Pitt positioned within the high ten colleges for Class of 2024 defensive again Cornell Allen II on Friday, as he posted his listing on Twitter.

#AGTG
TOP 10🙏, THANK YOU LORD
My Recruitment Is Nonetheless 100% Open @WaliRainer @JoeMento @TimoneBrown @mdotbell_ @ballcoach98 pic.twitter.com/fO87nd5oDk

— Cornell Allen II “nel” (@Corn6ll) Could 19, 2023

Allen performs security for Trinity Episcopal College in Richmond, Va. the place he helped lead his group to an ideal 11-0 report and their second straight VISAA state title. He additionally performed a big function in a protection that solely allowed 96 whole factors the whole season, a median of 8.7 factors per recreation, together with two shutouts to finish 2022.

247Sports ranks him as a three-star, the No. 39 participant in Virginia and the No. 120 security in his class.

He positioned, together with Pitt, Huge 12 colleges in UCF, Cincinnati and Kansas, Indiana, Arizona State, Missouri, Charlotte, UConn and Jap Michigan in his high 10.

Pitt at present has 11 gamers dedicated of their Class of 2024, however none from Virginia. 4-star linebacker Jordan Bass, who performed for Phoebus Excessive College in Hampton, Va. and is highest rated participant in Pitt’s Class of 2023, is the one commit from Virginia.

There are two Panthers who hail from Virginia in junior operating again Rodney Hammond, who performed for Booker T. Washington Excessive College in Norfolk and redshirt first-year offensive lineman Isaiah Montgomery, who performed for Landstown Excessive College in Virginia Seashore.

Pitt has 12 gamers on the 2023 roster which are defensive backs who’ve eligibility for the 2024 season. This additionally consists of incoming first-year gamers in Cruce Brookins, who performed for native Metal Valley Excessive College in Munhall, Pa., in addition to Shadarian Harrison, who performed for Lakeland Excessive College in Lakeland, Fla.

PITTSBURGH – Joe Girard, Nijel Pack, Daquan Davis, and Bay Ndongo symbolize the firepower both becoming a member of, altering groups, or returning to the ACC for the 2023-24 season.

Syracuse Guard Joe Girard Takes Title Out of NBA Draft

A number of weeks after transferring to Clemson, former Syracuse guard Joe Girard III has taken his title out of consideration for the 2023 NBA Draft. Girard beforehand introduced that he’s heading south to Clemson for his last yr of eligibility however did make clear his stance on the draft. Girard is likely one of the greatest sharpshooters in basketball and shot 40% from the ground and 38% behind the arc final season. He knocked down triples at a 40% clip in his junior yr. Girard averaged a career-best 16.4 factors and hovered round three rebounds per look all 4 years.

Clemson, Let’s Do This Factor! #BeDifferent 💜🧡🐅 pic.twitter.com/mc9XHOvc51

— Joseph Girard III (@JG3_____) Might 7, 2023

Girard departed Syracuse after Jim Boeheim retired as head basketball coach following 47 seasons. Clemson missed the NCAA Match regardless of a 23-11 total and 14-6 convention file. He’s been a thorn within the facet of opposing ACC groups as a big scoring menace.

Class of 2024 Recruit Daquan Davis Choosing Between 4 Groups

One of many prime 150 gamers within the Class of 2024 may very well be becoming a member of the ACC. Daquan Davis will choose both Mississippi State, Maryland, Windfall, or Notre Dame. In keeping with Joe Tipton and On3, Davis is a three-star level guard from Washington, D.C., and the No. 123 total prospect. Micah Shrewsberry took over as head coach of the Combating Irish after guiding Penn State to the NCAA Match for the primary time since 2011.

