On Saturday, Pitt hosted Trey Autry, a class of 2023 combo guard, on an unofficial visit along with some of his teammates.
A Syracuse native, Autry stands at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, and plays both the one and the two. He plays his high school ball for Western Reserve Academy, while also playing for City Rocks in the Nike EYBL.
“I can really shoot the ball,” Autry told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “I think that is probably my best strength. I am pretty athletic, so I can keep the defender guessing. I also think I am a pretty good passer, playmaker, and I am becoming a better defender. I have a pretty long wing span so I get a lot of deflections, and I try to guard the best player on the other team.. I have come a long way with my defense”
Autry is the son of Syracuse basketball associate head coach Adrian Autry, and has grown up in locker rooms, division one arenas, and on the road throughout his entire childhood. Now, as he is entering his junior year in high school, Autry is getting his own chance to take a look around and see where he would like to make his home on the collegiate level.
“He definitely taught me a lot,” said Autry. “Being able to have a dad coaching kind of puts you a step ahead in terms of knowing the game. You’re at all of the games, in the locker room listening to him talking, so I am definitely very blessed to have it because I feel like the tools that he has given me have put me a step ahead of some other players out there.”
The talented junior visited Pitt with a few of his teammates as well as one of his coaches, and had a great time checking out the campus, going to the Pitt football game against UMass, watching basketball practice, and then walking around the campus with his teammates.
“It was really, really cool,” he added. “I really enjoyed all the players, coaching staff, they were all very nice. The school is great, I love the campus. It kind of feels like you’re in New York City or something, you know? Pittsburgh is a really nice city. Facilities are great, atmosphere is really nice. I had a really fun time.”
Autry holds offers from UMBC, UMass, Towson, Albany, Siena, and Florida International, and says a few other schools showed interest starting the first day that coaches could contact players in his class. He is also planning to visit Albany on October 2-3.
“I know the level of play in the ACC is really good,” he said about potentially playing in the same conference that his father coaches in. “I just want to see myself wherever I fit in perfectly. No matter what level it is, I just want to come in and contribute. It would be great [to play in the ACC], but I just want to play somewhere that would be a really great fit for me.”
Maybe Capel can actually sign this kid in the future (assuming Capel is still around in 2 years). It doesn’t appear that he’s all that good considering the schools that have already offered. . . Pitt might be his best choice.
Why Capel is a coach in the ACC and you are not. In evaluating talent you have to be able see what a sophomore in high school can become in two years. You’ve never seen this kid play and you have an opinion?! Capel is going to watch the top AAU and high school teams play multiple times. He may have one player he’s interested in, but he sees and evaluates all the players. He builds relationships and evaluates character, knowledge, coachability, etc. Trust the system.
Is Syracuse recruiting him? Cant imagine him not joining his Dad, provided he’s skilled enough to play in the ACC- his offer list is underwhelming at the moment.
I was never really a big basketball fan but I remember seeing this kids Dad play for Syracuse back in the day. His Dad’s nickname is Red. Good player.