Are early offers to local kids important?

[JS School]

I think guys like Carmody, Konate and Aiken already have offers from other schools. Is it much of a negative if Dixon hasn't offered yet? Is it better to wait than to look like a school that will hand out offers to any marginal local prospect?

As long as Dixon stays in touch and shows interest I think it's ok. You might want to tell them that you want to follow their development and make sure that they continue to work hard. Maybe see if they project as an SG or PG, or a PF or SF, so that you can recruit a class around them. I think the only time it might be a problem is if a kid has an ego the dictates that he should have an early offer from the local school.

I've seen some criticism of Dixon for being slow to offer and wondered what you guys thought.

 

[Zaratoughda]

I think guys like Carmody, Konate and Aiken already have offers from other schools. Is it much of a negative if Dixon hasn't offered yet? Is it better to wait than to look like a school that will hand out offers to any marginal local prospect?

As long as Dixon stays in touch and shows interest I think it's ok. You might want to tell them that you want to follow their development and make sure that they continue to work hard. Maybe see if they project as an SG or PG, or a PF or SF, so that you can recruit a class around them. I think the only time it might be a problem is if a kid has an ego the dictates that he should have an early offer from the local school.

I've seen some criticism of Dixon for being slow to offer and wondered what you guys thought.

He was FAST to offer on Heron and Rowan and we all saw how that all worked out.

IMO it is best to keep a dialog going and then make or don't make offers when it is getting time for the player to commit. If the player makes an early commitment well... maybe we will get Herons or Rowans... going the other way... THIS way.

 

[wbrpanther]

I think guys like Carmody, Konate and Aiken already have offers from other schools. Is it much of a negative if Dixon hasn't offered yet? Is it better to wait than to look like a school that will hand out offers to any marginal local prospect?

As long as Dixon stays in touch and shows interest I think it's ok. You might want to tell them that you want to follow their development and make sure that they continue to work hard. Maybe see if they project as an SG or PG, or a PF or SF, so that you can recruit a class around them. I think the only time it might be a problem is if a kid has an ego the dictates that he should have an early offer from the local school.

I've seen some criticism of Dixon for being slow to offer and wondered what you guys thought.

Maybe he feels these guys aren't advanced enough to warrant offers. You can't just offer guys because others have.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

I think guys like Carmody, Konate and Aiken already have offers from other schools. Is it much of a negative if Dixon hasn't offered yet? Is it better to wait than to look like a school that will hand out offers to any marginal local prospect?

As long as Dixon stays in touch and shows interest I think it's ok. You might want to tell them that you want to follow their development and make sure that they continue to work hard. Maybe see if they project as an SG or PG, or a PF or SF, so that you can recruit a class around them. I think the only time it might be a problem is if a kid has an ego the dictates that he should have an early offer from the local school.

I've seen some criticism of Dixon for being slow to offer and wondered what you guys thought.

Pitt (Dixon) has offered Konate already (I'm pretty sure they were his FIRST offer &still best I think) and also should offer Carmody too.

Carmody has offers currently from Duquesene, Penn State, Cinci, Xavier, and Purdue (according to verbal commits). (Besides Duquesne, some pretty darn good offers).

 

[Pittx9]

I don't think the timing matters as much as how much interest you show. Pryor committed to play bball here his sophomore year in hs so we were obviously after him very early. I think it is important though to really give the local kids a closer look. It sucks when you don't get a kid like T.J. McConnell and guys like that to come here.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

I don't think the timing matters as much as how much interest you show. Pryor committed to play bball here his sophomore year in hs so we were obviously after him very early. I think it is important though to really give the local kids a closer look. It sucks when you don't get a kid like T.J. McConnell and guys like that to come here.

Or TJ's brother...

 

[Pittx9]

Or TJ's brother...

Exactly. Any local kid that's getting looked at by other colleges we should have a close eye on. At the very least, we should at least know more about these kids than the other schools. Heck, even the kids that might have potential we should be watching.
What does it hurt to scout players that are so close by? I will at least say in the staff's defense, there haven't been many players come out of the area lately. There's been a few we missed we all know that, but at least we got Blair to come here.
I don't care if he was from Pittsburgh, New York, or New Zealand, when you're recruiting head to head with Duke that is a big W in recruiting.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Definitely... Winning vs Duke in recruiting (or anything) is a big deal. Getting local talent tho that is good can help get more people in the stands and hopefully win more games as well.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Everyone wants the pretty girl with a perfect figure and until she tells you she's going out with the captain of the Fb team you keep sniffing around hoping you get your shot. If Pitt would focus on recuriting program guys who develope over their careers and produced good teams there would be an outcry that Pitt will never win a national championship with these type of players. Pitt has not established itself as an elite program even though some of you don't get it , they don't take thugs,they expect you to go to class and stay out of papers ( trouble ),they don't hire your AAU coach or his brother in law ,pay off your parents or handler ,falsify your transcripts .etc, while I'm sure there's some perks it's obviously not enough to get the elite players to come to Pitt . Pitt needs to get back to having older physically mature teams that can play defense and rebound , and just beat up on the 5* teams. That's the route for success at Pitt not chasing the same players the elites want that's playing a losing hand.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Everyone wants the pretty girl with a perfect figure and until she tells you she's going out with the captain of the Fb team you keep sniffing around hoping you get your shot. If Pitt would focus on recuriting program guys who develope over their careers and produced good teams there would be an outcry that Pitt will never win a national championship with these type of players. Pitt has not established itself as an elite program even though some of you don't get it , they don't take thugs,they expect you to go to class and stay out of papers ( trouble ),they don't hire your AAU coach or his brother in law ,pay off your parents or handler ,falsify your transcripts .etc, while I'm sure there's some perks it's obviously not enough to get the elite players to come to Pitt . Pitt needs to get back to having older physically mature teams that can play defense and rebound , and just beat up on the 5* teams. That's the route for success at Pitt not chasing the same players the elites want that's playing a losing hand.

True... but today in the more up-tempo system of basketball, the elite players of say Duke and Kentucky can score right past the slower and less skilled 2-3 * star players. Yea Pitt needs to get better on defense, but you need to recruit better (players) to do so! Not saying they have to have a Kentucky recruiting class or anything, but a repeat of this year's (or something similar) will set this program for a big fall. Cuz after the 16-17 season, you won't be bringing back Young, Artis. Jeter( or Chris Jones even). And with the current staff's (obvious) lack of recruiting abilities, this program's hope to get new talented players is to win games in the Torney. Winning always helps and a good year this year can get them back on track...

 

[Fsgolfdr]

What folks want is for Pitt to be able to recuirt the elite player and unless there's a change at the top ( not JD but the real top ) nothing is going to change. Pitts administration would like to win ,but they don't perceive it as quite important as the avid message board participant . They are not willing to get down and dirty to do what it takes and 80% of me agrees , but 20% of me should would like to the talent of the 70's in Fb and bb and see national championship caliber teams wearing Pitt uniforms.