In need of further help in the backcourt, the Pitt Panthers added to its guard supply with the commitment of Marcus Carr. A top-125 recruit from Canada finishing out his high school playing career at the mighty Montverde Academy program this winter, Kevin Stallings and his program found itself a hard-nosed and valuable guard that can wear many hats out on the perimeter.

Despite being hurdled with a torn ACL last year, an injury that kept him on the sidelines last winter during his first year at Montverde, things remained pretty fluid on the recruitment front.  Cincinnati, Baylor, Vanderbilt, and a bevy of others had shown interest in the 6-foot-2 guard but it was the relationship that Carr had with head coach Kevin Stallings, dating back to his days at Vanderbilt when the SEC program was hot on the trail of the top-125 recruit, that gave way to his commitment.

What might Carr bring to Oakland next year? While he is not an explosive athlete, he is one of the most consistent producers and competitors off of the east coast. He can be used off of the ball in smaller guard lineups where he has become a much better shooter on spot-up looks, yet his true value comes as a playmaker. Carr has a solid feel for the game as he doesn’t turn the ball over and tends to make others better regardless of the type of defense that he is facing. Defensively, the Montverde star could be a hound in containing either guard spot and should grow into a very reliable piece for the new staff at Pitt in the years ahead.

The third commitment in the 2017 class for the Pitt Panthers, Carr joins fellow top-125 recruit and lead guard Aaron Thompson in the backcourt, creating a strong nucleus of go-getters that can really defend the ball and play either guard spot on the perimeter. Down low is Terrell Brown, a quickly improving big man with inside-out abilities, creating a very sturdy three-man class early on for Kevin Stallings first year within the ACC.