Pitt notebook: Final weekend of official visits has arrived; Jaland Lowe earns another accolade

4-5 minutes 6/22/2023 The Pitt football program has seen plenty of success on the recruiting trail this month. Coach Pat Narduzzi and his staff will hope for similar results this week, as the third and final round of official visits is set to begin Thursday. The Panthers’ final batch of official visits consists of 16 high school prospects that account for seven different positions. While each visitor will receive his share of attention, the two biggest names Narduzzi and his staff will hope to lock down are four-star talents Ric’Darious Farmer and Sincere Edwards. Farmer, a four-star receiver recruit from Melbourne Central Catholic High School in Melbourne, Fla., verbally committed to the Panthers last winter on Christmas Day. However, the recent actions of the young pass catcher have some questioning the seriousness of that verbal commitment. This month, Farmer has made official visits to Central Florida and West Virginia. Farmer has also announced numerous other scholarship offers on his social media since committing to the Panthers. While Farmer — who measures at 6-foot, 170 pounds — remains verbally committed to the Panthers, his official weekend could provide some much needed reassurance for his decision. On the note of shaky commitments, this weekend could also serve as a prime opportunity for the Panthers to land a commitment of another four-star target, defensive end Edwards. Measuring at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, Edwards has been a notable Pitt target for years, despite him verbally committing to Central Florida in August 2022. Perhaps Narduzzi and Co. knew something others didn’t. On Wednesday, Edwards tweeted a statement saying he had decommitted from UCF and completely reopened his recruitment. Edwards listed Pitt as one of his top five schools, with UCF, South Florida, Maryland and Penn State being the other four. Three-star prospects Davis Brewton, Zachary Crothers and Ty Yuhas are the other verbal commitments making their official visit to Pittsburgh this weekend. Other notable targets heading into town include three-star quarterback Henry Hasselbeck, a Maryland lacrosse verbal commit who is the son of former NFL signal caller Matt Hasselbeck, and four-star defensive end Mylachi Williams, a Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic standout who has made other official visits to Penn State and Syracuse this month. Lowe selected to Jordan Brand Classic team Pitt basketball rising freshman Jaland Lowe added another impressive note to his high school resume last weekend, as he was announced as one of the members on the 23rd Annual Jordan Brand Classic team. Lowe is the fourth Panther to receive the honor and the first to do so since 2012. Last winter at Fort Bend Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas, Lowe delivered a strong senior campaign, posting season averages of 26.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.1 steals and 2.3 blocks per game. Rivals rates Lowe as a four-star guard and the No. 108 player overall in the Class of 2023. The 6-foot, 160-pound rising freshman has already moved onto Pitt’s campus and has been an active participant in the team’s summer workouts. Steven Adams (2012), Khem Birch (2011) and Levance Fields (2005) are the other three former Panthers to be named to the Annual Jordan Brand Classic team.