2024 Prime-150 level guard Daquan Davis tells me he’s right down to 4 faculties.

He has scheduled three official visits and breaks down every program: https://t.co/CmOiOHqnjr pic.twitter.com/2cA4lsvJO6

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) Might 19, 2023

Ahead Baye Ndongo Commits to Georgia Tech

Former Rutgers recruit Baye Ndongo has dedicated to Georgia Tech. Ndongo instructed Tipton his determination to affix the Yellow Jackets. The Class of 2023 energy ahead ranks No. 120 total by Rivals.com. The 6-foot-8, three-star prospect from Putnam, Connecticut, additionally acquired curiosity from Nebraska, Colorado, and Arizona State.

Deliver your recreation, not your title. 😤 DJ Dormu to Baye Ndongo. @NYCITYFINEST was unstoppable this weekend at I.S.8 @IamDjdormu x @BayeAbdouNdong1 pic.twitter.com/oIQQUJGEvs

— RealScoutBasketball (@RealScoutBBall) Might 9, 2023

Nijel Pack Withdraws From NBA Draft, Again to Miami

A crucial member of Miami’s 2023 Last 4 workforce is returning to the Hurricanes. Nijel Pack has withdrawn his title from the NBA Draft and can return to Miami subsequent season. Pack began all 35 video games he appeared in for the ‘Canes and averaged 13.6 factors, 2.7 rebounds, and recorded 34 steals throughout the 2022-23 marketing campaign. Pack shot 40% from three as a junior after two seasons at Kansas State. A significant offensive power wherever he’s performed, Pack averaged 14.6 factors per recreation in his first three collegiate seasons.

Unfinished enterprise.

Nijel Pack is BACK.@NijelPack24 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WcasxdHJCi

— Canes Males’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) Might 19, 2023

Pitt acquired an enormous hometown switch in senior linebacker Todd Hill on Thursday to bolster the unit going into subsequent season.

Hill performed for Duquesne his first 4 seasons and had a stellar profession at native Metal Valley Excessive College in Munhall, Pa. He represents a constant development this offseason, and even years prior, of WPIAL gamers who begin their collegiate profession elsewhere and are available again to play at Pitt to complete out their collegiate profession.

Redshirt senior quarterback Phil Jurkovec, who starred for Pine-Richland in highschool after which performed for each Notre Dame and Boston Faculty in school, headlines the WPIAL gamers coming again in 2023, as he’s the beginning signal-caller for subsequent season.

Juniors in defensive again Donovan McMillon and operating again Derrick Davis Jr. had nice careers at Peters Township and Gateway, respectively, and likewise joined this offseason. McMillon performed for Florida and Davis performed for LSU as a defensive again initially, however transitioned to operating again the place he may even play for Pitt.

Pitt is establishing itself as a house for prime WPIAL gamers, albeit, not as soon as they begin their profession, however transferring again into this system afterward.

Pittsburgh Central Catholic linebacker John Petrishen is the primary participant to actually embody this development, as he spent 4 seasons with Penn State earlier than becoming a member of Pitt in 2019. Petrishen elevated his snap depend and improved upon his play over his three seasons at Pitt.

He would find yourself taking part in a big function for the 2021 ACC Championship staff, as he performed all 14 video games and began six at star linebacker. Petrishen had a team-high three interceptions together with defensive again Erick Hallett II, completed third with 74 tackles for the Panthers and earned Honorable Point out All-ACC honors.

Redshirt senior defensive again M.J. Devonshire is one other nice instance of a participant becoming a member of Pitt and enhancing throughout their time with this system. Devonshire starred for Aliquippa after which spent two seasons with Kentucky earlier than coming again in 2021.

Like Petrishen, he improved from taking part in as a reserve in 2021 to taking part in all 13 video games and beginning 9 of them at cornerback final season. Devonshire additionally served because the punt returner for Pitt in 2022, returning a punt for a landing within the win towards Rhode Island, whereas additionally main the ACC and ending No. 12 within the nation with a median of 9.7 yards per punt return. He completed final season with All-ACC Second Group honors as a return specialist and Honorable Point out All-ACC honors at cornerback.

