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Pitt signs trio of 4-star recruits in Class of 2026

Justin Guerriero
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AP
Pitt coach Jeff Capel calls out to his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Starkville, Miss.

Three recruits in the Class of 2026 put pen to paper and made things official with Pitt men’s basketball, the Panthers announced Thursday morning.

Forwards Chase Foster and Anthony Felesi plus guard Jermal Jones, all ranked as 4-star prospects by 247Sports, signed national letters of intent, giving Pitt a recruiting top-10 class.

247Sports ranked the Panthers sixth nationally while ESPN lists Pitt’s class at No. 4.

Foster, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward, along with the 6-4, 180-pound Jones, are teammates at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Felesi (6-5, 180) hails from Hurricane, Utah (Utah Prep).

“Anthony was another top target for us this past summer,” Capel said in a news release. “He has high character, is a hard worker and a great teammate. He is one of the best athletes and one of the better defenders in the class with a growing skill set as a big guard. He has a high ceiling but he’s not close to tapping into his full potential yet. I look forward to seeing how Anthony develops.”

Foster chose the Panthers from a plethora of high-major offers, including Florida State, Maryland, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Virginia Tech.

“Chase is one of the highest rated recruits in Pitt basketball history,” Capel said. “He has versatility on both sides of the ball. At his size, he has tremendous skill level to score, both catch-and-shoot and off the bounce. He’s a good athlete with good basketball IQ.

“Defensively, Chase can guard the 1 through 4 and that will give us defensive versatility. He’s also shown an ability to change and block shots as well.”

As for Jones, 247Sports listed him as the No. 15 guard in the nation.

Along with Pitt, he attracted offers from Cal, Washington, Purdue, Florida State, WVU and others.

“Jermal has toughness and grit that has defined Pittsburgh,” Capel said. “He is that junkyard dog player that Pitt fans have loved for years. He signifies Pitt men’s basketball and is a competitive, athletic, scoring combo guard. Jermal really attacks the basket and finishes above the rim. He’s an efficient 3-point shooter who really prides himself on having the defensive mentality we want.”

Justin Guerriero is a TribLive reporter covering the Penguins, Pirates and college sports. A Pittsburgh native, he is a Central Catholic and University of Colorado graduate. He joined the Trib in 2022 after covering the Colorado Buffaloes for Rivals and freelancing for the Denver Post. He can be reached at jguerriero@triblive.com.

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