Jeff Capel and his staff had a productive zoom call with a player that would certainly fill their hole at the center position.
After making initial contact with him last week after entering the transfer portal, Pitt conducted a zoom call this afternoon with Lafayette 7-foot center Neal Quinn. Last season with Lafayette, Quinn was an All-Patriot selection as he averaged 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Following the call, Pittsburgh Sports Now spoke with Quinn, who appears to be very interested in what the Panthers staff is recruiting him on, which centers on teaming up in the front court with sophomore John Hugley.
“I thought it went really well. The strength and conditioning aspect looked fantastic,” said Quinn. “I thought the coaching staff’s vision of what they want from me was awesome. I like a couple of the players coming back. I just really like the vision that they presented for me. Coach Capel envisions me working with John, being the 4 and the 5. Me being able to catch it on the block, the elbow, he wants me to expand my game out to the three. Wants me to be a 7-foot playmaker and be someone that will make everyone’s life easier.”
“Coach Capel sounds like a very well-spoken guy. He really sounds like he knows what he’s talking about. He’s super excited to potentially have me and really wants to coach me. I definitely look forward to continuing to build the relationship with him and the staff. From what I saw on the zoom, him and the staff are great people.”
Fortunately, enough for Pitt, the call went well enough that it looks like Quinn will be in Pittsburgh soon for an official visit.
“I think that I’m going to come make a visit after the upcoming dead period, so that will probably be in like two weeks.”
Quinn tells Pittsburgh Sports Now that the schools recruiting him hardest right now are Pitt, Richmond, Penn State, Virginia Tech and Loyola Chicago.
The first I heard about portal transfer,my reaction was that it was a crazy idea. and the possible ruination of college basketball.I was wrong,as
It is the best thing that has happened to the
sport.and counteracts what is the worst change
and that is the trend of elite players leaving early Instead of starting over with freshmen and waiting 2 years for ,results,a school can achieve almost instant
credibility.Hopefully,that is Pitt’s future