Nov. 22, 2010

Khem Birch Bio | Jaylen Bond Bio | Malcolm Gilbert Bio | Durand Johnson Bio | John Johnson Bio | Previous Signing Day Release, Nov. 16, 2010 |

PITTSBURGH--The University of Pittsburgh men's basketball program signed Khem Birch (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec-Canada/Notre Dame Prep, Mass.) to a National Letter of Intent, Head Coach Jamie Dixon announced on Monday. Birch's letter arrived on Wednesday, Nov. 17, the final day of the NCAA Division I fall men's basketball signing period.

Birch joins four other student-athletes who signed a National Letter of Intent with Pitt last week including forward Jaylen Bond (Norristown, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh H.S.), center Malcolm Gilbert (Smyrna, Del./The Academy of the New Church, Pa.), forward Durand Johnson (Baltimore, Md./Brewster Academy, N.H.) and guard John Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Life Center Academy, N.J.).

With the signing, Pitt's 2011 recruiting class was ranked No. 12 nationally by ESPN.com.

Birch, a 6-foot-9, 200-pound forward/center is considered one of the nation's top shot blockers. A consensus top-10 recruit, Birch is currently attending Notre Dame Academy in Fitchburg, Mass. after transferring from Winchendon School (Mass). This summer, he guided the Under-18 Canadian Junior National Team to a bronze medal finish at the World Championships in San Antonio, Texas while averaging 5.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocked shots per game.

No. 5 Pitt (5-0) is back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 23 when it hosts Robert Morris at 7 p.m. The contest will be televised on ESPN Regional and broadcast locally on FSN Pittsburgh.

The following is detailed information on Pitt's 2010-11 men's basketball signees:

PITT'S 2010-11 FALL MEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNEES

(early signing period for men's basketball ran from Nov. 10-17, 2010)

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