Winston eliminates Pitt from his list..

[thebadby2]

Cassius Winston down to 4 schools and Pitt isn't one of them. This is no surprise, it has been a Michigan MSU race from Day 1. Pitt is a long way from ever being able to pluck an elite player from the state of Michigan:

Winston, one of the top point guards in the 2016 class, is down to Harvard, Michigan State, Michigan and Stanford, a source told Scout. He has official visits set up for Harvard (Sept. 6, Michigan State (13th) and Michigan (Sept. 20th). He's also scheduled to see Stanford in mid-August.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

I know there's that Pitt needs new coaches ( hc and assistant ) contingent out there ready to bitch about losing out on these high profile players ( Winston & Rowan ) ,but being realistic a kid can pick between Harvard ,Stanford and his two high profile in state schools and Pitt and other forces are at work in Rowan's case. I'd like to see Pitt stop wasting their time and resources on long shots and move down the food chain and go after the the 50-150 kids.

 

[Zaratoughda]

Yeah, I don't see the Dukies, UNC, or Arizona, or a lot of the other high profiles in on this one. The kid must have very high SATs and that is the only reason Harvard and Stanford are considered. Otherwise, just the two high profile in-state schools.

 

[thebadby2]

Yeah, I don't see the Dukies, UNC, or Arizona, or a lot of the other high profiles in on this one. The kid must have very high SATs and that is the only reason Harvard and Stanford are considered. Otherwise, just the two high profile in-state schools.

He's a consensus national top 30 player that nearly every school in the country has offered-but it has always been a 2 horse race with Izzo being the heavy favorite to land him. He is an excellent student from a very strong academic high school but he will not be playing Ivy League basketball.

 

[thebadby2]

I know there's that Pitt needs new coaches ( hc and assistant ) contingent out there ready to bitch about losing out on these high profile players ( Winston & Rowan ) ,but being realistic a kid can pick between Harvard ,Stanford and his two high profile in state schools and Pitt and other forces are at work in Rowan's case. I'd like to see Pitt stop wasting their time and resources on long shots and move down the food chain and go after the the 50-150 kids.

Agree that chasing kids like Winston or Miles Bridges is pissing in the wind for Pitt. However, with regard to your statement about the 50-150 kids. keep in mind we've been missing out on most of those that we've targeted lately as well. I'm not a fire Dixon guy by any means but he does need to come up with a cohesive recruiting strategy and work his ass off to execute it. We lack players, no debate about that. It's a fact.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Cassius Winston down to 4 schools and Pitt isn't one of them. This is no surprise, it has been a Michigan MSU race from Day 1. Pitt is a long way from ever being able to pluck an elite player from the state of Michigan:

Winston, one of the top point guards in the 2016 class, is down to Harvard, Michigan State, Michigan and Stanford, a source told Scout. He has official visits set up for Harvard (Sept. 6, Michigan State (13th) and Michigan (Sept. 20th). He's also scheduled to see Stanford in mid-August.

Pitt is a long way from plucking an elite player from anywhere.

 

[pittizit]

Excuses...excuses...excuses...

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Pitt is a long way from plucking an elite player from anywhere.

Why is that?

 

[Fsgolfdr]

By showing a recuirt in the 50-150 range that he's your priority and not a fallback insurance policy can't do anything but help. Knowing that they striked out on everybody they really wanted doesn't really help when your other schools priority unless Pitt is your dream team. Can't you hear the recuirting pitch they want you now that their top five guys turned them down we've always wanted......

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Why is that?

Clearly, Bill Barton.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Clearly, Bill Barton.

Agree.

 

[Jeffburgh]

I am not writing him off, but this was my thing with Smoke.

They are going to have a hard time even getting the 50-150 kids from the region, much less top kids.

It just is like a high fast ball hitter poking at breaking pitches ... Not in their wheelhouse.

Should have gotten another tough northeast recruiter.

Taken advantage of the break up of the BE by trying to get the top kids they always were bridesmaids to UConn an Nova with, and if not get the tough kids they built the program with.

I don't care how they do it - JD, BK and Smoke need to get a class of four Manigault type kids in this class ...

 

[Zaratoughda]

I am not writing him off, but this was my thing with Smoke.

They are going to have a hard time even getting the 50-150 kids from the region, much less top kids.

It just is like a high fast ball hitter poking at breaking pitches ... Not in their wheelhouse.

Should have gotten another tough northeast recruiter.

Taken advantage of the break up of the BE by trying to get the top kids they always were bridesmaids to UConn an Nova with, and if not get the tough kids they built the program with.

I don't care how they do it - JD, BK and Smoke need to get a class of four Manigault type kids in this class ...

Jeffburgh... I agree but what I would want to say... is they did a great thing in bringing in Ontario Lett. IMO it is really important to have someone to coach the bigs and Ontario should be a perfect choice. In time, I would like to see Ontario progress to a full assistant coach.

 

[Jeffburgh]

Jeffburgh... I agree but what I would want to say... is they did a great thing in bringing in Ontario Lett. IMO it is really important to have someone to coach the bigs and Ontario should be a perfect choice. In time, I would like to see Ontario progress to a full assistant coach.

I like this move, too ... Might be a real asset over time. But, in the here and now, all the eggs are in the BK/Smoke basket.

 

[DT_PITT]

Cassius Winston down to 4 schools and Pitt isn't one of them. This is no surprise, it has been a Michigan MSU race from Day 1. Pitt is a long way from ever being able to pluck an elite player from the state of Michigan:

Winston, one of the top point guards in the 2016 class, is down to Harvard, Michigan State, Michigan and Stanford, a source told Scout. He has official visits set up for Harvard (Sept. 6, Michigan State (13th) and Michigan (Sept. 20th). He's also scheduled to see Stanford in mid-August.

New info on Winston. I agree that Pitt is still a long way from being able to pluck away Michigan player, and this is almost certainly Michigan/MSU battle. But we aren't out of it yet either.


Josh Verlin‏@jmverlin 46m46 minutes ago
The Family 2016 PG Cassius Winston tells me he currently plans on taking his five officials to Michigan, MSU, Harvard, Stanford, Pitt.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Obviously the kid must be a pretty good student also. I like those kind of kids, especially at a leadership position like a PG or QB. They seem to do well and have a lot of intangibles on top of physical abilities

 

[thebadby2]

Obviously the kid must be a pretty good student also. I like those kind of kids, especially at a leadership position like a PG or QB. They seem to do well and have a lot of intangibles on top of physical abilities

He is a good student, goes to an expensive, top notch all-boys Jesuit high school.

Unfortunately, barring a major change in circumstances. he will almost certainly be matriculating at Michigan State. Tom Izzo has personally recruited him for years-not assistants but Izzo himself goes to a ton of Winston's games, and MSU needs a PG in the 2016 class.