University of Pitt picked up another commitment for 2009 with Houston Elite power forward J.J. Richardson.


J.J. Richardson committed to Pitt.

Though it was a good visit for him, he was set to take his time in making a decision. But the Panthers became the team to beat after his visit, and when he had an in-home visit on Tuesday night, it only solidified what he knew all along.

"We talked and I kind of knew the direction," Houston Elite head coach Rick Nelson told PantherLair.com. "We've been talking for some days. He called me yesterday when the coaches were in on his visit. He liked the coaches. Mom was pleased. I told him to follow his heart."

Both Nelson and Richardson feel Pitt is a top shelf program. Initially, Richardson was looking to stay closer to home. But while he may have been looking distance-wise to stay closer to home, he found a family atmosphere at Pitt that made him feel at home.

"J.J. was really impressed with the campus," Nelson said. "He felt the family environment. That's one of the things we teach with our program, the family. The (Pitt) players brought him in, and made him feel part of the family. He was excited about everyone he came in contact with. He felt the hospitality. He felt everyone was genuine.

"I'm a big fan. Pitt has a great program. The coaching staff does an excellent job. Whatever endeavor, getting a degree, having great careers, they positions themselves and the kids for success."

Richardson was recruited to Pitt by assistant coach Tom Herrion. His stock soared over the summer, as he averaged 15 points and 14 rebounds a game.

"The offense we run, we allow everyone to do everything," Nelson said. "J.J. played in the blocks predominantly, the low-post, high-low action, which gave you kind of an advantage. It was always a mismatch."

Current Pitt freshman Dwight Miller is a former Houston Elite teammate of Richardson.

"If you tried to hold J.J., if you tried to hold Dwight, it was just a mismatch," Nelson said. "When J.J. played with Dwight, J.J. was still feeling his way in. This year, he worked so hard. He lost weight, grew some more, got stronger, and he took off. He went from 0-to-90."

"J.J. Richardson gives the Panthers some good 'ole Texas hustle," Rivals.com senior writer Justin Young said. "He's a blue-collar guy that plays with high-energy and grit down low."

Houston Elite captured a tournament championship in Houston this summer. Richardson averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds during that tournament, and Nelson says that Richardson is the type of player who wants every ball that comes off the glass.

"He's always trying, get them all and run," Nelson said. "J.J. got them all. He would try to get 18 to 20 rebounds a game. A lot of times, in order to get kids to buy into the system, if you get all the rebounds and run the floor, you'll get more, but the guards are only going to allow you to have so many touches."

In addition to Miller, some of the other players who have come out of Houston Elite include Dallas Mavericks guard Gerald Green, Texas junior Damion James, and UNLV guard Wink Adams, as well as New Mexico recruit Matthew Staff and Texas-Arlington commit Anthony Vereen.