Pittsburgh Pro-Am rosters released

After a one-year absence, the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Pro-Am is back and, now, we have a full list of participants and teams for the event.

The teams are comprised primarily of players from the three local Division I schools – Pitt, Duquesne and Robert Morris – and there are a smattering of area Division II and III schools represented, as well, including Cal U, IUP, Shippensburg and Edinboro.

Below are the eight teams, with player and school listed (with Panthers, or former Panthers, in italics):

UPMC

Billy Giles, Robert Morris

Kavon Stewart, Robert Morris

Rozelle Nix, Pitt

Damon Wilson, Pitt

Josh Steel, Duquesne

MarQywell Jackson, Duquesne

Dylan Groff, Amherst

South Hills Audi

David Cole, Robert Morris

Lorenzen Wright, Robert Morris

Jordan Robinson, Duquesne

Tarin Smith, Duquesne

Alan Heter, Point Park (alum)

Bill Clark, Duquesne (alum)

Joe Mascaro, Case Western

CDW

Brandon Burke, Robert Morris

Conrad Stephens, Robert Morris

Nakye Sanders, Duquesne

Mike Lewis, Duquesne

Nick Novak, Pitt-Johnstown (alum)

Anthony Dallier, Yale

CJ Rudisill, IUP

Duca/Nepa Road Warriors

Roberto Mantovani, Robert Morris

Clive Allen, Robert Morris

Sheldon Jeter, Pitt

Cam Johnson, Pitt

Lance Jeter, Nebraska (alum)

Julian Batts, St. Francis (N.Y.)

Jesse Reed, American (alum)

Systems One

Seth Rouse, Robert Morris

Jordan Lester, Robert Morris

Jamel Artis, Pitt

Corey Manigault, Pitt

Spencer Littleson, Duquesne

Nick Miller, Cal U

Mike Lecak, Pitt (alum)

Shale Attorneys

Kale Abrahamson, Duquesne

Rene Castro, Duquesne

Aaron Tate, Robert Morris

Dachon Burke, Robert Morris

Henry Pwono, no school listed

Dustin Sleva, Shippensburg

Clay Conner, Shippensburg

Antonio Kellem, Shippensburg

HBS

Isaiah Still, Robert Morris

Nate Johnson, Robert Morris

Darius Lewis, Duquesne

Emile Blackman, Duquesne

Jakim Donaldson, Edinboro (alum)

Mike Lamberti, West Liberty (alum)

Greg Duggan, Allegheny

Deon Baker, Saint Francis (Pa.)

PBC

Isiaha Mike, Duquesne

Eric James, Duquesne

Ryan Luther, Pitt

Justice Kithcart, Pitt

Chevy Troutman, Pitt (grad)

Teddy Georgias, NYU

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A few notes and observations from the roster...

— Here’s a schedule of the games:

PBC Pro-Am schedule (Screenshot)

They begin Wednesday, July 6, at Montour High School and continue on the 11th and 13th. The week after that, I believe, will be for championship games.

— In all, there are eight Pitt players between the eight rosters, as well as two alums. Those not playing are Mike Young, Chris Jones, Jonathan Milligan and Crisshawn Clark, as well as walk-ons Zach Smith and Ryan Seelye. PBC president John Giammarco said the last he heard on Young was that they were “waiting on a final word”, so it’s possible the Panthers’ senior still plays. After all, there are a few open roster spots.

— Pretty cool for Sheldon Jeter to be paired on a team with former Nebraska standout Lance Jeter, his cousin. Beaver Falls royalty right there.

— Robert Morris newcomer Lorenzen Wright, Jr. is the son of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, who was the victim of a still-unsolved homicide in 2010.

— I’m guessing Vegas won’t have any lines on this, but the Road Warriors would be my preseason favorite, though I wouldn’t overlook PBC. Having only six players, as of now, is rough, but among those six are two current Pitt players, a returning Duquesne starter, a heavily praised Duquesne freshman and, of course, Chevy Troutman.

— Speaking of Mr. Troutman, seeing his name was easily the highlight of looking over these rosters. He was a formidable and burly presence for some good Pitt teams of the early aughts, sure, but lest we forget his greatest contribution to Western civilization…

 

What a time to be alive. (Brian Batko/Post-Gazette)

Seeing Ron Cook’s mug one or two inches of newsprint away from a shirt reading ‘Booty Patrol’ brings me unspeakable joy.

— Finally, and I know I speak for a lot of people here, but I’m really excited to have the Pro-Am back. I can understand why it didn’t happen last summer, but it’s a great opportunity for fans who don’t normally go to games to get a close look at the players for their favorite teams. For writers like myself, it’s an excellent way to see returning players in game action and get a valuable first look at new additions. Granted, it’s important to keep some of these performances in proper context; while these games can be a great first glimpse at a future standout (like Robert Morris’ Marcquise Reed, who Pitt will face this year when it plays Clemson), it can also lead to out-sized expectations for a player who maybe just isn’t that great (like Duquesne’s Rene Castro, who scored a Pro-Am record 56 points in 2014 only to spend much of last season glued to the Dukes’ bench).

These are organized pick-up games, yes, but let’s just savor the fact that in this excitement-free sports wilderness known as baseball season, we will have basketball in our lives next week.

 

Craig Meyer: cmeyer@post-gazette.com and Twitter @CraigMeyerPG