Pitt Basketball: Are All Panther Recruits Eligible For 2011-12?

McDonald's All-American Khem Birch and Pitt's three other freshmen recruits are scheduled to play in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Pro-Am that begins Monday night at the Greentree Sportsplex in Green Tree.

If there are any issues with the NCAA Clearinghouse, they will be not be able to enroll in summer school or play in the summer league, but coach Jamie Dixon is hopeful that all four will be eligible and will participate in games Monday.

"We think everything is fine," Dixon said. "We don't anticipate any problems."

Birch is the big fish (he's due in town on Sunday, by the way), obviously, and while Malcolm Gilbert could see time this season, the Johnsons (Durand and John) may be headed for redshirts. If either of the latter two are ineligible, it wouldn't necessarily throw a monkey wrench in Pitt's 2011-12 season, but if Birch or Gilbert is ...

Well, let's just say that wouldn't be a good thing.