Walt Harris got the quarterback he wanted for his 2002 class when Pitt received a verbal… Walt Harris got the quarterback he wanted for his 2002 class when Pitt received a verbal commitment from West Allegheny’s Tyler Palko. Now he has his coveted wide receiver, Billy Gaines.

Gaines, who gave a verbal commitment to Pitt last week, will be finishing his senior year at Urbana High School in Frederick, Md. The 5-foot-8-inch, 165-pound receiver is extremely fast, running the 40-yard dash in 4.22 seconds.

Gaines caught 32 balls last season for a total of 528 yards and six touchdowns. He chose Pitt over Virginia and West Virginia. The newest member of the 2002 class can also play defensive back, but he has been recruited as a receiver and special teams return man.

He joins Palko, Andy Alleman and David Abdul as the first four recruits of the 2002 class. Alleman is a 6-foot-5-inch, 235-pound linebacker and fullback, and Abdul is a kicker. Both hail from Massillon High School in Ohio.

All four recruits must wait until February before they can sign a binding letter of intent.

o Cornerback Josh Lay, a standout member of Pitt football’s 2001 recruiting class, found out last week that his SAT scores were high enough for him to be eligible to play this season.

Last week, the Aliquippa star played in the Big 33 Classic football game, which pits the top 33 high school players from Pennsylvania against the top 33 from Ohio. Lay tallied an interception on the third play of the game.

o Pitt head men’s swimming coach Chuck Knoles recently announced the signing of nine recruits (six swimmers and three divers) for the 2002 season.

The newcomers include Kestutis Aukstuolis, Kevin Bast, Brian Bonczek, Dustin Boone, Raymond Brush, Richard Grinstead, Michael Hand, Stephen Kilroy and Hannes Kohnke.

“I was very pleased with the number of talented swimmers and divers we signed,” Knoles said. “This class will be another that adds to Pitt’s tradition of excellence.”

According to Knoles, Aukstuolis will make his impact in the 200-meter freestyle, while Bast, a member of the Pennsylvania state champion water polo team, was an All-American swimmer in 1997 and is a talented diver.

Bonczek was the PIAA champion in the 200-meter individual medley as a senior.

“Brian is a great all-around swimmer,” Knoles said. “He comes to us with U.S. Open time standards in the 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter breast stroke, 200 IM and 400 IM. His versatility will be very valuable to our program.”

Boone spent last year at Mercersburg Academy and brings quickness to the 1-meter board.

“Dustin’s strength on the board is a 2 1/2 twist in the tuck position on the 1-meter,” Knoles said. “That dive placed him second in the state championships, and we feel he’s a great addition to our diving program.”

Brush was a two-time first-team All-Big 12 swimmer at the University of Nebraska before joining Pitt. Grinstead was a two-year section diving champion while in high school and Empire State Games participant.

Hand was a member of the three-time WPIAL champion Bethel Park team.

“Michael is a very successful local athlete from the storied Bethel Park swimming program,” Knoles said. “His primary focus will be the 500 free, but we also plan on introducing him to the 1,000 free this year.”

Kilroy was a three-time All-American in the 200 and 400 free relays during his high school tenure in Allentown, Pa. Kohnke joins junior Max von Bodungen as the second Panther to have competed for the Swedish National team.

“Hannes will fill an evident void in our distance lanes,” Knoles said. “We are excited to have him on board with us.”