While Pitt fans may have been disappointed by Sunday’s NIT selection for the men’s basketball team, an recruitment announcement helped ease that pain one day later. 

Head coach Jamie Dixon and the Panthers will welcome Corey Manigault, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound 2016 forward who announced his commitment to Pitt on his Twitter page on Monday. He also held offers from Georgetown, Maryland, Virginia Commonwealth and Xavier, among others.

The Fairfax, Va., native will join guard Mustapha Heron in Pitt’s 2016 recruiting class. ESPN ranked Manigault a four-star recruit, while recruiting sites Rivals and Scout named him a three-star player. All three ranked him in the top 25 at his position in the class. Manigault averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game his junior season at Paul VI High School.

“It’s a great place to be for bigs,” Manigault said via Scout. “Over the last few years they’ve developed their bigs. Coach Dixon knows what he’s doing and I like him as a person and as a coach.”

Manigault’s high school coach, Glenn Farello, said that Dixon will help the forward develop in his time at Pitt.

“I think it’s a perfect fit,” Farello said. “I think coach Dixon will get the most out of Corey and his potential.”

Manigault referenced Pitt assistant coach Marlon “Smoke” Williamson as a key component of his recruitment. Williamson extended a scholarship offer to the forward when Williamson was still an assistant coach at Massachusetts.

“The family feel and the bond the players have together [stood out],” Manigault said. “They treat everyone like family.”