Oh well....the risk of getting an early verbal. Better to happen now, then next fall, but puts Pitt in my doghouse.

Mike White @mwhiteburgh · 4h 4 hours ago
Girls basketball recruiting. Norwin jr. Alayna Gribble, a P-G Fab 5 pick, will play at Pitt. Backed out of WIlliam & Mary commit.

http://blogs.post-gazette.com/sports/var...witterfeed
"But at last Thursday's Roundball Classic banquet, Norwin coach Brian Brozeski happened to be talking to Upper St. Clair coach Pete Serio about Gribble's recruiting. Gribble had committed during her junior year, but she had played so well this season in leading Norwin to the WPIAL Class AAAA title, that Serio and Brozeski talked about Gribble possibly opening up her recruitment. Serio's wife, Suzie McConnell-Serio, happens to be Pitt's coach.

The next thing you know, four days after the banquet, Gribble was talking to McConnell-Serio. The next thing you know, Gribble was visiting Pitt Tuesday. The next thing you know, Pitt offered her a scholarship Tuesday.

The next thing you know, Gribble accepted the scholarship and committed to Pitt today."

Apparently she values basketball more than her education. Guessing she is not breaking her commitment for the "Ivy-like" education she will get at Pitt.

Not so good.

At least we have some time to recover.

You can't figure out what a 16-18 year old will do. Especially when you have, IMHO, unethical coaches influencing parents (who should also know better) & the kid.

When you make this type of commitment you affect many people (coaches, schools, other players & families). The original commitment should never be made quickly & IMHO, only changed in extraordinary circumstances (this is not one of those times :<(

She lives near Pittsburgh...you can't really fault her for wanting to play near her friends and family.

(04-23-2015 03:38 PM)Big Tribe Wrote:  She lives near Pittsburgh...you can't really fault her for wanting to play near her friends and family.

Then why did she commit to play for W&M? And yes I can fault her & her parents & especially her coach.

If her decision only affected her that is one thing but as we all know it affects many people.

How many other players did we miss out on because she said yes & then stiffed us?

She committed because she was a high school junior and it seemed like a good option. She then got an option to play closer to home and thought that was a better option. We don't have to like it, but it's not worldview-changing. I would be surprised if we missed on many players because of this. Would it have been better for her to have played for W&M for a year and then transferred because she wanted to be closer to home?

(04-23-2015 04:54 PM)TribeInTheBurg Wrote:  She committed because she was a high school junior and it seemed like a good option. She then got an option to play closer to home and thought that was a better option. We don't have to like it, but it's not worldview-changing. I would be surprised if we missed on many players because of this. Would it have been better for her to have played for W&M for a year and then transferred because she wanted to be closer to home?

I find more fault with the system then the player. Allowing a player to verbally commit in their Junior year and expecting them to keep that commitment for an extended period, when recruiting is such a fluid process, invites this type of thing. I say have one recruiting window for seniors and keep the length of time between verbal commitments to NLOI day to a minimum.

I think we're getting a little hung up on "wanting to play close to home." I think her quote in the article pretty much summed it up....something about playing at a higher level of basketball. She also said academics played a role in her decision, but I don't buy it as much.

Unfortunate, but best of luck to her. While I don't agree with decommiting after pressures from AAU and college coaches, it's ultimately her decision to make. She signed no LOI. This isn't the first or last time we'll have to deal with this.

Why are we mad? I'm pleased the big programs think so much of our recruits...we're growing.

Victoriaa ️ ‏@victhehalfrikan 4h4 hours ago
Happy and blessed to say, I have verbally committed to the College of William and Mary ️️️ ?
Victoria Reynolds, 5'11" G/SF out of Baltimore
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2280971/high...5234380/v2

Nice pick-up for Coach Swanson and staff!