Pitt weekend notebook: taking stock on the FB and BB fronts
It’s ACC Football Kickoff week, with commissioner Jim Phillips scheduled to speak on Tuesday morning and the Pitt Panthers scheduled to participate on Wednesday afternoon. It should be a busy week of football action.
But of course, there’s been action on the football and basketball fronts over the weekend.
Early Pitt basketball rotation?
With the commitment of Roman Siulepa, there’s a sense of renewed optimism among Panthers fans. He may not help the outside shooting shortage, but he’s a physical power forward with legitimate NBA potential – coming off a good showing in the FIBA U-19 World Cup.
Pitt has added from the transfer portal and prep ranks (grabbing three international players in the process), and I think we can start to project a potential lineup.
PG – Damarco Minor
SG – Brandin Cummings
SF – Barry Dunning Jr.
PF – Roman Siulepa
C – Dishon Jackson
Minor is the crafty veteran at the 1, possessing the blend of experience and playmaking that Jeff Capel likes at that 1 spot. Cummings is young and full of potential, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Nojus Indrusaitis makes a push for immediate playing time, but Cummings is my early leader for the 2 guard spot.
It’s the forwards who will likely make or break the Panthers this season, though.
Dunning was brought in to put the ball in the hoop. He’s a veteran with the experience and skill set to make a major difference. He arrived early, started to work immediately and will be looked upon as a leader.
Siulepa is the X-factor. He made waves during his recruiting process, impressing on the international stage while being talked about as one of the top Australian prospects in recent years. The rugby standout is a load when he puts his head down and gets to the hoop, but he’s raw. He’s also uber-athletic. His development this season will be very fun to watch.
Dishon Jackson is the big body on the interior that the Panthers have missed in recent seasons, and I’d imagine he will play in tandem with Cam Corhen.
Bench
Cam Corhen
Nojus Indrusaitis
Amdy Ndiaye
Papa Amadou Kante
Omari Witherspoon
Henry Lau
Kieran Mullen
Macari Moore
Pitt receives College Football Playoff odds
Circa Sports released its initial College Football Playoff odds for the ACC, and while not every conference team has received odds, Pitt is among the teams that have.
Pitt has +1,500 odds to make the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2025, tied for seventh in the ACC with Florida State (if Notre Dame is included).
Clemson paces the pack with -180 odds, and Notre Dame (-165) and Miami (+200) are right behind. Louisville and SMU have +350 odds and Georgia Tech has +725 odds.
Pitt will host Louisville, Notre Dame and Miami and travel to play Florida State and Georgia Tech this season. So, if we’re basing it off the CFP odds, the Panthers don’t have the easiest slate.
However, the Panthers do avoid Clemson and SMU, and the tough matchups against Notre Dame and Miami are at home. A strong start, with Duquesne, Central Michigan and West Virginia before starting conference play against Louisville on Sept. 27.
Jermal Jones Jr. picks up offer from the Panthers
Jermal Jones Jr. – a 6-foot-4 guard from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. – picked up an offer from Jeff Capel and the Pitt Panthers last week.
Jones is a rising recruit who holds offers from Cal, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida State, Mississippi State, Purdue, Washington and West Virginia.
He plays at IMG Academy, but he’s earned a lot of praise this summer from his work at the AAU level. He’s starred at the Jet Academy in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL).
The intrigue with Jones is apparent. He’s an athletic combo guard who’s able to play a two-way game with his shot creation and ability to defend multiple positions.
On3 rates him as the 70th-ranked recruit in the class (20th-ranked shooting guard and 11th-ranked recruit from Florida). He’s rapidly rising as one of the top recruits in the class.
Pitt is honing in on its top targets in the class of 2026, with official visits set up with Neiko Mundey and Ethan Mgbako already.
Trip to Kennywood
The annual Kennywood Day trip for the Panthers includes the highly anticipated splashdown from the linemen.
Pitt offers pair of 2027 recruits
Pitt extended offers to a pair of intriguing recruits from the class of 2027.
Tristan Dare is an interesting offer. Dare – a 6-foot-4, 280-pound interior offensive lineman from Southlake Carroll in Southlake, Tx. – attends
Dare holds offers from Arizona State, Baylor, Cal, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Stanford, Texas Tech, Utah, Wake Forest, Washington and Wisconsin.
Chukwuma Odoh doesn’t have a direct connection to the Panthers, but the fast-rising running back is from an area very familiar to the coaching staff.
Odoh – a 6-foot, 200-pound running back from Paramus Catholic in Edison, N.J. – holds offers from Auburn, Boston College, Duke, ECU, Pitt and Temple.
Pitt currently holds three commitments in the class of 2027, which includes Jacob Thomas, Tyler Reid and Colin Urrea.
