Abby Schnable's Pitt sports chat: 04.28.26
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Abby Schnable
1:00
Hello!! It's a great day for a live chat and there are already some great questions ready to go. So let's get into it.
Finny1113
1:01
Anything new on Pitt Hoops?  They still have scholarships to give and could use another "Big Man" and Shooter?
Abby Schnable
1:04
Great question. There honestly hasn’t been much movement on that front. Outside of the gif Jay Kuntz tweeted last week, it’s been pretty quiet. There was a brief connection to D2 prospect Kraig Gilbert, but nothing’s really come of it since.

I do think adding another big for depth would make a lot of sense. As for shooting, I’m a little less concerned there with guys like A'lahn Sumler, Jonathan Powell and Jalil Bethea — especially if Bethea takes a step forward. They’ve been pretty clear about wanting to use all 14 scholarship spots, and with four still open, there’s definitely room to add a couple more pieces.
demosthenes98
1:04
Enjoyed your article today about Victory Heights.  Unrelated question--which of Pitt's spring sports teams do you think will have the best month of May?
Abby Schnable
1:11
You’ve got a few solid contenders here —  baseball, lacrosse, softball and track & field— but I’d lean baseball.

Lacrosse could still sneak into the NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid (selection is May 3), which would be a big step for a young program, though postseason inexperience makes a deep run tough to project.

Baseball, though, has real momentum coming off four ranked wins last week. If they can stay hot and handle ACC play, they’ve got a legit shot to play their way into a regional.

Softball feels like a long shot, while track & field will likely send a few athletes to nationals as usual. Overall, there’s potential across the board — but baseball has the best shot at a big May in my opinion.
J D
1:11
Abby, do you believe that building a new football stadium that also has state of the art facilities for all athletics is needed for Pitt to contend on the national stage?
Abby Schnable
1:15
Hey JD. Honestly, no — I don’t think a new football stadium is necessary for Pitt to contend nationally. They already have high-level facilities across the board. Football playing at Acrisure and sharing the South Side facility with the Steelers is about as top-tier as it gets from a facilities standpoint.

At a certain point, another stadium doesn’t move the needle as much as people think. If Acrisure isn’t a strong enough recruiting tool, I’m not sure a new building changes that. The bigger focus should be on growing revenue streams and NIL resources — not taking on a massive stadium project.
Lane Grafton
1:15
Talking football.  What's the answer in Pitt's inability to recruit multi star high level offensive linemen?  in the past two weeks many of the top WPIAL linemen have committed to Notre Dame, Ohio State, or Penn State.  This is a weak area for the Pitt offense especially when it comes to depth. Somehow this needs to change especially with local WPIAL talent. Seems that the rich get richer at Pitt's expense.
Abby Schnable
1:20
I think it starts with perception and results up front. The offensive line has been one of the most scrutinized groups in recent years. Top recruits notice that consistency and development haven’t always been there.

Then you’re also competing with programs like Ohio State, Penn State and Notre Dame which have bigger budgets, stronger NIL backing and long track records of producing NFL linemen.

Pitt has landed some local guys like Shep Turk and John Curran, but until the on-field product and development at that position stabilizes, it’s going to be a tough sell against those programs.
Bruce
1:20
Good afternoon Abby! What are your impressions of Victory Heights? How does it compare with other ACC facilities? It looks beautiful and it was well overdue!
Abby Schnable
1:23
Hey Bruce! My impressions are really positive — it’s an impressive, modern facility and a big step forward in Pitt’s ability to support its athletes. And honestly, it just looks great. I especially like how it gives programs like volleyball their own dedicated space, which cuts down on the sharing they’ve had at the Fitz.

