Pitt’s 2017 basketball recruiting class will truly be a foundational one for head coach Kevin Stallings. And one of the more intriguing targets on the Panthers radar is 6-foot-6 inch shooting guard Christian David from Vermont Academy. David, originally, from Milton, ON, is currently ranked the 2nd best player in Canada by North Pole Hoops (NPH), which is the country’s foremost youth basketball organization.
David averaged 13 ppg and 6 rpg for his Vermont Academy team that would go on to win the NEPSAC AA Championship for the first time in school history.
Elias Sbiet, NPH national scout and director of recruiting, was once asked to evaluate David and he stated, “He’s so well-rounded. He’s the full package. His basketball IQ is exceptional and he’s got multiple skill sets at different positions.”
David recently announced that he’s narrowed his choices down to Pitt, Butler, Oregon, Creighton and Miami (FL). Although one major recruiting organization has him as a “lock” to Butler University, the Panthers will have every opportunity to win him over during his September 3rd official visit.
I spoke with Vermont Academy head coach Alex Popp about David and he stated, “He’s a complete player on the offensive end. He does it all. Off the court, he’s a simpleton. It’s all basketball and books for Christian. He has zero distractions.”
“Pitt’s Tom Richardson is leading the charge with his recruiting. I think Pitt has a real chance here.”
Coach Stallings’ system is one that places few constraints on his skill players and allows them to make plays. Christian is the type of player that could thrive in a system like that.
Harry G. Psaros can be found on twitter at @PittGuru
// Header image: The Petersen Events Center by Flickr user sabreguy29 | CC BY 2.0
