Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 67
Pitt women add 2-time West Virginia Player of the Year Marley Washenitz to roster
Pitt women’s basketball coach Lance White added a fifth new face to the roster Friday when two-time West Virginia Player of the Year Marley Washenitz signed a national letter of intent. Washenitz, a 5-foot-10 guard, played at Fairmont High School, scoring more than 2,000 points in four years and earning...
Pat Narduzzi: Kedon Slovis transferred to Pitt ‘the real way, the right way’
Pat Narduzzi didn’t mention the big news — Jordan Addison entering his name in the NCAA transfer portal – while speaking this week at the Peach Bowl Challenge, a charity golf event outside Atlanta. But when he was asked about Kedon Slovis, Narduzzi wasn’t shy about discussing how his transfer...
Pirates look opportunity in the eye, starting with 4 games against struggling Reds
For those concerned the Pittsburgh Pirates have made no progress from last season, know this: Despite a 10-14 record (two games short of last season’s 12-12 after 24 games), there is opportunity looming that could change the team’s outlook. After Thursday’s off day — a welcome respite after playing 17...
Pitt lands twin Canary Islands big men Guillermo, Jorge Diaz Graham
When Pitt assistant coach Tim O’Toole first saw the Diaz Graham twins — Guillermo and Jorge — play basketball at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., he immediately knew how he wanted to recruit them. “He didn’t blink,” IMG post-grad coach Jimmy Carr said. “It wasn’t, ‘Which one should I take?...
Pirates recover in second game to earn split of doubleheader with Tigers
The gloves weren’t steady, and the bats provided only two hits with runners in scoring position over 18 innings. But Ben Gamel, Jose Quintana and Daniel Vogelbach performed well when it mattered most and Dillon Peters showed some good can surface, even in defeat. The result Wednesday for the Pittsburgh...
Pitt women’s basketball adds Big Ten transfers Channise Lewis, Gabby Hutcherson
While rebuilding his roster after winning only two of 18 ACC games in 2021-22, Pitt women’s basketball coach Lance White has added two transfers from Big Ten programs in the past two days. Maryland transfer guard Channise Lewis is the fourth member of Pitt’s ‘22 signing class. Lewis, who has...
Pirates rained out in Detroit; doubleheader scheduled for Wednesday
Inclement weather in Detroit on Tuesday led to the postponement of the start of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ two-game series with the Tigers at Comerica Park. The game will be made up as part of a continuous doubleheader, starting at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday. The Pirates’ previously scheduled starting pitchers for Tuesday...
Analysis: With Jordan Addison in the transfer portal, can Pitt still be special?
Jordan Addison’s name appeared in the NCAA transfer portal Tuesday, which likely will end the Pitt career of one of the finest pass catchers in school history — after only two seasons. He has not announced his next school, but Pitt “remains a very viable option,” according to ESPN’s Pete...
Recovered from pneumonia, Pirates relief pitcher Anthony Banda rejoins roster in Detroit
The Pittsburgh Pirates will take an eight-man bullpen into Detroit on Tuesday for the start of a two-game series against the Tigers. When the Pirates activated left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda from the 10-day injured list (pneumonia) Tuesday, Aaron Fletcher — also a lefty — was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis. Banda...
Duquesne adds 9th new face, former Miami (Ohio) guard Dae Dae Grant
Duquesne men’s basketball coach Keith Dambrot continues to add to his roster, securing a verbal commitment Monday from Dae Dae Grant, a 6-foot-2 guard who led Miami (Ohio) in scoring last season. Grant is the ninth player to join the Dukes this offseason. Grant scored 775 points last season, 10th...
Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot reunites with former player Dru Joyce on Dukes staff
When he was 14 years old, Dru Joyce III threw in seven 3-pointers in a state championship game in Ohio. Then, in college, he helped then-Akron coach Keith Dambrot win 26 games during the 2006-07 season. His life’s journey took him to Europe where he played professionally for 12 seasons...
Duquesne wide receiver Cyrus Holder signs with Bears
Duquesne wide receiver Cyrus Holder, who was a two-time All-Northeast Conference selection after transferring from Saint Francis (Pa.), has signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears. Holder (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) played three seasons for Saint Francis and two with Duquesne. He totaled 122 receptions for 2,270 yards and...
