Pitt is in the final five for five-star Canadian 2020 guard Karim Mane, he told 247 Sports on Friday, after taking a virtual visit of Pitt’s campus earlier in the week.
In addition to Pitt, Mane, a 6-foot-5 guard out of Vanier College in Montreal, is considering DePaul, Marquette, Michigan State and Memphis. He was able to take an official visit to Marquette before the coronavirus pandemic shut down in-person recruiting. He has taken virtual visits of Pitt, Michigan State and DePaul.
Mane is also considering going directly into the 2020 NBA Draft. As a 19-year-old high school student, he does not have to play a year of college basketball if he does not want to. The talented guard is seen as a low first-round or second-round player if he turns pro. He has until April 26 to decide whether or not he will stay in the NBA Draft pool.
Marquette and Michigan State have been touted as the most likely destinations for Mane, but his father, Moustapa Mane told Pittsburgh Sports Now this week that the family does not have a favorite.
DePaul has three open scholarships remaining in the Class of 2020. Marquette and Pitt have two open, even after the Golden Eagles landed Ohio State transfer D.J. Carton earlier this week, while Michigan State and Memphis have one remaining.
Pitt is also still pursuing Erie small forward Will Jeffress and potentially reclassifying Malian center Adama Sanogo for its class of 2020.
With Pitt’s last two scholarships, I would rather they land Erie small forward Will Jeffress and potentially reclassifying Malian center Adama Sanogo for its class of 2020 instead of Karim Mane simply because these two would be around longer to help continue to build the Pitt program to become a National power. A 5-Star one year player is not where the Pitt program is at the moment. We need talent that will stay to have as building blocks. #H2P.