Pitt got its first commitment of the basketball recruiting class of 2019 on Monday, as Rochester, N.Y. wing Gerald Drumgoole announced his commitment to the Panthers on Twitter on Monday night.
Drumgoole is 6-foot-5, 195 pounds, and is a consensus four-star prospect. He’s rated as the No. 107 player in the country by 247 Sports composite ranking.
He made his official visit to Pitt over the weekend, and just one day after returning to Indianapolis, where he attends La Lumiere school, Drumgoole picked the Panthers over other finalists Minnesota and South Carolina.
“I knew it was the right place and I couldn’t pass up an opportunity like that one,” Drumgoole said to Pittsburgh Sports Now.
Drumgoole took a visit to Maryland in addition to Minnesota and South Carolina, but it was this weekends’ visit to Pitt that made the difference.
“I definitely loved the official visit,” Drumgoole said. “I loved how the coaches were family first and the coaches and entire team were already treating me like brothers. I went there and it definitely felt like home.”
He also had offers from Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland State, DePaul, George Mason, George Washington, Georgia, Hofstra, Maryland, UMass, Quinnipiac, St. Bonaventure and Vermont.
His commitment is a positive turn for Capel after months of seemingly coming close on a number of high-profile recruits, only to come up short in the end.
Pitt is expected to take at least five players in this recruiting class. Most of Pitt’s targets have been forwards, with Drumgoole representing one of the smaller players to receive a Pitt offer.
The Panthers will need to replace senior wing Jared Wilson-Frame, who is scheduled to graduate at the end of the 2018-19 season, and Drumgoole’s skillset seems to match that of Pitt’s best current outside shooter, and can also use his size and strength to get to the rim.
Drumgoole was a two-sport recruit coming out of La Lumiere. He is rated as a consensus three-star tight end prospect and held football offers from Buffalo, Maryland, Old Dominion, Temple and Toledo. He is expected to focus on basketball at Pitt.
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