Pipeline from New York to Pittsburgh continues

Pittsburgh Port Authority might have to create a new bus line — one that will go non-stop… Pittsburgh Port Authority might have to create a new bus line — one that will go non-stop from Oakland to New York City. The Pitt coaching staff is raiding New York again. On the side of the bus, much like the buses have now, should be writing that reads, “Black Magic,” and “Taftzilla” — along with the obligatory bumper sticker that reads, “I love N.Y.”

It’s the bumper sticker that all Pitt fans should own, because if it wasn’t for the neighbor to the northeast, Pitt’s basketball team might be on the same boat as its football team.

Panther fans should hold more excitement for next year. I know that is tough to hear after losing in the Sweet 16 for the third straight year, but the recruits coming in can make the difference. From the sounds of it, Jamie Dixon’s recruiting class should be amazing.

I’m talking Sweet 16-caliber.

And by that, I mean a team that can actually win in the Sweet 16.

Dixon’s rumored recruiting class has the potential to be one of the best in the nation, which is crucial because guards Jaron Brown and Julius Page will be departing. Both were a critical part of Pitt’s defense during recent success, and their defense is what will be missed the most. However, their offense of late — or shall I say, lack of offense — will not.

And that’s where the new recruits step in.

At Page’s old position, we might see Ronald Ramon, a 6-foot point guard from the Bronx who averaged 19.2 points per game in his junior year. He will step in and have a legitimate chance at beating out guards Yuri Demetris and Antonio Graves for the starting shooting guard position, based on the play we saw from both players this year. If both Graves and Demetris can’t find their shot by the start of next season, they should be on the look out, because New York is stepping in.

And Ramon stepping in could be the answer to Pitt’s Sweet 16 dilemma. He has made the difference in tournaments thus far in his young career. But don’t take that from me. Take that from what Paul Brown, the director of the New York Gauchos, said in a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article back in October.

“This is all you really need to know: When [Ramon] wasn’t with us for a couple of tournaments, we lost.”

Ramon led the Gauchos, one of the nation’s most prestigious Amateur Athletic Union programs, to two national AAU titles, and one year helped them finish as the national runner-up.

Add his talent and skill to that of Carl Krauser, and we might see two “X’s” being signaled on the court after every basket next year.

In Brown’s spot, we might find yet another New Yorker. John DeGroat, a junior college transfer from Northeastern Junior College in Colorado, is a native of Monticello, N.Y., and will compete for the three-guard position. The 6-foot-6-inch guard is considered a three-point threat, something Pitt has lacked as of late — unless you count Mark McCarroll when he’s standing alone on the outside of the arc.

DeGroat hit six of seven from beyond the arc in his final game at Northeastern. He finished the season shooting 44.4 percent from three-point land, which is better than the current season total of Connecticut’s Ben Gordon — 43.7 percent. And we all saw what a three-point shooter like Gordon can do for a team.

DeGroat also averaged 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

Another guard coming next year is Keith Benjamin from Mt. Vernon, N.Y. He will be competing for playing time with the rest of the guards, and could be a crucial part of Pitt’s bench.

All year, Pitt’s bench has been great in the frontcourt position, but the backcourt lacked depth. And now, with the three additional guards, Pitt can have more faith in its backcourt positions.

The only question that remains now is, when will this bus line from New York to Oakland stop running?

Let’s just hope it doesn’t.

Jimmy Johnson is a staff writer for The Pitt News, and he thinks he is forever cursed when it comes to cheering for teams.