https://archive.triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/dixons-departure-leaves-pitts-incoming-recruits-with-choice-to-make/
Dixon's departure leaves Pitt's incoming recruits with choice to make
Autumn Parry | The News & Advance (Lynchburg, Va.)
Virginia Episcopal's Justice Kithcart, a Pitt recruit, scores against Carlisle during a game earlier this season.
Virginia Episcopal point guard Justice Kithcart, considered Pitt's top recruit for next year and a potential starter as a freshman, had his heart set on playing for coach Jamie Dixon.
However, with Dixon's sudden departure for TCU, Kithcart is currently left without a coach.
What should Kithcart do?
Wait and see who the Panthers hire to replace Dixon or begin searching immediately for a new school?
Important decisions await all three of Pitt's 2016 recruits, but Kithcart's choice might be the most important one of all.
The Panthers are seeking a replacement for four-year starter James Robinson. Freshman Damon Wilson played sparingly this year, and junior Jonathan Milligan redshirted, creating an immediate opportunity for Kithcart next season.
“I would encourage Justice to stay at Pitt,” said Virginia Episcopal coach Curtis Staples, who played at Virginia. “He's going to play in the best conference (ACC). He's going to get the most publicity. There's no point trying to follow Dixon to TCU.”
Crisshawn Clark, a shooting guard from Canada College, a junior college in San Mateo, Calif., said he's waiting to see who replaces Dixon before making a decision.
“It bothered me. It was more like a surprise feeling,” said Clark, who has three years of eligibility remaining after redshirting this season because of a knee injury. “It bothered me because I expected to play for Coach Dixon.”
Clark wants the Panthers to hire longtime assistant Brandin Knight, a favorite among players on the current roster.
“I'm hoping that Brandin Knight gets the job,” said Clark, who said he chose Pitt over Oregon because it's closer to his native Ohio. “Honestly, I don't know other than him what I'm looking for.”
Pitt's third recruit, Corey Manigault, a power forward from Paul VI Catholic in Virginia, wasn't available for comment. Following the announcement of Dixon's departure from Pitt, Manigault wrote on his Twitter account: “Decisions ... Me and fam goin make the right choice.”
Staples said Kithcart is a star in the making and will be a major contributor, regardless of which school he attends.
“The kid is so good. He can really, really play. He's definitely going to play at the next level (pros),” Staples said.
“My biggest thing is taking care of Justice. He needs to stay where he is (at Pitt).”
John Harris is a Tribune-Review staff writer Reach him at jharris@tribweb.com or via Twitter @jharris_trib.
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