Panthers get some bite

Pitt got a huge boost today when 6-9 power forward/center Dante Taylor (National Christian Academy, Ft. Washington) verbally committed to the Panthers. Taylor - a Top 25 prospect - said he chose Pitt over Kansas, Syracuse, UConn and Memphis. Junior forward Travis Wear, a North Carolina recruit from Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, Calif., scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds as Team USA defeated Venezuela, 82-73, in the first round of the FIBA 18-and-under tournament in Argentina. Point guard Kemba Walker of Rice, who signed with UConn, had 12 points and five assists in a game high 31 minutes. Villanova assistant Pat Chambers, Rutgers’ assistant Jim Carr made the trip to South Jersey to watch 6-6 guard Dominic Cheek play, but he only scored two points in seven minutes in the opener. (link)