There’s a legit shot that Pittsburgh Basketball could land class of 2020 forward Noah Collier. Here’s why he’s an important piece for the program.
Head coach Jeff Capel and Pittsburgh Basketball has been out on the trail and making some noise in regards to latest recruiting developments. The team has been linked to a number of class of 2020 prospects in recent weeks, including a few ranked in the top 50 overall. Several have named the Panthers among their final list of teams, with three-star Noah Collier the latest.
Ranked in the top-200 overall according to 247sportsComposite but as high as in the top-100 in other recruiting sites, Collier is a 6’7 power forward who can play either with his back to the basket or out on the perimeter. He’s a very talented offensive player who can score in a variety of ways and can also defend at a high level. He may not be the greatest athlete in the world compared to the typical five-star recruit but is fundamentally sound all-around.
As mentioned previously, the Norristown, Pennsylvania native has listed Pittsburgh Basketball as one of their three final teams, along with Clemson and Cal. Both the Bears and the Panthers are rebuilding after bottom-tier finishes in their respective conferences, while the Tigers are expected to take a step back after losing most of their top contributors from last season. Even as a three-star prospect, all three programs represent opportunities at immediate playing time for Collier. He has scheduled visits with all three in the coming weeks, with a decision possibly coming before the start of the 2019-20 season.
Pittsburgh has been slowly rebuilding their talent pool with Coach Capel’s last recruiting classes and is on the move for some top-tier class of 2020 prospects. They include five-star recruit Earl Timberlake, along with fellow top-100 players Posh Alexander, Cliff Omoruyi and Donovan ‘Puff’ Johnson. There’s a possibility the Panthers could land any of them but the odds aren’t great as expected.
That why getting Collier is crucial for the program. They’re the “hometown” option for the recruit and he raves about Coach Capel. There’s also a serious need for frontcourt depth next year with just Terrell Brown around along with incoming freshmen Karim Coulibaly and Justin Champagnie. These three bigs are good defenders and rebounders but don’t have great offensive skills. Adding Collier would help balance that off and give Capel someone capable of scoring down low to help out the guards. He also would provide nice depth for a team that has been sorely lacking with in the last few years.
Pittsburgh is hoping that an improved team season will lure more talented players in their quest to move up the ACC ladder. However, they’ll have to settle for three-star recruits who may end up being diamonds in the rough. If they can get Collier’s commitment, it’ll be a nice recruiting win for the Panthers before the season starts on the court.