NCAA Basketball Recruiting: 10 takeaways from 2023 early signing period

2. Pittsburgh brings in a top-25 class despite hot seat for Capel

Head coach Jeff Capel has always been known as a good recruiter, landing a number of top-100 prospects in the past four years at Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, it hasn’t always worked out, including even getting some of those commitments onto campus and the court.

The 2022 class was a complete disaster. At one point, the Panthers landed a pair of top-40 guard prospects in Jalen Hood-Schifino and Judah Mintz. Yet both ended up de-committing when the team was struggling, ending up at Indiana and Syracuse respectfully. Pitt did get another top-40 guard in Dior Johnson who did stick with them but is currently suspended after an off-the-court arrest.

The good news is that the Panthers have had much better luck in the 2023 class. Longtime commit and three-star wing Marlon Barnes has stuck around, while the team also landed four-star shooting guard Carlton Carrington, as well as top-100 combo guard and playmaker, Jaland Lowe, beating out Memphis for his services.

Both guards will be needed right away for Pittsburgh a year from now. Without knowing the future for Johnson, the other four guards in the current rotation are all seniors with no eligibility left. So there’s a good chance that not only Lowe and Carrington get immediate minutes out of the gate, but they also may start as well.

Of course, that’ll depend on if Coach Capel survives the year. The team is 1-1 after losing by 25 points to rival West Virginia but has been without star big man John Hugley. If the team makes some improvements, he likely stays on but if not, these talented players could be free agents months from now.