Dexter Pittman
Scout Hoops Top 100 National Rankings # 60. Dexter Pittman Obtained at www.scouthoops.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PrepStars Top 100 National Ranking # 91. Dexter Pittman Obtained at www.hoopscooponline.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2006 RCS Sports Top 80 Rising Seniors - Summer Rankings # 8. Dexter Pittman Obtained at www.eteamz.active.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Texas RoundBall's Class of 2006 Centers Rankings June 2005 Player HT WT POS School # 2. Dexter Pittman 6-10 280 C Rosenberg Terry Obtained at www.texasroundball.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prep Stars Class of 2006 Top 100 Summer Rankings # 91. Dexter Pittman Obtained at www.prepstars.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ UPDATE!!! Pittman Emerges, Names Leader Center By Dave Telep National Recruiting Director Date: Jun 27, 2005 Slowed by an injury, Dexter Pittman finally made an appearance at the NBA Camp late in the weekend. The 6-foot-11 big man who previously flew under the national radar, has a chance to be a player. Dexter Pittman knows that he’s got work to do. Inside that 6-foot-11, 335+ pound body, a basketball player lives. One that is strong enough to hammer down a dunk over Cole Aldrich and then drop a soft jump hook over another defender. Folks, Dexter Pittman is not a novelty item, he’s a player. A kid with size and promise. No, he’s a charismatic kid, ala Glen “Big Baby” Davis with size and promise. The question is: can he fulfill that potential? The nimble big man has huge hands. He’s got a measure of skill as a block scorer. Heck, on Sunday at NBA Camp he surprisingly went coast to coast where a guard simply got out of his way and let him finish the play. Naturally, at the end of the jaunt he was winded and therein lies the rub: conditioning. Pittman said he was once at 350 and has lost about 15 pounds. He wants to lose even more. “I’m losing weight right now,” Pittman said. “I used to weigh 350 but I’m trying to get to 300.” Losing the weight should provide Pittman with the ability to change ends with some success. To play at the highest level of high-major basketball, he’s going to have to shed the weight to change ends and play at a quicker pace. Talent isn’t the issue at all; he’s got enough of it to crack our next Top 100. Aside from his basketball talents, Pittman has family history on his side. The son of former Oklahoma State star Johnny Pittman, Dexter’s has basketball genes. The Rosenberry (Tex.) Terry center wants to carve out his own niche. His play at the NBA Camp should go a long way toward raising his profile and he’ll gladly accept the attention. “Nobody knows me, I need some press,” Pittman said. “Everybody in Texas knows me.” The Rodney Dangerfield of Texas hoops deserves some pub. “I just don’t get any respect,” Pittman said. “They don’t know about me.” That part isn’t totally true. Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Florida State and Texas A&M know him. They’ve all offered. Kansas and North Carolina have been in touch. For now, all eyes are on Texas. “Texas leads,” Pittman said. “I want to stay close to home. They got a good veteran coach. I might change my mind, you never know.” Some guys that are presently recruiting Dexter, recruited his father as a Texas high school player. Guys like Leonard Hamilton have close family ties. Dexter seems intent on making his own way. “I go to the same high school as [my dad] went. I don’t know about going to the same college.” At this point, Pittman has the recruiting attention he craves. Now it’s about realizing the potential he’s yet to fulfill. “I have quick post moves and shoot it well. I need to work on my stamina and keep losing weight.” If he does, look out. Pittman missed most of the NBA Camp with what he termed “turf toe.” Upon returning home he was planning on seeing a doctor. Obtained at www.scouthoops.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ May 29, 2005 It's not at all surprising, but wherever Dexter Pittman goes, he's usually the center of attention. That's just fine with the big 6-foot-10, 300-pound post from Rosenburg Terry High School. He just goes about his business, doing major damage down low in the lane, punishing opponents with his bulk and power. He's had a solid spring so far with his Houston Select AAU squad, and lots of schools are watching him closely. Very closely. "Things are going fine right now," Pittman said. "I'm playing better competition. I'm shooting the ball more, and getting more comfortable." Pittman felt that he played well in the recent Jayhawk Invitational earlier this month. He's hoping to continue his paint domination and has some individual goals this summer. "I'm trying to drop a few pounds and get my shot better," he said. As far as Pittman's college recruitment goes, as you might expect for someone of his size and stature, it's been going through the roof. "There are a lot of schools on me," Pittman said. "Arizona State, Florida State, North Carolina, Texas, Texas A&M... everybody. Coach Barnes has given me an offer, as has Kansas coach Bill Self. Actually, everybody I just named has given me an offer." A few schools stand out from the the rest of the masses. "My top five is Arizona State, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State," Pittman listed. He indicated what he's looking for in a school. "I just want to go somewhere where I can develop the rest of my skills," Pittman said. "I also want playing time immediately." While some young men may be overwhelmed by all the attention, Pittman appears to be grounded. One big - literally and figuratively - reason why is the advice he's been getting from his father, former Oklahoma State standout Johnny Pittman. "He's taught me a lot about the recruiting process," Pittman said. "He tells me that sometimes coaches don't tell the truth. So I need to watch out about what they say. He tells me a lot." The next step for Pittman is figuring out what schools will get official visits. He's already been to Texas A&M unofficially, and he plans on making a trip to Austin to unofficially visit Texas as well. Another unofficial visit may come this weekend and he's got two schools in mind for an official visit. "We are going to UNC for the Bob Gibbons tournament, so maybe I can go there and look a little," Pittman said. "I'd like to visit Arizona State and Miami (FL)." Pittman doesn't currently have a timetable for when he'll make a decision, other than making it this calendar year. "I'll sign in the fall," Pittman said. "I'm taking my time." Texas Hoops Analysis: Dexter is a huge and powerful presence in the paint who has really improved over the last year, works his way down on the block and holds the defense for deep position in the lane, is impossible to move when he gets position, really clogs up the lane on defense, has good hands, finishes well around the goal, moves well for his size and will only get better with time. Obtained at www.texashoops.com |