What you missed in a summer of Pitt sports
By Trent Leonard, Sports Editor
August 25, 2019
From snagging heralded recruits to hiring new coaches and seeing former players get drafted, Pitt athletics saw several crucial developments take place over the summer.
Hometown Heroes wanted: Pitt coming up short with local recruits
By Ben Bobeck, Staff Writer
May 21, 2019
Many of Pitt’s great players have come through the WPIAL pipeline. Now, is Pitt struggling to win local stars to its football and basketball teams?
Time to panic about Pitt basketball recruiting?
By Trent Leonard, Contributing Editor
May 15, 2019
Khadim Sy was the latest big man to spurn Pitt basketball, leaving many fans to wonder why the Panthers can’t seem to catch a break on the recruiting trail.
Recruiting Roundup: Pitt football nabs two 2020 recruits
By Tyler Moran, Staff Writer
April 19, 2019
Pitt football added a couple recruits to its class of 2020, while Capel's basketball club looks to round out its remaining scholarship offers for the 2019 season.
Recruiting roundup: Champagnie chooses Pitt
By Tyler Moran, Staff Writer
March 29, 2019
With the men’s basketball season officially over and spring football in full swing, it’s time for some more recruiting news for the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Keeping up with Pitt’s recruiting trail
By Tyler Moran, Staff Writer
March 1, 2019
The Pitt News teamed up with Pitt Recruiting to bring you all the recruiting information you need to know to keep up with Pitt Athletics.
Capel will prevail on recruiting trail
By Stephen Thompson, Staff Writer
November 1, 2018
When Jeff Capel was announced as Pitt’s 16th men’s basketball coach this offseason, his aptitude as a recruiter was highlighted as one of his biggest strengths — especially appealing for a Panther squad facing an uphill battle to rebuild after going winless in the ACC.
Pitt gains first top-100 basketball recruit since 2013
By Trent Leonard | Senior Staff Writer
April 24, 2018
The Pitt men’s basketball team received its first verbal commitment of the 2018-2019 recruiting season today at noon when four-star recruit Trey McGowens announced his commitment to the Panthers via Twitter. McGowens, a senior 6-foot-3 guard at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., chose Pitt...
Pitt looks overseas for latest lineman
By Alex Lehmbeck | Staff Writer
March 27, 2018
Although a growing demographic, international college football players are hard to find. According to The Growth of a Game, a Belgian-based company connecting football advocates across Europe, only two active Division I college football players were born in Italy as of 2015. Incoming Pitt commit Haba...
Panthers pounce during early signing period
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
December 26, 2017
The ink has dried on 16 letters of intent for Panther football so far, as new faces signed up to be sporting blue and gold at Heinz Field in 2018. The first early signing period in NCAA college football history — from Dec. 20 through Dec. 22 — concluded Friday with 16 of 17 commits officially ...
Three-star cornerback Jason Pinnock commits to Pitt
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
January 18, 2017
With only two weeks until National Signing Day, the Pitt football team added the 21st member to its 2017 recruiting class and continued to strengthen its defensive back depth in the process. Jason Pinnock, a 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback from Windsor, Connecticut, gave his verbal commitment Tuesday to join ...
Meet the Panthers: Q&A with Jerry Drake Jr.
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
January 10, 2017
Pitt’s newest offensive lineman Jerry Drake Jr. doesn’t like the cold. Drake, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound offensive lineman from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, could have easily stayed down south to play college ball in the warm, friendly confines of the Southeastern Conference. After all, he had scholarship...
Dixon, Pitt basketball need to up recruiting game to compete in ACC
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
September 30, 2015
There was a time when Pitt basketball could compile northeastern-focused recruiting classes. Unfortunately for Jamie Dixon and the Panthers, that time has passed. For the majority of Dixon’s tenure as Pitt’s head basketball coach, becoming a regular season force and faltering in the postseason w...
Pitt adds 2016 basketball commit
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
March 16, 2015
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 ...
Dust in Pitt, PSU recruiting battle settles on National Signing Day
By Alex Wise / Staff Writer
February 4, 2015
Another year, another National Signing Day in which Pennsylvania received little national attention. Maybe it’s the media’s way of punishing us non-Ohio State-loving northerners for our crazy notion that life exists outside of football.Locally, however, the brewing recruiting rivalry between Pitt a...
Linebacker flips commitment to Penn State on eve of signing day
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
February 3, 2015
Linebacker Kevin Givens will be sending in his National Letter of Intent today, as all high school football recruits will. But instead of sending it to Pitt as he’d planned for almost a year, Givens will now give his commitment to play for Penn State in the fall.The Altoona native, who committed to Pi...
Narduzzi, staff finishing recruiting season at a sprint
By Dan Sostek / Assistant Sports Editor
January 26, 2015
Since taking over the Pitt football program after the sudden departure of Paul Chryst, new head coach Pat Narduzzi has been busy on the recruiting trail. Narduzzi and his newly assembled staff have already received six commitments. Here is a rundown on the sextet of future Panthers.JAY STOCKER The firs...