As for how it stacks up in the ACC, I’m not sure it’s fair to call it the best overall without seeing everything side-by-side, but it definitely puts Pitt in a much more competitive tier with some of the stronger facility setups in the league.
Adam
1:23
Which player do you think will be Pitt's highest draft pick in the 2027 NFL draft?
Abby Schnable
1:27
It might not be the popular pick given the way people talk about Pitt’s offensive line, but I’d put Ryan Baer at the top of the list right now. He’s got the kind of frame, athleticism and versatility NFL teams tend to value. If he takes another step forward this season, he could really solidify himself as a high-ceiling tackle prospect.

After that, I think Raion Strader is probably the next name to watch — he’s already showing up in early mock drafts and hasn't played a snap for Pitt. Sean FitzSimmons is another one that gets mentioned in NFL circles because of his size and potential interior impact. And I wouldn’t rule out Braylan Lovelace either— he feels like the type who could rise quickly with a strong year.
Michael
1:27
Pitt women’s basketball will be in sad shape once again if Harmony can’t recruit any Centers or forwards for next season. Any hope they can get a few of that can actually play?
Abby Schnable
1:32
Good question, Michael. You’re right that frontcourt depth is going to be the biggest question.

I’ll be honest — I don’t have a full read yet on how the new staff will close in the portal, but I do think they’ve already shown they’re willing to go back to familiar targets. Meredith Venner, originally committed to Pitt in 2025 before going the JUCO route after a knee injury. She's signed with the Panthers after a productive freshman season —17.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game — so she’s at least a proven interior presence.

Beyond that, they’re going to need multiple bodies in the frontcourt. I do think there’s some optimism with how the new staff recruits, but realistically this could still be a bit of a rebuild year just because of roster turnover and the perception around the program right now.
Bruce
1:32
The NFL Draft has come and gone and Pitt had a great opportunity to show off our tradition, with so many Panthers participating. The city looked great, too. Do you think that will have any impact on recruiting?
Abby Schnable
1:34
I think it could help a little with visibility and perception, especially for local or already-interested recruits, but it’s not going to be a major recruiting driver for top-tier guys. Elite prospects are still mostly prioritizing things like development, NIL, NFL pipeline and depth chart opportunity over moments like Draft weekend — even if it’s great for showcasing Pitt and the city.
Michael
1:34
Does Pitt baseball have any actual MLB. Prospects this season?
Abby Schnable
1:40
Yes — Pitt does have a couple legit MLB draft names this year.

The main one is Lorenzo Carrier, who’s getting late-round buzz (roughly 200–300 range). He’s hit .400 with 16 HR, 57 RBI, a .843 slugging percentage and a .982 fielding percentage — real pro production. Caden Dulin is also starting to get attention at .364 with 11 HR, 41 RBI and a .636 slugging mark, plus solid defense.

No obvious Day 1 guy, but definitely a couple draftable bats.
Michael
1:40
Ricardo Greer has a son that’s a good player any chance he will transfer to Pitt
Abby Schnable
1:43
I don’t see it happening right now. RJ Greer has already signed with UNC Greensboro after previously being at Davidson, so he’s locked into that situation for the moment.

That’s a step down in competition from the A-10 level, and I just don’t think a jump up to Pitt is realistic at this stage. Maybe it becomes a conversation down the line, but for now it doesn’t really look like it’s in the cards.
Bruce
1:47
It's pretty exciting to see Ricardo Greer and Ronald Ramon joining Jeff Capel's staff! Any information on what their areas of expertise are? I'm glad to see them back!
Abby Schnable
1:49
It is exciting — both bring real Pitt ties and different strengths.

Ricardo Greer is more of a big-picture guy with a lot of experience as a player and coach. He’s known for player development, energy and strong recruiting relationships. Ronald Ramon leans more toward guard development — ball-handling, shooting and decision-making — plus he brings real credibility as a former Pitt point guard.

And Stephen and I actually talked about both of them in more detail on yesterday’s podcast episode if you want to hear us break it down a bit more.
1:51
I’m going to go ahead and call it there. Just wanted to say a huge thank you for joining today’s live chat — and all the ones before it. I really appreciate all the questions and conversations. I’ve enjoyed answering them. Until next time!
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