Pitt Pursuing Elite 2018 PG

Pitt basketball coach Kevin Stallings and his staff are making one thing pretty clear: they will recruit the best players from all over the country.  Pitt will not be afraid to mix it up with the very best names in basketball for elite talent.

The latest example of that is 2018 PG Jahvon Quinerly (6-0, 155) from Hudson Catholic HS in Hackensack, New Jersey.  Quinerly is ranked by Rivals as one of the Top 35 players in the country. Last season for Hudson Catholic, he averaged 17 PPG, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.

The elite point guard tells me that he already has offers from Virginia, Villanova, UConn, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Rutgers, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Penn State and getting interest from North Carolina, Arizona, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and Wichita State.

Photo courtesy of Jahvon Quinerly

Quinerly has earned the reputation as a big-time scorer who can also really handle the basketball. Ironically,  Quinerly’s relationship with Pitt began with another former great point guard.

“Pitt began recruiting me last summer, Coach Brandin Knight took the time to come see me at my school and we had a nice little conversation. He told me he loved my game and to keep working and that Pitt would be recruiting me going forward. I felt very comfortable talking with him and he told me I could have a bright future if I don’t get complacent, I enjoyed our conversation”, said Quinerly.

Knight is no longer with Pitt, but Stallings and company have obviously continued pursuing him and have had many talks with his head coaches in high school and AAU ball.

Photo courtesy of Jahvon Quinerly

Quinerly is doing his homework on Pitt but did tell me one big thing that he knows about the basketball team.

“I went to school with Pitt forward Michael Young and we’re pretty close.  We went to Benedict HS together. We talked recently and he told me about the new coaching staff and basketball facility”, said Quinerly.

“I’ve never been to Pittsburgh but I’d definitely like to visit soon.”

I asked him what he considers to be the biggest strength of his game.

Photo courtesy of Jahvon Quinerly

“My biggest strength would be my basketball IQ and my offensive game. I can also run a team and get everyone involved but still get mine at the same time.”

“Considering my ranking and skill level, wherever I decide to go, I honestly will like the pressure that comes with all of that.  I perform pretty well under pressure and by the time I get to the next level, I’ll be even more prepared”, said Quinerly.

Quinerly says that while things could change, he’s got some time before he will make a decision on college.

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