Pitt Commit Epps Showing His Worth

Below is a story on Isaiah Epps and his Plainfield squad's game against St. Anthony that was posted on NBE. This story is further evidence of why Epps is a tremendous recruit to have committed at this stage. ESPN has described Epps as a tremendous shooter and a Juan Dixon protege. Based on everything else reported about the kid, including the article below, Epps seems to possess speed and quicks that many other high school gaurds cannot handle. He seems to be a tremendous fit for the program and this continues Pitt's trend of raising the talent of their recruits. Epps and his teammates overtook St. Anthony's and Dominic Cheek, whom Pitt was heavily involved with before he committed to Nova. I know you never want to lose out on a player like Cheek but it may have helped Pitt get Epps who should be the point guard of the future. You have to love that he outdueled Cheek in this matchup. Maybe this is just a foreshadowing of Villanova Pitt matchups in the coming years.

Here's the story:

Plainfield Edges Top Ranked St Anthony’s 51-48

The organizers of the Dan Finn Classic saved the best match-up for last Saturday. Third-ranked St. Anthony’s took on 16th-ranked Plainfield in a matchup that pitted Bobby Hurley’s finesse laden team versus the speed of Jeff Lubreski’s team, particularly in Tyrone Johnson and Isaiah Epps. This game would be a close one but speed can kill.

Anthony Baskerville and Epps would come out shooting early on. Two-thirds of Plainfield’s rugged backcourt would put Plainfield up by as much as 9 points, leading 12-3 over the Jersey City school. Bobby Hurley’s squad however would come right back with the play of Elijah Carter, Jamee Jackson, and Villanova-bound Dominic Cheek, cutting the Plainfield lead to 12-10 at the end of the first quarter

In the second quarter it was more intense play, but still relatively low scoring because of good defense and speed. With the help of Tyrone Johnson’s nine points Plainfield would continue their slight edge with 25-20 lead heading into intermission.

St. Anthony’s would make the game a real nail-biter for both head coaches in the third quarter. The Friars would mount a comeback behind the play of Jamee Jackson and take a slight lead 35-34 lead through three quarters.

In the fourth quarter 2010 Pittsburgh-commit Epps and sophomore his sophomore backcourt mate Johnson would make the mostly pro-Plainfield crowd happy. In the quarter that was full of lead changes, and by far the most action, Epps would hit for 13 of his game high-high 17 points, and Johnson would add in 7 of his 16. The Friars weren’t giving up though, Jamee Jackson and Cheek worked furiously to counter their Union County rival. However despite Cheek’s 8 points in the final quarter, the game was over when Cheek, whose team was down 50-48 with under 10 seconds left, intentionally missed a free throw and it landed in the hands of Plainfield’s Jabrial Elliot thus icing the game and giving Plainfield the victory by a final of 51-48.

Dom Cheek would lead the Friars on the day with 12 points, and teammate Jamee Jackson would add in 11.

Epps had 17 and was very efficient with good shot selection and ball-handling throughout. Johnson added 16 and played very good defense on Cheek at key situations that helped Plainfield pull out the win.