Flagrant Fouls, a basketball site, reported that top recruit Khem Birch is now headed to Pitt a year early, reclassifying himself for 2011. He was expected to play a year of post-grad at Notre Dame Prep and come to Pitt in 2012, but it looks like he's passing on that.
Scout also picked up the story and ESPN.com has Khem listed as a 2011 recruit as well.
If this happens, it's obviously pretty big news. Pitt is losing three key players to graduation in Brad Wanamaker, Gilbert Brown, and Gary McGhee after this season and Khem would help to fill the void. A possible lineup of Travon Woodall, Ashton Gibbs, Khem Birch, Talib Zanna, and Dante Taylor could give Pitt a pretty imposing frontcourt.
↵But before that happens, Pitt is in the position of now having to potentially nudge two players out of its program. Assuming everyone qualifies academically, Pitt is now two over the scholarship limit for next season.
For more insight, check out the post over at the Pitt blog Cardiac Hill.