Pitt Basketball Recruits: The Class of 2020

The Pitt Basketball Program has been on the rise in recent years and the 2020 recruiting class looks like it could continue that trend. Here’s a look at the top recruits in the class.

2020 class:

The 2020 class is currently being recruited by the Pitt Basketball Coaching Staff This class features a number of talented players who have the potential to make an immediate impact on the program.

5-star recruits:

The Pitt Basketball Program has landed two five-star recruits in the class of 2020. Josh Newkirk is a 6-foot-1 point guard from Raleigh, North Carolina He is considered one of the top 10 point guards in the country. Newkirk chose Pitt over offers from Duke, UNC, and Kentucky.

Dennis Smith Jr. is a 6-foot-3 guard from Fayetteville, North Carolina He is considered one of the top 20 players in the country. Smith Jr. committed to Pitt over offers from UNC, N.C. State, and Syracuse.

4-star recruits:

The University of Pittsburgh’s basketball team has landed four-star recruits in the class of 2020.

Point guard Xavier Johnson and shooting guard Jared Wilson-Frame are the top two recruits in the class. Johnson, who is from Seattle, is ranked as the No. 36 point guard in the country by ESPN. Wilson-Frame, from Philadelphia, is ranked as the No. 59 shooting guard by ESPN.

Both Johnson and Wilson-Frame had offers from a number of schools, but they ultimately chose to play for Pitt. They join a Pitt team that finished last season with a 21-13 record and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament

3-star recruits:

The Pitt Basketball team has just landed three commitments from 3-star recruits in the class of 2020. First is 6’3” Donyae Baylor-Carter, a guard from Washington, D.C. who had offers from several schools including Iowa State and Seton Hall Second is 6’7” Jamarius Burton, a forward from Birmingham, Alabama who had offers from Missouri and Oklahoma State Lastly is 6’9” John Hugley, a center from Columbus, Ohio who held offers from Bowling Green and Kent State

2-star recruits:

Pitt Basketball has landed two commits in the 2020 class so far, both of them 2-star recruits according to 247Sports Composite: Micaiah Henry and Karim Coulibaly.

Henry is a 6-foot-9, 200-pound Power Forward from Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia. He also had offers from Oklahoma State St. John’s, and Temple, among others.

Coulibaly is a 6-foot-10, 195-pound center from Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut. He also held offers from Boston College DePaul, Florida State and Rutgers.

1-star recruits:

Pitt has two 1-star recruits in the class of 2020.
4-star recruit, Jalen Duren, is the only player in the class with a rating over 80. The 6-foot-10 center from Philadelphia is ranked No. 19 nationally by ESPN and is considered a top-40 player by most major recruiting services.

Unranked recruits:

There are several unranked recruits in the class of 2020 that the Pitt Basketball Coaching Staff is keeping an eye on. Here are some of the names to watch out for:

Derek Culver – Culver is a 6’10” center from Youngstown, Ohio. He’s a big body with a lot of potential. He’s raw but has shown flashes of being a dominant force in the paint.

Justin Champagnie – Champagnie is a 6’6″ wing from New York City He’s a high-energy player with a lot of athleticism. He needs to work on his outside shot, but he has the potential to be a very good player at the college level.

John Hugley – Hugley is a 6’8″ power forward from Akron, Ohio. He’s another big body with a lot of potential. He’s very raw offensively, but he has the size and strength to be a force on the defensive end of the court.

JUCO recruits:

The Pitt Basketball Program has been busy on the recruiting trail lately, and they’ve got a couple of new additions to the 2020 class.

The first is JUCO transfer Joshua Hall, who comes to Pitt from Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois. Hall is a 6-foot-4 guard who averaged 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists per game last season. He shot 46 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range

The second recruit is 6-foot-7 forward Jaison Williams, who comes to Pitt from Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. Williams averaged 11 points and five rebounds per game last season while shooting 47 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range.

International recruits:

Pitt’s basketball team is on the rise, and the Panthers’ coaching staff is looking to add more talent to the roster. The team’s 2020 Recruiting Class features a number of international recruits who are sure to make an impact on the court.

Pitt has landed commitments from five-star center Mouhamed Coulibaly and four-star guard Justin Champagnie both of whom hail from Africa. Coulibaly, who is originally from Senegal, is considered one of the best big men in the class of 2020. The 6-foot-10 center will give Pitt a much-needed boost in the frontcourt. Champagnie, meanwhile, is a native of the Congo and is ranked as one of the best shooters in his class. The 6-foot-6 guard will provide instant offense for the Panthers.

In addition to Coulibaly and Champagnie, Pitt has also received commitments from four-star forward Gerald Drumgoole Jr. and three-star guard Femi Odukale, both of whom are from Australia. Drumgoole is a versatile forward who can score inside and out. Odukale is a 6-foot-5 guard with a deadly outside shot. Both players will be key contributors for Pitt next season.

The Panthers’ recruiting class also includes two Americans: four-star point guard Xavier Johnson and three-star wing Jared Wilson-Frame. Johnson is one of the top point guards in the country and should be an immediate starter for Pitt next season. Wilson-Frame is a 6-foot-7 wing who can play both inside and out. He provides depth and versatility for the Panthers.

With its strong 2020 recruiting class Pitt looks poised to make noise on the court next season.

Transfers:

The 2020 class is highlighted by three Division I transfers, two of whom will have to sit out the 2020-21 season due to NCAA transfer rules. PG Gerald Drumgoole (Butler) and SF Noah Collier (Wake Forest) will sit out and have three years of eligibility beginning in 2021-22. C Niko Hester (UCF) will be eligible immediately as he is transferring from a non-power conference school.