Dunn to finally play at ‘dream school’ Pitt
Mary Dunn’s first college recruitment resulted in her becoming an all-conference player at a mid-major school.
Her second one has the Trinity High graduate headed to a Power Five program, one she called her “dream school” growing up.
Dunn isn’t done after an outstanding career at Youngstown State. She is headed home, or at least close to it. Last Thursday, Dunn announced that she has decided to join Pitt as a graduate transfer.
In five seasons at Youngstown State — she took a medical redshirt after playing just four games in 2019-20 — Dunn started 65 games and scored 1,299 points. A 6-foot-3 forward, she averaged 16.4 points and 5.9 rebounds a game this past season when she was named second-team all-Horizon League. She was a first-team pick in 2018-19.
Like all other NCAA athletes, Dunn received an extra year of eligibility due to COVID- 19. Dunn decided that she would use it elsewhere, so she nervously put her name in the transfer portal the second week of March.
“I had a great career at Youngstown, but I feel like I can go bigger and do more,” she said.
Within an hour of being in the portal, Dunn said she had 10 offers. Pitt offered late in March, and the Panthers joined James Madison, Hawaii and San Francisco as the schools she was most seriously considering. Due to this being a recruiting “dead period” for Division I schools, Dunn was unable to take any visits. But with Pitt, there was plenty of familiarity.
“I think the biggest thing for me was when I was growing up my dream was to play for Pitt,” she said. “When I was in high school it was never an option. But once I met the coach, I knew. He’s amazing.”
Chances are that Pitt coach Lance White and his staff must feel similarly about Dunn, whose top schools coming out of Trinity were Youngstown State, Davidson and Mount St. Mary’s.
“I think they like the way I can score the ball,” Dunn said. “My hands are a big thing. I’m always there to catch any pass. They say they can develop me more than I am now. And they like the leadership aspect with me being a three-year captain.”
It might not be long before Dunn is referred to as Dr. Dunn. She said she is thinking about taking classes toward her doctorate degree at Pitt. She graduated from Youngstown State last May after double majoring in communications and sociology. She’s currently working toward a master’s degree in professional communication.
“I had a great career at Youngstown, but I feel like I can go bigger and do more.” — Mary Dunn, Trinity graduate
Another Dunn picks school
Mary Dunn’s younger brother had been weighing his college options in recent weeks, too.
“It’s crazy because I never thought we’d be going through the recruiting process at the same time,” Mary said, laughing.
Sunday, Michael Dunn made a big decision of his own. Dunn, a 6-3 guard at Trinity who was one of the top players in the WPIAL this past season, committed to Shippensburg. Dunn averaged 24 points per game and earned all-section honors during a breakout senior season. He also considered Ave Maria, Saint Vincent, Washington & Jefferson, Waynesburg and La Roche. He visited Ave Maria, an NAIA school located in Florida, over the weekend.
Freshmen earn offers
One of the WPIAL’s top freshman football players and one of its top freshman basketball players both received their first offers last week. Central Catholic linebacker Anthony Speca (6-3, 205), who started on the Vikings’ WPIAL Class 6A championship team, was offered by Pitt. Speca was named a MaxPreps Freshman All-American. He’s the second WPIAL freshman to be offered by Pitt, joining Belle Vernon athlete Quinton Martin. … Lincoln Park’s Brandin Cummings became the first player in the WPIAL’s freshman class to grab a Division I basketball offer. Bryant extended an offer to Cummings, a starter on Lincoln Park’s WPIAL Class 4A championship squad. Cummings, a 6-2 point guard, scored a teamhigh 22 points against North Catholic in the WPIAL final.
Ex-NA player picks Bryant
Speaking of Bryant basketball, a former player at North Allegheny has decided to play at the college located in Smithfield, R.I. Mike Iuzzolino committed there Saturday. Iuzzolino led North Allegheny in scoring in the 2018-19 season before transferring to Canterbury School, Conn. and then First Love Christian. Bryant competes in the Northeast Conference, where Iuzzolino’s father, also named Mike, was a star player. The older Iuzzolino starred at Saint Francis and then played two seasons in the NBA. He’s now an assistant coach at Robert Morris.
Bethel Park grad moving on
Levi Metheny was a standout linebacker at the FCS level. The 2016 Bethel Park graduate might soon be taking his talents to an FBS school. A senior at Albany, Metheny announced last week that he will use his extra year of eligibility at a new school after entering the transfer portal. In 2019, Metheny collected a team-high 120 tackles and was named second-team all-Colonial Athletic Association when he helped Albany reach the FBS playoffs. Metheny played in three games for the Great Danes this spring before sustaining an arm injury.
Football commitments
Connellsville’s Cam King (Geneva); McGuffey’s Nate Witkowsky (Washington & Jefferson).
Soccer commitment
Gateway’s Joelle Jenkins (California, Pa.).