Three Panthers to Participate in NCAA Final Four Activities

March 29, 2011

HOUSTON--Three Pitt basketball seniors - Gilbert Brown, Gary McGhee and Brad Wanamaker - will participate in NCAA Final Four related activities later this week in Houston. Incoming freshman Khem Birch will compete in two nationally televised All-Star Games.

Brown will compete in the 23^rd annual ESPN Slam Dunk contest which will be televised nationally on a tape delayed basis by ESPN2 on Thursday, March 31 between 9 p.m.-11 p.m. ET. The event is being held at the University of Houston's Hofheinz Pavilion. Brown becomes the second Pitt player to compete in the event as Julius Page participated in 2004.

McGhee and Wanamaker will play in the NABC Reese's College All-Star Game on Friday, April 1 at 5:35 p.m. ET at Reliant Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on truTV. McGhee and Wanamaker will represent the East squad, which will include five total Big East players and will be coached by former collegiate coach Bill Foster.

Birch will play in the 2011 McDonald's All-American Game held on Wednesday, March 30 at the United Center in Chicago. Tipoff is at 10 p.m. ET and the contest will be televised live on ESPN. Birch is also slated to participate in the Jordan Brand High School All-Star Game, scheduled for Saturday, April 16 at 8 p.m. ET at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C. That game will be televised live on ESPN2.

In addition, Wanamaker and junior guard Ashton Gibbs each earned Associated Press All-America honorable mention honors, it was announced Monday by the news organization.

2010-11 PITT HONORS AND AWARDS

ALL-AMERICA

The Sporting News National Coach of the Year

Jamie Dixon

Finalist

Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year

Wooden Award Finalist

Ashton Gibbs

Brad Wanamaker

Naismith Award Finalist

Brad Wanamaker

AP All-America honorable mention