Saturday, August 23, 2003

By Ray Fittipaldo, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

It didn't take Pitt Coach Jamie Dixon long to use the scholarship that was freed up when Walter Waters asked out of his commitment last week. Yesterday, Dixon landed guard Antonio Graves of Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Ohio.

Graves, a 6-foot-3 guard, will serve as Carl Krauser's backup at point guard, resolving one of the big issues facing the team as it begins preparations for the 2003-04 season.

Graves was first-team all-state at Mansfield and averaged 19 points per game last season.

A late qualifier, he hadscholarship offers from schools such as Bowling Green, Rutgers and Charlotte. He also had been receiving interest from Ohio State and Cincinnati.

"For us, he was a scorer," Mansfield Coach Greg Collins said. "He could score in many different ways. He played with a lot of younger kids on the team this year. He developed into someone who can shoot very well off the dribble. But he can break defenses down and find people, too."

Collins said Dixon became interested in Graves this summer after Graves had a strong AAU season. Dixon has been recruiting guards since the end of last season in the event a scholarship became available.

Collins said Graves is someone with the makeup to play in the Big East.

"It's a big transition from high school to the Big East, but he had a great summer," Collins said. "He's very confident in what he can do. He's a very hungry kid."

Graves is the only guard in Pitt's recruiting class this year. He joins forwards Chris Taft, Aaron Gray and Dante Milligan.

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