It was a tremendous day for Pittsburgh Sports Now on Tuesday. I was happy with the content produced, the site numbers were tremendous and some good news “behind-the-scenes” made it an A+ day! Let’s do it again!
**After a year off, the popular Pittsburgh Pro-Am Summer League basketball tournament is back. The tournament, which will have current and past members of Pitt, Duquesne, Robert Morris and Youngstown State compete in, will take place at Montour High School. Pitt coach Kevin Stallings is a big supporter of this league and a big reason why it returned. PSN’s Alan Saunders will be in Montour covering it tonight and will have stories over the next couple of days.
UPDATE (7:41 AM)-
**Although it’s a long-shot, Pitt is a finalist today for an elite player from Maryland, 4-star safety Deon Jones (Oxon Hill, Maryland). Jones is expected to announce his college decision today. The contenders are Maryland, Clemson, Florida, Pitt and Ohio State with Maryland being the favorite.
UPDATE (8:11 AM)-
**Here is a list of the teams in the Pittsburgh Pro-Am and some players on each team that might interest you
UPMC – Rozelle Nix (Pitt), Damon Wilson (Pitt), Mar’Qwell Jackson (Duquesne), Dylan Groff (Amherst/Shady Side Academy), Mike Sims (Edinboro/Central Valley)
South Hills Audi – Jordan Robinson (Duquesne), Tarin Smith (Duquesne), Bill Clark (Duquesne alum), Alan Heter (Point Park/Montour), Joey Mascaro (Case Western/Bethel Park)
CDW – Nakye Sanders (Duquesne), Mike Lewis (Duquesne), Nick Novak (Pitt-Johnstown/Franklin Regional), Anthony Dallier (Yale/North Allegheny), C.J. Rudisill (IUP/South Fayette)
Duca/Nepa Road Warriors – Sheldon Jeter (Pitt/Beaver Falls), Cam Johnson (Pitt/OLSH), Lance Jeter (Beaver Falls), Julian Batts (LIU/Jeannette), Jesse Reed (Kiski School)
Systems One – Jamel Artis (Pitt), Corey Manigault (Pitt), Spencer Littleson (Duquesne), Seth Rouse (RMU/Kiski School), Mike Lecak (Pitt alum), Elijah Minnie (Eastern Michigan/Lincoln Park), Nick Miller (Cal U./Western Beaver)
Shale Land Services– Kale Abrahamson (Duquesne), Rene Castro (Duquesne), Aaron Tate (Robert Morris), Henry Pwono (North Catholic), Dustin Sleeva (Shippensburg/Montour), Antonio Kellum (Shippensburg/Lincoln Park)
HBS – Isaiah Still (Robert Morris), Darius Lewis (Duquesne), Nate Johnson (Robert Morris), Emile Blackman (Duquesne), Jakim Donaldson (Oliver), Mike Lamberti (South Fayette),
PBC – Eric James (Duquesne), Isiaha Mike (Duquesne), Ryan Luther (Pitt/Hampton), Justice Kithcart (Pitt), Chevy Troutman (Pitt alum), Collin Luther (Elon/Hampton)
**UPDATE (2:27 PM) from Alan Saunders-
I’ve just learned Pitt power forward Michael Young and point guard Jonathan Milligan will be playing in the PBC Pro-Am. They will be added to the CDW roster. No word on any other changes at this time.
**UPDATE (2:42 PM) from Alan Saunders-
Robert Morris shooting guard Matty McConnell (Chartiers Valley) won’t be playing. He’s still rehabbing from off-season surgery on his left (non-shooting) shoulder.
**UPDATE (4:16 PM)-
Big Pitt football news. Last week, we were the first to report news concerning Pitt and talented 4-star DE TyJuan Garbutt. Garbutt says that he’s no longer committed to Virginia Tech and his recruitment is open. However, he did say that Virginia Tech is still his leader. As we told you a couple weeks ago, Garbutt plans on visiting Pitt for the Penn State game.
**UPDATE (5:10)-
Florida 3-star DE Noah Curtis tells me that he plans on making his college decision by the end of the month. The West Palm Beach native holds offers from Pitt, Arkansas, Maryland, Iowa State, North Carolina, NC State, Minnesota, South Florida and West Virginia. Curtis earlier this week told me that he plans on visiting Pitt
**UPDATE (7:27 PM)-
According to Jerry DiPaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review tweeted that former Pitt wide receiver Jaquaun Davidson, a 2014 graduate of Elizabeth Forward, is transferring to Duquesne.
**UPDATE (7:37 PM)-
This doesn’t come as a surprise but 4-star safety Deon Jones announced tonight that he’s staying home and will commit to Maryland.
**UPDATE (9:07 PM)-
Kevin Stallings will be recruiting against the coach that he replaced for a top prospect. Tonight, Jamie Dixon and TCU have offered 7-0 center Victor Uyaelunmo, who visited Pittsburgh last week.