Pitt's most-heralded recruit and a celebrated redshirt took center stage yesterday at the Petersen Events Center. For one afternoon, at least, they lived up to the hype.

Freshman DeJuan Blair and redshirt freshman Gilbert Brown were impressive in the Blue-Gold scrimmage that the Blue team won, 74-69.

Blair had a double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds, and Brown had 15 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists with no turnovers.

Both players looked like they could contribute right away for the Panthers, whose first game is less than three weeks away.

Blair, a Schenley High School product, was the starting center for the Gold team and went head-to-head against the other contenders for the starting center job, junior-college transfer Cassin Diggs and freshman Gary McGhee. Tyrell Biggs, who backed up Aaron Gray last season, has played mostly power forward in practices and was there exclusively yesterday.

Diggs held his own against Blair and had 13 points and seven rebounds. McGhee had three points and three rebounds. But it was Blair who impressed the most with his relentless work on the boards, along with his array of post moves.

"He's getting better," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "He's moving better. I expect him to be a very good player for us, so I'm not surprised by a lot of things. He's going to continue to improve. You could see in the last four practices how he's improved. The last couple you saw him taking some big strides."

It appears Blair has the inside track on the starting position, although Dixon likely will not name a starter until shortly before the Nov. 9 season opener against Houston Baptist. Levance Fields and Ronald Ramon both started season openers as true freshmen under Dixon, so the precedent is there.

"I have no idea what's going through coach Dixon's mind," Blair said. "I've been running the floor, rebounding. If you get the ball in my hands, I do great things with it. It's up to him. He makes all the calls. I'm not worried about starting. I'm just worried about winning."

Blair's teammates aren't worried their starting center could be a freshman who is just 6 feet 7.

"I'm sure he can play the post," junior forward Sam Young said. "He's so determined. He has the attitude that no one is going to outplay him. He's the same height as Chevy Troutman and he's bigger than Chevy Troutman. And he's fearless. And I think he's more athletic. He definitely has the tools. He has the hands, he has a nice touch. I like him. I like him a lot."

While Blair seems to be asserting himself at center, Brown appears to have developed into a top reserve who can take some of the pressure off starter Mike Cook at small forward. Brown was 6 for 9 from the field, 3 for 3 from 3-point range, and also had two blocks and a steal.

Brown, 6-6, took a redshirt last season after a bout with mononucleosis and an ankle injury that curtailed his development last fall.

"He's going to be a good player for us," Dixon said. "The last few days for him in practice have been very good. I really like his frame of mind right now and the things he's doing. He understands what he has to do and how he can get better. What he's done the last couple of days led up to today. This was coming, I think."

Levance Fields led the Gold team with 23 points. Young led the Blue team with 19 points.

NOTES -- The only player not to suit up for Pitt was freshman Darnell Dodson, who has not qualified academically. Dodson is attempting to get eligible through the NCAA Clearinghouse, but that process could keep him out for an extended period. ... Senior Ronald Ramon sat out all but one practice before the scrimmage because of a hamstring injury, but he showed no ill effects, playing 30 minutes and scoring eight points. ... Brian Oliver, the No. 76-ranked player in the 2009 recruiting class, made an unofficial visit to campus yesterday. Oliver, from New Castle, Del., is a 6-6, 190-pound small forward.