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PILGRIM TO CINCINNATI

By Jeff Goodman
JGood67213@aol.com
October 25, 2002

When it came down to it, Mike Pilgrim chose home and exposure over family.

The 6-7, 210-pound Brewster Academy forward, who hails from Cincinnati, committed to Bob Huggins’ Cincinnati program instead of joining his first cousin, Seton Hall head coach Louis Orr.

``Seton Hall is a big-time program, no doubt about it," Pilgrim told PrepStars.com. "But UC is already there as being established and a great program. They will help prepare me so I can hopefully get to the next level."

Pilgrim, who also considered Boston College and Virginia, told Brewster Academy coach Jason Smith around noon this afternoon and followed it up with a call to Cincinnati assistant and former Bearcat player Keith LeGree. He then called Orr as well as coaches from both BC and Virginia.

Pilgrim just returned this past weekend from official trips to both Virginia and Cincinnati. The Bearcats were the last of the four finalists to offer when they did so last week.

Pilgrim averaged 17.9 points and nine rebounds per game last season at Cincinnati Purcell Marian High and came to Brewster to bring up his core GPA. He has already achieved a 24 on the ACT.

``It’s no disrespect to my cousin, Louis, but they just aren’t quite as established as UC," Pilgrim added. "I thought UC would be better for my development. Cincinnati is already there in my eyes."

Pilgrim is a tremendous athlete who can penetrate to the basket and is working hard at improving his perimeter game while at Brewster. Some coaches see him as a combo forward while others project him more as a 2-3 guy.

He said that the Cincinnati staff told him he could step in right away and fight for minutes as a freshman. Pilgrim was not a diehard UC fan growing up, but has always admired their up-and-down, wide-open style of play.

Prior to the summer, Pilgrim was being looked at mainly by mid-major programs. However, spending the summer with the Cleveland Basketball Club piqued the interest of several big-time programs and it all culminated with the decision on Friday.

``Now all I have to focus on is my game and the grades," Pilgrim said.