While the 2012-13 season is already off to a bang for the Pitt Panthers basketball team, head coach Jamie Dixon has been busy looking towards the future as well.
Dixon signed a pair of student-athletes during the early signing period- guard Josh Newkirk and forward Michael Young.
Newkirk stands 6’1″ and is considered by many to be the best high school point guard in North Carolina. He’s quick and explosive and can play both guard spots. He averaged 15.2 points per game as a junior last season, while leading Word of God Christian Academy to an 18-6 record.
Other than Newkirk adding another tremendous athlete to the Pitt backcourt, his signing is big for another reason. With Pitt heading to the ACC next season, he is the Panthers first basketball signee from the Atlantic Coast Conference region.
As for Young, the 6’8″ forward is a product of St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey, but he is a McKeesport native.
Young is a consensus Top 100 player in the national recruiting rankings and was an All-Hudson County First Team selection as a junior after averaging 15.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, while leading Hudson Catholic High School to a 25-3 record last season. While doing so, Young had double-doubles in 23 of his 28 games.
He played his freshman season at Shadyside Academy in Pittsburgh before transferring to St. Benedict’s Prep for his sophomore season. He played at Hudson Catholic as a junior and has transferred back to St. Benedict’s as a senior.
The early signing period runs from November 14-21.
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