The event of Petrishen and Devonshire ought to exhibit to potential WPIAL recruits which you could play for the “hometown” staff and see nice success. As an alternative of doing so later in your profession, why not simply be a part of early on?

Pitt nonetheless falls behind Penn State with regards to recruiting in Pennsylvania and even within the WPIAL. The Class of 2024 commitments in four-star Belle Vernon athlete Quinton Martin, the best rated participant within the state, and three-star linebacker Anthony Speca out of Pittsburgh Central Catholic present that continued dominance.

It additionally makes issues tough when huge time packages are available and put in nice recruiting efforts to deliver gamers from the vaulted WPIAL to their packages. McMillon and Davis each had huge time colleges provide them and it wasn’t shocking to see them attempt to succeed at huge time SEC packages.

For Pitt, preserving a technique of creating gamers long-term, significantly WPIAL gamers who want to rejuvenate their careers, is one which has introduced them success. Hill becoming a member of from Duquesne additionally presents a brand new profit for this system, as gamers which may not have made it onto the staff in highschool, now have the chance to succeed at a smaller faculty and be a part of Pitt sooner or later.

Head coach Pat Narduzzi and his workers have developed a proficient squad with gamers throughout the nation, main to 2 straight prime 25 finishes for the primary time in over 4 many years.

This system continues to enhance and for Pitt followers, they will solely hope to see extra Western Pa. gamers beginning out with this system, creating and main the staff to even better success sooner or later.

WPIAL Gamers on the 2023 Pitt Roster

12 months/Place/Identify/WPIAL Excessive College/Eligibility Remaining

Graduate linebacker Todd Hill-Metal Valley (Duquesne)-one yr

• Redshirt senior defensive again Dante Caputo-North Allegheny (Wisconsin)-one yr (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt senior defensive lineman Devin Danielson-Thomas Jefferson-one yr
• Redshirt senior defensive lineman David Inexperienced-Pittsburgh Central Catholic-one yr
• Redshirt senior quarterback Phil Jurkovec-Pine-Richland (Notre Dame/Boston Faculty)-one yr
• Redshirt senior offensive lineman Jake Kradel-Butler-one yr
• Redshirt senior offensive lineman Blake Zubovic-Belle Vernon-one yr
• Redshirt senior defensive again M.J. Devonshire-Aliquippa (Kentucky)-Two years
• Redshirt senior quarterback Eli Kosanovich-Aliquippa-Two Years (Stroll-On)
• Senior defensive lineman Dayon Hayes-Westinghouse (Metropolis League)-two years
• Redshirt junior offensive lineman Matt Altsman-Pittsburgh Central Catholic-three years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt junior punter Cam Guess-Belle Vernon-three years (Stroll-On)
• Junior defensive again Donovan McMillon-Peters Township (Florida)-two years
• Junior operating again Derrick Davis Jr.-Gateway (LSU)-two years
• Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Elliot Donald-Pittsburgh Central Catholic-three years
• Redshirt sophomore tight finish Trevor Faulkner-Avonworth (Air Pressure)-three years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Dorien Ford-Baldwin-three years
• Redshirt sophomore defensive again Stephon Corridor-Central Valley-three years
• Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman-Nakhi Johnson-West Mifflin-three years
• Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Matt Metrosky-Greensburg Central Catholic-three years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt first-year tight finish Josh Altsman-Pittsburgh Central Catholic-four years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt first-year Sean Fitzsimmons-Central Valley-four years
• Redshirt first-year linebacker Abe Ibrahim-Chartiers Valley-four years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt first-year extensive receiver Lorenzo Jenkins-Beaver Falls-four years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt first-year extensive receiver Caden Smith-Franklin Regional-four years (Stroll-On)
• First-year defensive again Cruce Brookins-Metal Valley-four years
• First-year linebacker Braylan Lovelace-Leechburg-four years
• First-year extensive receiver Devin Whitlock-Belle Vernon-four years (Stroll-On)
• First-year operating again Caleb Williams-Montour-four years (Stroll-On)