By Chris Dokish

Pitt basketball made a huge statement today with the verbal commitment of 6’8” power forward DANTE TAYLOR. Taylor, of National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, MD, is generally considered one of the top 20 prospects in the nation, and is considered a potential star in college. 

Taylor, whose dominating summer AAU season got the attention of Memphis, UConn, Syracuse and Kansas, among many others, has been targeted by Pitt associate head coach Tom Herrion since last year. Herrion has had the full court press on Taylor ever since, and that made an impression on the youngster, who cites Pitt’s loyalty as one of the main reasons that he’s choosing to be a Panther. 

All the recent success of Pitt basketball has been offset somewhat by criticism that the Pitt staff lacks the ability to reel in superstar prospects, but landing a player of Taylor’s caliber should stem that criticism.

In the Howland/Dixon era, Pitt has landed three top 50 prospects. This is now the second year in the past three that the Pitt staff has nabbed a top 50 prospect. The last such target to commit to the Panthers was DeJuan Blair, the Big East co-Freshman of the Year this past season. Chris Taft is the other Top 50.

The Panthers are also trying to nab another top 50 prospect this season in 6’8” forward THOMAS ROBINSON, who like Taylor has had a superb summer season.