John Hugley IV- Hugley has now visited Pitt 4 times. His coach / handler has visited Pitt with Hugley. And His Coach is also helping Jeremy Holmes, a former Pitt basketball player, sell Holmes book Cheers to Fears on his social media sites (the cover of the book is below). I’ve reported on the importance of relationships in the past and how Capel is building them step by step. Hugley is one of the fastest rising players in the entire country with over 25+ offers and should be making his way into the National Top 50-75 as one of the best frontcourt players in the nation.
Chances he chooses Pitt- Very strong
Jalen Bridges-Bridges has now taken 3 visits to Pitt in the last few months and is heading to Scotland Red Prep, the same school as Karim Coulibaly. If the pictures on social media showing him in a Pitt jersey have not led you to believe where Pitt sits with him, or that his updated twitter Picture is a cropped picture of his face in a Pitt uniform, or that Scotland’s Red Head Coach and Sports director have both been mentioning Pitt and Jeff Capel on social media along with Bridges, or that I and then recently Corey Evans both said Pitt is in very strong position for Bridges, or that Bridges continues to fight with West Virginia fans on every social media platform, or that Bridges said Hail to Pitt in a social media post then deleted it, you are far behind the 8-ball if you have missed all these events. Bridges has been steadily rising in the rankings and should see his ranking rise again in most of the updated National Top 75’s in the country.
Chances he chooses Pitt- Very strong
RJ Davis
The fastest rising prospect in the entire country with offers from just about every school in the entire country. It’s a very good sign when the entire family visits Pitt, is talking about Pitt on social media, and also adding members from Scotland Red Prep and Pitt on their social media platforms. Capel recruited Davis harder than any other school this summer, and Pitt is in the drivers seat to get Davis with Marquette as I said months ago. The bond with the Davis family is very good, and the fit at Pitt is even better. Marquette and North Carolina will continue to push hard along with others. Davis has all the tools needed to be an absolute star at the college level as he is one of the deadliest shooters in the entire country from all areas on the floor. Capel and O’toole are still recruiting and calling Davis as I write this. Davis wanted to be recruited hard and wanted to be a “priority” recruit for the school he chooses and he made that known and our staff has delivered.
Chances he chooses Pitt- Very strong
Earl Timberlake
It should come as zero surprise Timberlake is making his way back to Pitt a 3rd time for an official visit this time around, and I told everyone beforehand it was going to happen. It seems hard for some people to fathom that the interest between borderline 5 Star Earl Timberlake and Pitt is very high and for real. Timberlake once again has made it known sports medicine is important to him as I said this 9 months ago before anyone and some people just cant seem to “get it”. Timberlake has 2 officials set up, Pitt and Miami, both very strong sports medicine schools. Capel and multiple Pitt players have a strong relationship with him. Timberlake is a dog on the floor built for defense and Capel’s system. The fit, which is what I said from day 1, is perfect for him. Ultimately, when he sits down with his family to discuss his future of reaching the nba and graduating early with a degree in sports medicine along with his relationship with the head coach, these 3 factors "could" put Pitt over the top.
Chances he chooses Pitt- Very strong
5th “potential” scholarship- Open. There are 2 Top 150-200 players that are currently on hold that are borderline Pitt leans right now that want to visit Pitt officially and would “possibly” commit right after. I will not name these players but it is not hard to figure out which 2 players they are as I mentioned both of them in the past. They currently do not have a firm offer right now to commit. Neither did Tyrese Samuel or Jalen Mccreary when both wanted to go to Pitt. Those players were told to wait and they went elsewhere. Pitt targeted Coulibaly and Champagnie over both of them. Coulibaly very clearly outshined 4 star Tyrese Samuel at Fiba World Cup U19 and proved who the better player was on the floor.
Puff Johnson has a decision to make. Because North Carolina and Arizona are starting to fill up rosters and I fully expect Pitt to start filling up its roster with some of their major targets. I think Johnson is down to 3 maybe 4 schools. But he will explore other options if those schools land other targets which is very possible. I still view Arizona as the team to beat. Johnson has now been to Pitt twice recently.
Chances to get him- Above Average to possibly good
Elijah Taylor will officially be visiting Pitt and Notre Dame in the very near future out of his final 6 and he has become a priority recruit. Its not a secret academics are huge to him just like Timberlake. My understanding is Notre Dame is the “very small favorite” and 2 people close to him are both pushing the 2 ACC schools above the others. This is another fast-rising player and should be considered one of our “high end” targets. Taylor is also high on Florida and made a very strong case this summer to enter the National Top 100.
Chances to get him-Good to Very Good
Andre Curbelo- Pitt has been lurking around Curbelo for some time along with Illinois, St. Johns, Kansas, Miami, Louisville and a few others. I know for a fact Illinois is in very good position because of Oliver Antigua.
Chances to get him- unknown, but my guess is low to average at best
Josh Hall- A fast rising player that is pushing to get into a 5 star. Hall is visiting Louisville soon and from what I understand, Pitt is still in the heavy mix to get an official visit from him when he names his top 5. Capel has been on Hall for a very long time before his stock started to rise fast and Pitt and Capel were one of the earliest schools on him when his early list consisted of Pitt and a bunch of midmajors. Pitt, Miami, Louisville, and Florida were 4 schools said by Hall himself as 4 of the schools recruiting him the hardest this week. Hall has never mentioned actual leaders.
