Former DePaul commit Walter Pitchford has verbally committed to Florida for this fall after visiting the campus this past weekend.
“He just felt it was a good fit, their style of play,” Walter Pitchford Sr. said by phone. “On his visit he had a great visit. He felt it was a good fit for them.”
The 6-foot-9, 210-pound Pitchford is a postgrad at Summit Christian Academy in East Lansing, Mich., and a native of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Pitchford joins 6-3 shooting guard Bradley Beal of St. Louis Chaminade in Florida’s 2011 recruiting class.
After getting his release from DePaul last July Pitchford considered Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Arizona State and Minnesota.
He took his only visit to Florida.
“He’s got a chance to be a dynamic wing/forward, kind of a modern four,” Summit Christian coach Steve Ernst said. “Certainly his athleticism and his shooting for a kid his size are pretty rare.”
He’s averaging 17.2 points and 9 rebounds for a team that is 19-16.
Pitchford initially told ZAGSBLOG last summer he wanted out of his NLI to DePaul due to the coaching change that brought in Oliver Purnell and also because of concerns about crime in the Chicago area.
Purnell initially declined to give Pitchford a release, but later relented.
“We were very thankful [for the release],” Pitchford Sr. said in July. “It’s been frustrating but we’re thankful and we’re just going to move on. We thank DePaul for everything they’ve done. DePaul is a fine institution and we wish them great success.”