Dixon lands 2015 center commit
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
October 27, 2014
Rozelle Nix, a 7-foot-tall center from Pensacola State College (Fla.), committed to play for the Pitt basketball team on Sunday.Nix committed two days after visiting the school on Oct. 24 during the team’s Spike and Slam Madness, Pitt’s basketball season kick-off on Friday night. He was also conside...
Pitt recruiting rundown
By Jeremy Tepper / Staff Writer
October 22, 2014
Pitt’s newest commit, Jordan Whitehead, scored three touchdowns in three different ways. Here’s how he and the rest of Pitt’s commits fared last weekend. Jordan Whitehead (cornerback) — Central Valley High School, Pa.Central Valley remained undefeated at 8-0, defeating Hopewell 57-7. Whitehea...
Recruit rundown: Tipton scores in three different ways
By Jeremy Tepper / Staff Writer
October 20, 2014
Pitt’s newest commit, Jordan Whitehead, scored three touchdowns in three different ways. Here’s how he and the rest of Pitt’s commits fared last weekend. Jordan Whitehead (cornerback) — Central Valley High School, Pa.Central Valley remained undefeated at 8-0, defeating Hopewell 57-7. Whitehead s...
Recruit Rundown
By Jeremy Tepper / Staff Writer
September 28, 2014
Quadree Henderson was excellent this week, scoring touchdowns two different ways. Here’s how he and the rest of Pitt’s commits performed. Darrin Hall (running back) — Austintown Fitch High School, OhioAustintown Fitch beat Boardman 31-5. Hall accumulated 19 yards on 5 carries, though he left ...
Hall highlights weekly football recruit rundown
By Jeremy Tepper / Staff Writer
September 21, 2014
Pitt’s two running back commits, Darrin Hall and Sekai Lindsay, had standout efforts on the ground this weekend. Here’s how they and the rest of Pitt’s commits fared.Darrin Hall (running back) — Austintown Fitch High School, OhioHall ran for 159 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in a 42-32 win over Do...
Football recruit rundown
By Jeremy Tepper / Staff Writer
September 14, 2014
Nick Bowers and Tre Tipton faced off in a thrilling overtime battle on Friday, with Tipton putting together a record-setting performance. Here’s how he and the rest of Pitt’s commits fared in last week’s games.Darrin Hall (running back) — Austintown Fitch High School, OhioHall ran 10 times for 27 yards, as Aus...
Football recruit rundown
By Jeremy Tepper / Staff Writer
September 1, 2014
Pitt football has 13 commits in its 2015 class. Here’s how they and their teams performed last week.Darrin Hall (running back) — Austintown Fitch High School , OhioOn the way to a 49-14 victory over Warren Harding, Hall ran 16 times for 160 yards and a 35-yard touchdown.Nick Bowers (tight end) — Kittanning Senior Hi...
Women’s Basketball: Recruit ineligible for upcoming season, won’t attend Pitt
By Jasper Wilson / Sports Editor
July 11, 2014
Naje Gibson, a talented women’s basketball recruit, will not attend Pitt this year as she is academically ineligible, according to reports by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Karen Price of the Tribune-Review reported last night that Gibson, a 6-foot forward, will attend Florida Stat...
Men’s Basketball: Doorson reopens his recruitment
By Ryan Bertonaschi / Senior Staff Writer
June 25, 2014
In early March, it seemed as though Pitt men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon had the first Kobe-Shaq duo since the Los Angeles Lakers. It wasn’t to be.Kobe Eubanks, a highly rated shooting guard prospect from Florida, would commit to Baylor University over Pitt and other schools in March. The Pit...
Men’s Basketball: Marlon Williamson opens up about why he chose Pitt
By Ryan Bertonaschi / Senior Staff Writer
June 24, 2014
When former Pitt men’s basketball assistant coach Barry Rohrssen parted ways with Jamie Dixon and Pitt’s staff for the University of Kentucky in April, he left a hole in Pitt’s bench that gaped wider every day.Nine weeks later, Dixon found the guy to fill the space left behind.Enter ex-UMass as...
Pitt men’s basketball recruits eager to contribute
By Jeremy Tepper / Staff Writer
May 28, 2014
In the last few years, Jamie Dixon has had to bring in larger recruitment classes than he anticipated, and likely wanted to. This has been mostly due to transfers. For his 2014 recruitment class, Dixon has voluntarily brought in a large class, signing five players to letters of intent.The first of those...
Freshmen football players join the Panthers
By Mark Powell / Staff Writer
May 28, 2014
Pitt football has finished the last two seasons with a combined record of 13-13, so why should fans be optimistic?Coach Paul Chryst’s steady improvement of the football program may not be obvious, but after examining his second recruiting class, it’s hard to ignore the depth the coach added this o...