skip navigation

Constitution's Gilbert offered by Pitt

04/17/2015, 4:15pm EDT
By Tom Reifsnyder

Tom Reifsnyder (@tom_reifsnyder)
--

Constitution High School senior Ahmad "J.R." Gilbert has been offered by the University of Pittsburgh, becoming the latest high-major to get involved with the former George Mason commit.

Now, a decision that seemed ready to be resolved in a week or two could take up to another month as Gilbert weighs his options.

"I'm still hoping to get it done early May," Moore said. "First or second week in May...so he can finish up his school, go to his prom, do all the things he needs to do without the stress of this and be able to start school, go somewhere in the summer, start lifting weights and start preparing. That's the goal at this point."

The 6-foot-6 wing signed with GMU, a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference, back in mid-August, but reopened his recruitment following the firing of fourth year head coach Paul Hewitt in March. Hewitt went 66-67 during his tenure at the school.

Shortly after Hewitt's firing, George Mason AD Brad Edwards hired former Bucknell head coach Dave Paulsen, who coached the Bison to a record of 134-94 during his seven years at the helm.

Gilbert had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Paulsen before reopening his recruitment, but decided it would be best to survey his options more thoroughly.

Gilbert currently has offers on the table from Minnesota, South Florida, George Mason and now Pitt. However, Pitt is the first new school to offer him since reopening his recruitment; Penn State and Boston College have also reached out.

"I was hoping to wrap it up after Minnesota next week, I just figured [they were[ the only two schools who were actively recruiting him," Moore said, referring to Minnesota and USF. "But now it's starting to heat up with some other schools, so he might have to take a couple more visits just to see what's what."

He's visiting South Florida this weekend with a Constitution assistant, and is expected to have a visit with Minnesota on Monday and then go out to visit that school next weekend.

But just because the high-majors are coming in doesn't mean Mason isn't an option. Gilbert is waiting to see what happens with GMU's stafff, which could partly be determined by who Bucknell hires as its new head coach.

"I don't think JR's like blown away like 'I have to go to the Big 10 if they offer me,'" Moore said. "I think he would feel comfortable staying in the A-10 if it's the right fit." 

The Panthers, who moved from the Big East to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013, have been dealing with a handful of transfers and de-comittments recently, including but not limited to the transfer of redshirt senior Durand Johnson and the de-comittment of 4-star 2016 shooting guard Mustapha Heron.


Recruiting News:

HS Coverage:

Tag(s): Old HS  Recruiting  Public League  Tom Reifsnyder