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Sunday, September 15, 2002

By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

A trip to the Sweet 16, a $100 million new home and a Top 10 preseason ranking are paying huge recruiting dividends for Pitt's basketball program.

It impressed Chris Taft, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound center/forward who is expected to officially make a verbal commitment to Pitt today.

"I know he was excited with the direction the program's going," said Jack Alesi, Taft's coach at Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. "He's probably the best big man in New York City. He's going to flourish in a real structured situation."

Taft, who averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds as a junior last season, is projected to play power forward in college. His final list of schools were Villanova, North Carolina and Syracuse. After he visited Pitt in June, Taft canceled his other visits.

"He's very comfortable with Pitt's program," Alesi said. "A lot had to do with the coaching staff. He knew where he wanted to go."

Taft has yet to take the SAT, but Alesi said, "He shouldn't have any problems."

Pitt assistant Barry Rohrssen, a native of Brooklyn and Xavierian graduate, was instrumental in recruiting Taft.

"What Pitt liked about him was his ability to pass and his willingness to improve," Alesi said. "He's a pass-first type of kid. I'm playing him at center, but as he improves he's going to play more away from the basket. He has the ability to become a good small forward. Chris started as a sophomore and has played in the Catholic League that probably is the strongest league in the country.

"Chris Taft is not a project."