June 18, 2008

PITTSBURGH -

Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato announced Wednesday the signing of Sarah Ogoke and Brittaney Thomas to her 2008 signing class. The two guards join Pitt’s early signees, Kate Popovec, a 6-3 center from Canfield, Ohio, and Shawnice “Pepper” Wilson, a 6-6 center from Pittsburgh.

“Both girls offer depth for us at the guard position and we need that,” Berenato said. “Their chemistry was terrific with the staff and team on their visits and both know what it takes to be winners. They will help take us to the next level.”

Ogoke, a 5-8 guard from Sugar Land, Texas, helped lead Dulles High School to a 34-5 record her senior season and two district championships. The First Team All-District 23 5A member was also named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-Region Team, was a Houston Top 20 Award winner and was a Greater Houston Area Association All-Star.

“Sarah will offer us depth immediately,” Berenato said. “She is a phenomenal student-athlete and we expect her to see action right away.”

As a senior at Dulles, Ogoke averaged 10.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 4.0 steals from the point and was awarded as her high school’s Best All-Around Athlete in 2007-08. Ogoke was a three-year letterwinner in track and was a National Honor Society candidate, winning the Academic Excellence Award.

“I chose the University of Pittsburgh because I was impressed with their continued success in athletics, the family atmosphere among the coaching staff and players, the superior academics and the amazing city,” Ogoke said.

Thomas, a 5-8 guard from Montgomery, Ala., was a 2006 McDonald’s High School All-America nominee while at Jefferson Davis High. She was named a Street & Smith’s High School All-America Honorable Mention, a 2004 and 2005 Adidas Top Ten All-America Camp invitee and received a ranking of No. 27 shooting guard in the country by All-Star Girls Report in 2006.

“We recruited Brittany a few years ago but the distance was an issue for her and her family,” Berenato stated. “Things didn’t work out for her and she called us. We are excited to get a commitment from her because she will help us on a daily basis to get better and will add to our competitive practice environment.”

In 2006, Thomas was named as a finalist for the 6A State Player of the Year, was a 6A First Team All-State and a member of the Alabama Super Five All-State Team. The finalist for Alabama Miss Basketball is a transfer from the University of Florida and will sit out the 2008-09 season due to NCAA rules.

At the University of Florida, Thomas appeared in 60 games over two seasons, and earned SEC Player of the Week honors for her play against Xavier as a sophomore.

“During my official visit, I could feel the sincere family-like closeness of the players, coaching staff and support staff,” Thomas said. “I was looking for a lot of things and I feel all of this at Pitt. I truly believe the team, Coach Berenato and her staff will help me be the best student-athlete I can be to help the team win a championship, while at the same time, prepare me for graduation to be the best person I can be after basketball.”

Pitt concluded the 2007-08 season with a 24-11 record overall and the Panthers’ first-ever trip to the Sweet 16. The team returns three starters and seven letterwinners from the squad.