Talib Zanna (pronounced Ta-leeb Zah-nah) begins his third season at Pitt after seeing action in 28 games with 13 starts before a broken right thumb injury sidelined him for the season's final seven contests. Most fans remember the Maryland game when he recorded his first double-double in an inspiring 14-point, 12-rebound performance. A power forward, Zanna is a strong, physical athlete who combines skill and athleticism to create matchup problems with the opposition. He possesses a solid mid-range jumper, unique and rare post-up skills and is capable of playing with his back to the basket as well as blocking shots on the defensive end. He loves to attack off the dribble from the outside and is an aggressive and physical rebounder. Over the course of his career, he has done a terrific job of maturing his game from primarily being a defensive player and rebounder to developing a flowing offensive game where he can handle the ball on the break, pull-up and shoot jumpers. Zanna, who earned a medical redshirt during his first season on campus, will have the opportunity to become a major contributor for Pitt in 2011-12.
2010-11
Started the season's first 13 games and has appeared in 27 games at power forward...Missed the last seven games of the season due to a broken right thumb...One double-double on year...Registered double figure scoring in four games and double figure rebounding twice...Earned co-Most Improved Player Award at team banquet...Scored 11 points (5-6 FG), a career-high in conference play, in 15 minutes, with all 11 points coming in the first half vs. USF, 2/16...Registered first career double-double with career-highs of 14 points (5-7 FG) and 12 rebounds in 2K Sports Classic semifinal game vs. Maryland, 11/18...Scored career-high 13 points (5-8 FG), added nine rebounds (five offensive) vs. North Florida, 11/13...Finished with nine points and a career-high 11 rebounds in season opener vs. Rhode Island, 11/8.
2009-10
Earned medical hardship waiver for the 2009-10 season following a right shoulder injury.
HIGH SCHOOL
A 2009 graduate of Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md. where he played three seasons for head coach Marty Keithline...Helped guide Bishop McNamara to a 21-12 record and No. 3 state ranking...Named First Team All-MET by the Washington Post and earned Independent private school all-league honors...Averaged 14.6 points and 11.8 rebounds as a senior...Reached double figure scoring in 22 of 27 games, scored over 20 points five times and finished with 10 double-doubles on the year...Named to the All-Tournament Team at the Bojangles Shootout...Scored a season-high 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds vs. St. Mary's Ryken...Scored 21 points, including four thunderous dunks along with 15 rebounds vs. fellow Pitt signee Lamar Patterson's St. Benedict's Prep team...Finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds vs. White Station...Scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds vs. Carroll...Grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds two times on the year...Earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Capital Area Classic Regional All-Star Game after totaling 21 points and 14 rebounds...Named First Team All-Prince George's County by the Montgomery Gazette and Second Team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference...Averaged 15.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a junior...Led the WCAC in blocked shots at 3.4 per game...Selected Most Valuable Player of the High School Hoops Showcase...Named to the Benedictine Classic All-Tournament Team...Guided McNamara to a 17-12 record as a junior...Recorded triple double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 12 blocks vs. Coolidge at the Gonzaga D.C. Classic...Season-highs included 26 points vs. Georgetown Prep and 22 rebounds vs. Miami Killian...Scored 14 points, pulled down 20 rebounds and blocked four shots in a 61-56 win over Good Counsel...Played for the District All-Star team in the I-95 Elite Challenge following his junior season...Averaged 10.0 points and 11.0 rebounds as a sophomore...His team finished 18-10 during his sophomore year...Named an honorable mention All-WCAC selection and Prince George's County team member as a sophomore...Recorded season-highs of 17 points and 18 rebounds vs. Paul VI...Ranked the nation's No. 53 recruit nationally by Bob Gibbons...Rated the No. 63 player nationally by Scout.com...Ranked by ESPN-U as the nation's 10th best center prospect...Played AAU basketball with the D.C. Blue Devils and Triple Threat AAU teams...Competed with the Blue Devils for coach Keith Stevens...Competed at the Super Showcase...Competed in the Top-100 Africans With Borders NBA Camp in South Africa and was named the Most Valuable Player in the All-Star Game.
PERSONAL
Born Talib Zanna on October 1, 1990...Son of Zanna Awami and Maimuna Zanna...Has three brothers (Nura, Awalu, Ibrahim) and two sisters (Habiba, Maryam)...His father, a successful businessman, passed away not long after he committed to Pitt...Has a picture of his father in his locker and touches it before every game while saying a prayer for him...Nigerian native who moved to the United States in 2006...Fluent in four different languages and could speak English before arriving in the United States...Began playing basketball in Nigeria when he was 10 years old...Early on, he had a goal of traveling to the United States to play basketball...His workout regimen in Nigeria included running mountains to increase his speed, vertical leap and fitness...Discovered by American high school coaches at a big man camp in Lagos, which was run by his mentor and former Georgetown player Godwin Owinje...Devout Muslim...Early in his childhood he played soccer but following a growth spurt he switched to basketball...Visited Pitt on the weekend of Sept. 19 with fellow signees Lamar Patterson and Dante Taylor...Added 30 pounds in his three years in the United States...Chose Pitt for its coaching staff, playing time and educational opportunities...Selected Pitt over Villanova, Virginia, Oklahoma, Georgetown, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Colorado, Providence, West Virginia, Connecticut, Oklahoma and Boston College..Enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences and plans to major in business.
CAREER HIGHS
Points: 14, vs. Maryland, 11/18/10. FG made: 5, three times- South Florida, 2/16/11; vs. Maryland, 11/18/10; North Florida, 11/13/10. FG attempts: 8, North Florida, 11/13/10. 3FG Made: None. 3FG attempts: 1, North Florida, 11/13/10. FT made: 4, three times- Seton Hall, 1/15/11; Rider, 12/4/10; vs. Maryland, 11/18/10. FT attempts: 7, vs. Maryland, 11/18/10. Rebounds: 12, vs. Maryland, 11/18/10. Off. Rebs.: 5, North Florida, 11/13/10. Def. Rebs.: 9, vs. Maryland, 11/18/10. Assists: 2, Maryland Eastern Shore, 11/18/10. Steals: 2, Cincinnati, 2/5/11. Blocks 2, Rhode Island, 11/8/10. Minutes: 23, Maryland, 11/18/10.
2010-11 SEASON HIGHS
Points: 14, vs. Maryland, 11/18. Rebounds: 12, vs. Maryland, 11/18. Assists: 2, Maryland Eastern Shore, 12/18. Steals: 2, Cincinnati, 2/5. Blocks: 2, Rhode Island, 11/8. Minutes: 23, vs. Maryland, 11/18.
