Young, Blair stay hot in local hoops summer league

There might not have been big crowds in attendance, but the Greentree Pro-Am Summer League… There might not have been big crowds in attendance, but the Greentree Pro-Am Summer League provided some excitement as well as a glimpse of what to expect from the ballyhooed Panthers this year.

I hate to bring it up, but the summer is rapidly coming to an end, and the only good thing about that is it means the basketball season is that much closer to starting. As the summer break comes to a close, here are some closing details about Pitt basketball.

What we know

No matter what position Sam Young plays, he will be nearly impossible to guard. Last season Young showed the ability to play effectively against bigger players in the low post. If head coach Jamie Dixon can find an adequate complement to DeJuan Blair in the low post, Young will get to play more away from the basket — where his mid-range game continues to evolve. His trip to LeBron James’ summer camp can only help that. Can Young, the Big East’s most improved player last year, get even better and perhaps be the Big East most valuable player this year? He certainly has the ability.

More than anything else, this summer showed us that Pitt has viable options in its backcourt. Brad Wannamaker played super aggressive at Greentree, often looking like the best player on the court. That even happened when Young and Levance Fields were on the other team. While Wannamaker might not be able to shoot like Ronald Ramon, his game is oozing with confidence thus far this year.

Happy campers

Fields, Blair and Young were all invited to the famed Nike Skills Academy, which is located throughout the country. These invite-only camps feature the nation’s finest at their respective positions. Fields attended Steve Nash’s point guard camp in Newark, N.J. Blair went to Phoenix, Ariz., for Amare Stoudemire’s big man camp. Young headed to Vince Carter’s camp for small forwards in Orlando, Fla.

Fresh faces

Coach Dixon reeled in a solid freshman class for 2008, but the biggest addition could be the Tallahassee Community College transfer Jermaine Dixon. Dixon will battle for a starting guard spot. This summer he’s shown great penetration skills, and when he got to the rim he was able to finish with contact.

Pitt’s freshman class has loads of ability. Small forward Nasir Robinson was another top recruit. This summer he showed the skill set of a Pitt-style basketball player. While he is a bit undersized for a forward (6-5, 210 pounds), he’s a coach’s player and his motor doesn’t stop. He’s aggressive on both sides of the court, and he knows how to play the game. Travon Woodall was impressive as well. Woodall is lightning quick and showed good decision-making. He could challenge for minutes as Fields’ primary backup at point guard.

Dwight Miller (6-8, 220) is raw, but he’s also intense. Miller’s offensive game needs some polishing, but he was a maniac on the glass this summer. Freshman Ashton Gibbs was, perhaps, the biggest surprise this summer. Gibbs showed the best range of all of Pitt’s prospective guards. It’s highly unlikely Gibbs will get the opportunity to start, but he will be a productive player for coach Dixon sooner rather than later.

The verdict’s still out

Can anybody step in and provide adequate support in the low post for Blair? Tyrell Biggs will get the opportunity to start at the small forward position, freeing up Young to play away from the basket. But it’s yet to be determined if he can do so effectively. In the past and throughout the summer, Biggs has shown the ability to step away from the hoop and knock down jump shots. His ability to step back would create less traffic in the paint, which would aid Blair, who is already one of the best offensive rebounders in the country. Gary McGhee is a big body, but outside of his size, he doesn’t offer the Panthers much scoring. He can take fouls and spell Blair, but his play this summer against inferior adversaries didn’t show he will be able to step in and make a difference in a powerhouse conference like the Big East. Thus, Pitt will likely play small again — much like it has in the past.

Another question comes about 3-pointers. There is no Ronald Ramon on this year’s team, but Pitt should still be able to get by with what it has. Gilbert Brown will be playing out of position if Dixon decides to go big and play Brown at shooting guard, as Brown’s outside jumper has been less than impressive. This summer, Gibbs looked to be the best option the Panthers will have from 3-point range.

Pitt has one of its most talented classes in recent years. Not only that, but Pitt’s talent now knows what it’s like to win in the postseason. The Panthers improbable push through the Big East Tournament last year, where they were seeded No. 7 and won four games in four days to capture the title, will be a huge asset. Questions are popping up everywhere. Can Pitt make a run through March and crack the Sweet 16? Can Pitt basketball get to a whole new level? We’ll know these answers in about eight months.