be watching the 2010 campaign from the sidelines.  You always hate to see a guy go down  who might have been able to contribute, but a redshirt isn’t the worst thing.  The defensive end position is probably the most solid position on the team this season with elite starters and quality backups.  We’ll likely next hear from Murphy next spring, when hopefully he is ready to battle Hale, Lindsay, Nunez and Clemmings  for a starting spot.

Hangin’ Tough

This afternoon, Pitt players and coaches will have their first live scrimmage of the preseason – although it’s not like there hasn’t been hitting going on all week:

And no player really epitomises what Wannstedt is looking for in football players better than Henry Hynoski, who I am convinced could line up on the train tracks next to the SouthSide complex and run full speed into a train – and the train would be the one which would take the worst of it. The guy is a football player – he just runs people over.

A couple of us were joking with him the other day that he should be held out of the rest of the camp because he is seriously going to hurt someone. I’ve never seen a guy run so hard and enjoy contact so much.

…

Which brings us to today’s practice and the point of all this – there is no practice in the country where there is as much hitting, short yardage situations and inside run drills taking place each day.

Hynoski might be the most beloved “role-player” Pitt has had in a long time.  The guy does everything you’d want a fullback to do, including knowing when to blow someone up vs. move them out of the way.  He’ll have plenty of opportunities to make his mark this season, as the offensive line remains, er, a work in progress:

“But I don’t think any of us really walked away from the spring and said we are locked in at any one of the three positions, so that is a good thing because it means we will have competition and so we need to get that solidified.”

….

Lippert, a redshirt freshman, will battle Alex Karabin for the starting center spot, but he has a long way to go because he was a defensive lineman last year.

Right guard is redshirt junior Gaskins’ to lose, but he will face stiff competition from redshirt sophomore Turnley. The two battled in the spring, but neither distinguished himself. Their competition will be closely monitored.

These worries arise every season, but then again, the expectations haven’t been this high in a long time.  I don’t think the center position is going to come together this season, but I’m hoping Turnley steps up at right guard.  If center is the only weak link, I think Hynoski’s presence in the backfield should compensate enough to run the ball effectively up the middle.

Of course, the biggest question mark is the man under center in the blue and gold, Tino Sunseri.  I’m hoping for a good report on him out of today’s scrimmage, but either way, Zeise thinks he’s the guy:

I will start by saying this: Tino’s ball hasn’t floated thus far in camp. His interceptions have all been a result of bad reads or throws. So he is not floating the ball like he did last year and I think he is doing a great job of finding the throwing lanes and stepping into them to deliver the ball. He is worlds ahead of where he was last year and while he hasn’t been consistent yet, I do expect him to be fine. And, for better or worse, he is the guy — or at least there will be a fairly long hook with him because Myers is a true freshman and has a long way to go and coaches believe Sunseri’s upside is much higher than the upside of Pat Bostick. He would have to really, really struggle in order to be replaced and I just don’t see that happening. The coaches are high on him.

I agree.  Mark Myers isn’t playing this year no matter what.  And for as great of a guy Bostick is, we’ve been given every indication that the coaching staff doesn’t think he’s the solution at quarterback – now or ever.  This is Tino’s team, let’s see what he can do.

Finally, Pitt released a short feature video on the strength and conditioning program run by Buddy Morris.  I’m certainly no guru, but whatever Buddy’s doing to these guys, keep it up

Clairton’s Desimon Green is Pitt’s Third DE Commit This Week

Green also plays quarterback for Clairton (Post-Gazette)

I barely got the Max Issaka post done before Pitt landed it’s third defensive end commitment for the class of 2011, Clairton’s Desimon Green.  Another 3 star man courtesy of Rivals and ESPN (for a point of reference, ESPN grades him higher than Issaka), Green checks in at a listed 6’5″and 215 lbs.  He picked Pitt over offers from WVU, Michigan, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Louisville, Illinois and Purdue among others.

As I (just) wrote when Issaka committed – Pitt will be losing 3 DEs to graduation this season so 2-3 seemed like the target with this class.  Now with their third commitment at the DE position in as many days, I think it is safe to close up shop on defensive end recruits for this year.

Welcome aboard, Desimon.

NJ DE Max Issaka Says Pitt is It

Jeff Hafley strikes again.  Pitt added it’s second defensive end commitment of the week today when Woodbridge, New Jersey product Max Issaka decided on Pitt.  He’s a three star guy on both Rivals and ESPN and is the fifth Jersey player to commit to Pitt this year.  Listed at 6’2″, 228 lbs, Issaka could provide some versatility for Panthers in that he may grow into a BCS defensive end or move out to linebacker.  Issaka also wrestles for Woodbridge.