Chances to get him- unknown, but we 100% want him and would take him
These are only some of Pitt's top targets
Its almost hard to hold in the excitement with the games starting soon in Italy and Pitt being on the verge of some major commits in 2020. I would also keep an eye on the Pitt-Virginia football game, as there is going to be a ton of talent at Pitt that day for the 2020 and 2021 recruiting classes. Day by day the force of Jeff Capel is making Pitt stronger and better.
Chances he chooses Pitt- Very strong
Jalen Bridges-Bridges has now taken 3 visits to Pitt in the last few months and is heading to Scotland Red Prep, the same school as Karim Coulibaly. If the pictures on social media showing him in a Pitt jersey have not led you to believe where Pitt sits with him, or that his updated twitter Picture is a cropped picture of his face in a Pitt uniform, or that Scotland’s Red Head Coach and Sports director have both been mentioning Pitt and Jeff Capel on social media along with Bridges, or that I and then recently Corey Evans both said Pitt is in very strong position for Bridges, or that Bridges continues to fight with West Virginia fans on every social media platform, or that Bridges said Hail to Pitt in a social media post then deleted it, you are far behind the 8-ball if you have missed all these events. Bridges has been steadily rising in the rankings and should see his ranking rise again in most of the updated National Top 75’s in the country.
Chances he chooses Pitt- Very strong
RJ Davis
The fastest rising prospect in the entire country with offers from just about every school in the entire country. It’s a very good sign when the entire family visits Pitt, is talking about Pitt on social media, and also adding members from Scotland Red Prep and Pitt on their social media platforms. Capel recruited Davis harder than any other school this summer, and Pitt is in the drivers seat to get Davis with Marquette as I said months ago. The bond with the Davis family is very good, and the fit at Pitt is even better. Marquette and North Carolina will continue to push hard along with others. Davis has all the tools needed to be an absolute star at the college level as he is one of the deadliest shooters in the entire country from all areas on the floor. Capel and O’toole are still recruiting and calling Davis as I write this. Davis wanted to be recruited hard and wanted to be a “priority” recruit for the school he chooses and he made that known and our staff has delivered.
Chances he chooses Pitt- Very strong
Earl Timberlake
It should come as zero surprise Timberlake is making his way back to Pitt a 3rd time for an official visit this time around, and I told everyone beforehand it was going to happen. It seems hard for some people to fathom that the interest between borderline 5 Star Earl Timberlake and Pitt is very high and for real. Timberlake once again has made it known sports medicine is important to him as I said this 9 months ago before anyone and some people just cant seem to “get it”. Timberlake has 2 officials set up, Pitt and Miami, both very strong sports medicine schools. Capel and multiple Pitt players have a strong relationship with him. Timberlake is a dog on the floor built for defense and Capel’s system. The fit, which is what I said from day 1, is perfect for him. Ultimately, when he sits down with his family to discuss his future of reaching the nba and graduating early with a degree in sports medicine along with his relationship with the head coach, these 3 factors "could" put Pitt over the top.
Chances he chooses Pitt- Very strong
5th “potential” scholarship- Open. There are 2 Top 150-200 players that are currently on hold that are borderline Pitt leans right now that want to visit Pitt officially and would “possibly” commit right after. I will not name these players but it is not hard to figure out which 2 players they are as I mentioned both of them in the past. They currently do not have a firm offer right now to commit. Neither did Tyrese Samuel or Jalen Mccreary when both wanted to go to Pitt. Those players were told to wait and they went elsewhere. Pitt targeted Coulibaly and Champagnie over both of them. Coulibaly very clearly outshined 4 star Tyrese Samuel at Fiba World Cup U19 and proved who the better player was on the floor.
Puff Johnson has a decision to make. Because North Carolina and Arizona are starting to fill up rosters and I fully expect Pitt to start filling up its roster with some of their major targets. I think Johnson is down to 3 maybe 4 schools. But he will explore other options if those schools land other targets which is very possible. I still view Arizona as the team to beat. Johnson has now been to Pitt twice recently.
Chances to get him- Above Average to possibly good
Elijah Taylor will officially be visiting Pitt and Notre Dame in the very near future out of his final 6 and he has become a priority recruit. Its not a secret academics are huge to him just like Timberlake. My understanding is Notre Dame is the “very small favorite” and 2 people close to him are both pushing the 2 ACC schools above the others. This is another fast-rising player and should be considered one of our “high end” targets. Taylor is also high on Florida and made a very strong case this summer to enter the National Top 100.
Chances to get him-Good to Very Good
Andre Curbelo- Pitt has been lurking around Curbelo for some time along with Illinois, St. Johns, Kansas, Miami, Louisville and a few others. I know for a fact Illinois is in very good position because of Oliver Antigua.
Chances to get him- unknown, but my guess is low to average at best
Josh Hall- A fast rising player that is pushing to get into a 5 star. Hall is visiting Louisville soon and from what I understand, Pitt is still in the heavy mix to get an official visit from him when he names his top 5. Capel has been on Hall for a very long time before his stock started to rise fast and Pitt and Capel were one of the earliest schools on him when his early list consisted of Pitt and a bunch of midmajors. Pitt, Miami, Louisville, and Florida were 4 schools said by Hall himself as 4 of the schools recruiting him the hardest this week. Hall has never mentioned actual leaders.
Chances to get him- unknown, but we 100% want him and would take him
These are only some of Pitt's top targets
Its almost hard to hold in the excitement with the games starting soon in Italy and Pitt being on the verge of some major commits in 2020. I would also keep an eye on the Pitt-Virginia football game, as there is going to be a ton of talent at Pitt that day for the 2020 and 2021 recruiting classes. Day by day the force of Jeff Capel is making Pitt stronger and better.
