Jamie Dixon and the Pitt basketball program now has a couple additional scholarships to hand out thanks to the transfer of Trey Zeigler and Steven Adams declaring for the NBA Draft.
Dixon took care of one of those free scholarships by signing Jamel Artis to a National Letter of Intent.
Artis is out of Baltimore, MD. and attended Notre Dame Prep, Mass. where he averaged 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game during the 2012-13 season.
At 6’7″, he is considered a combo forward and has been described as a tough, versatile player who can rebound and create matchup problems.
He’s a guy who can play both forward spots and has the ability to put the ball on the floor or bang down low. He’s a threat to score from the inside or outside.
The scouting report on the new Pitt Panther is as follows (per University of Pittsburgh press release):
His talent is limitless and his best attributes are his basketball IQ, ball handling ability, toughness and his ability to understand the game at a high level. When his motor is running high, he is a good rebounder who can make things happen off the dribble and can compete against bigger and more physical and athletic competition. On the offensive end, Artis can handle the ball, has size and floor vision and attacks the basket. Artis is a matchup problem on the offensive end of the court because he has the strength to overpower less physically mature wing forwards and the ability to step out and knock down jumpers. For his size, he can also handle the ball, get to the rim and make plays with his passing ability. Defensively, he anticipates passes in the passing lanes and competes hard on both ends of the floor. A fearless rebounder, Artis is a hard hat and lunch pail type of player.
Artis becomes the third player to commit to Pitt for the 2013-14 season.
He joins Josh Newkirk (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God Christian Academy) and Michael Young (McKeesport, Pa. /St. Benedict’s Prep, N.J.).
The spring signing period ends on April 24, so I would expect Dixon to attempt to add another player by then.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