Pitt tight end Lucas Krull signs with Saints
Lucas Krull entered Pitt’s Pro Day with something to prove. He did that, but the most important proving ground for Pitt’s former tight end will be in New Orleans. The former Pitt tight end signed a free-agent contract with the Saints after the draft. While scouts from 31 NFL teams...
Pitt long snapper Cal Adomitis signs with Bengals
Former Pitt long snapper Cal Adomitis was recognized as college football’s consensus best at his position, and the Cincinnati Bengals took notice, signing the Central Catholic graduate to a free-agent contract after the draft. Adomitis, who spent the past five seasons as Pitt’s starting long snapper, was so serious about...
Former Bethel Park, Duquesne offensive lineman eager to join Steelers on free-agent contract
After graduating from Bethel Park, Jake Dixon matriculated to Lewis (Ill.) University to play volleyball. One semester later, he was back home, attending classes and playing football at Duquesne. The move paid off Saturday when the 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive tackle agreed to sign a free agent contract with the Pittsburgh...
Central Catholic’s Rodney Thomas II drafted by Colts in 7th round
Rodney Thomas II, who helped lead Central Catholic to a PIAA championship in 2015 and a runner-up finish a year later, will continue his football career with the Indianapolis Colts. Thomas, who played linebacker and safety at Yale, was drafted in the seventh round Saturday by the Colts, the 239th...
Jesse Luketa goes to Cardinals in 7th round, the 8th Penn State player drafted
Jesse Luketa, who grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, became the fifth Penn State player drafted Saturday — and the eighth in the past three days — when the Arizona Cardinals selected him in the seventh round (256th overall). Luketa was the last of the Nittany Lions drafted — seven...
Packers draft Penn State left tackle Rasheed Walker in 7th round
Considering his size, strength, footspeed and experience in a Power 5 program, it was only a matter of time until Penn State offensive left tackle Rasheed Walker was drafted. Walker, 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, was finally chosen by the Green Bay Packers on Saturday in the seventh round (249th overall). At...
Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields goes to the 49ers in 6th round
When the San Francisco 49ers drafted former Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields with last pick (221st overall) in the sixth round, they added a defender with the requisite experience in big games against quality opponents. Castro-Fields (6-foo-1, 197 pounds) played at Penn State from 2017-21, appearing in 52 games with...
Pitt secures verbal commitment from high school quarterback Kenny Minchey
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi likes to add a quarterback to his roster every year, and he received a verbal commitment for the class of 2023 on Saturday when Kenny Minchey announced his plans to enroll next year. CommittedColossians 3:23-24 pic.twitter.com/BRwg7FlfKm— Kenny Minchey (@kenny_minchey) April 30, 2022 Minchey (6-foot-3, 200 pounds)...
Ravens choose Penn State punter Jordan Stout in 4th round
All-American Jordan Stout did it all at Penn State — punting, placement kicking and kickoffs. After making Stout the first punter drafted Saturday, (fourth round, 130th overall), the Baltimore Ravens will use him almost exclusively as a punter. Which makes sense with Justin Tucker, one of the best kickers in...
Panthers choose Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith in 4th round
Brandon Smith, who was part of Penn State’s linebacker rotation for three seasons, was drafted in the fourth round Saturday (120th overall) by the Carolina Panthers. Smith (6-foot-3, 241 pounds) was one of 19 Penn State first-year freshmen to appear in a game in 2019, launching a career that included...
Damarri Mathis keeps up Pitt cornerback/safety tradition, goes to Broncos in 4th round
Until Pat Narduzzi started recruiting cornerbacks who could learn to cover wide receivers without safety help, the NFL largely ignored Pitt’s defensive backs. For eight consecutive drafts from 2010-17, no Pitt defensive back heard his name called. Then, the doors leading from Pitt’s workout facility sprung open and six defensive...
Reports: Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison considering transfer from Pitt
Pitt wide receiver Jordan Addison, the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner who teamed with Kenny Pickett to give the Panthers one of the top passing games in college football, is considering a move into the NCAA transfer portal, according to multiple national reports. Addison’s name did not appear in the portal...
Shady Side Academy grad Skyy Moore goes to Kansas City Chiefs in 2nd round
Free of the hold placed upon him by the covid-19 pandemic, Skyy Moore put on a show for Western Michigan fans, NFL scouts and — though they didn’t appreciate it — Pitt’s defensive players on his way to hearing his name called by the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday night...