Pitt will be losing three defensive ends to graduation this season (Romeus, Sheard and Nate Nix), so I wouldn’t be surprised if Pitt took one more defensive end.  According to Rivals, there are several talented Pennsylvania DEs that remain uncommitted, and a couple left in New Jersey.  Then again, with all the Dline talent coming in, Wannstedt may want to go after a position of greater need.

Having too many good defensive lineman (even for Pitt’s system) is a great problem to have.  Welcome to Pitt, Max.

Catching Up With Alumni

Kendall hopes to land in either Italy or Spain after a stint in Greece. (Wayne Leidenfrost / PNG)

While Pitt’s current players are putting on the pads in the Southside or taking some time off after a successful trip to Ireland, there has been some interesting alumni news.  First the bad news: John Malecki was cut by the Tennessee Titans after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent.  So that sucks.  Malecki was always a bit undersized but was able to compensate with his toughness and work-ethic in college.  The NFL might be a different story though.  (UPDATE: 2 days later, Malecki signs with the Cleveland Browns.)

In better news, the reigning Co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year Mick Williams was picked up by the Chicago Bears after failing to stick with the Jets.  Similar to Malecki, Williams is an effort guy who might have a hard time in the NFL.  But, hey, best of luck to both Williams and Malecki.

On the hoops side of things,  Levon Kendall is competing on Team Canada and had a solid night against China last night in preparation for the FIBA Worlds.  The game was held in Vancouver, which gave the hometown boy a bit more motivation:

With a fired-up Levon Kendall, a Kitsilano high school grad playing at home for the first time in eight years, providing an early spark, Canada jumped to an 18-8 first quarter lead and was up 41-16 at the half.

“It’s hard not to be excited . . . you’d be not quite alive if you weren’t excited for a game like this with that many friends and family in the crowd,” said Kendall, a six-foot-10 forward who threw down two early dunks, including one off a fast break initiated when he blocked a jumper in the defensive zone.

So what has Levon been up to since leaving the Panthers?

Kendall is a key contributor on a young and improving national team that qualified for the 2010 world championships in Turkey later this month by finishing fourth in the FIBA Americas qualifier last fall in Puerto Rico. He led Canada in rebounding with 5.1 boards per game, while chipping in 5.7 points per game.

“He’s coming off a rough year in terms of injury [a dislocated ankle suffered last November in Greece], but I could not tell that by practice,” said head coach Leo Rautins. “He’s come in very aggressive, very hungry to show that he’s ready to play.

“He’s one of the smart guys. Levon really understands the game.”

A free agent after three seasons playing pro in Greece, Kendall says he’s fortunate that the worlds and Canada’s pre-tournament exhibition games will give him the exposure to show he’s recovered from the injury. He’s looking to land in either Italy or Spain after an often frustrating stint in Greece.

After 10 years in the Team Canada system, it’s nice to see Kendall and Team Canada getting some appreciation and much needed respect on the international scene.  Playing international ball is a tough life (see the above article where he mentions only getting paid three times), but as he states in his poetry, he’s livin’ the dream.

Good luck to all Panthers, past and present.

HTP.

Ohio DE Deonte Gibson Commits to Pitt

Pitt received some good news on the recruiting front yesterday with a commitment from Cleveland defensive end Deonte Gibson.  Gibson (6’3″, 225 lbs) is a three star guy according to both Rivals and ESPN.  After watching his highlight video (and I suggest you do the same), I came away pretty impressed with his strength.  Dude is a bull-rusher and was able to plow down several OTs. He has decent size to play weakside right now and could potentially develop into a strongside DE under Buddy Morris.

As a junior, Gibson had some big moments at St. Edward’s:

On third down, Pullium got to the two-yard line, but with no timeouts, Erie had to hurry the fourth down play. An effort that saw Pullium get stopped dead in his tracks with Gibson leading the charge. Burke, making sure there would be no mistakes so close to the Ramblers’ goal line, took the snap from center, and intentionally took the safety ensuring the St. Edward win.

…

And as the victorious Eagles left the field, St. Edward assistant coach Matt Levindofske tugged at the shirt of yours truly saying, pointing in the direction of Gibson, “he’s something special isn’t he.” Indeed.

Welcome to Pitt, Deonte.