NORTHVILLE - Just a year-and-a-half ago Joey Broughton weighed 140 pounds and was throwing 75 miles an hour. Now the 6-1 185-pound  Northville junior is hitting 88 on the radar and a University of Pittsburgh commit.

“I got in the gym to get where I am today,” the third-rated 2024 left-handed pitcher in Michigan said.

Interest from Pittsburgh started during the summer when Broughton was seen pitching in Ohio for the Motor City Hit Dogs.

“They saw video on twitter so they came to see me,” the 16-year-old reflected. “I talked to them that night and they gave me an offer. It was a very surreal moment. Two days later I went on a visit and they took me on a tour to look at the classrooms and dorms. I loved everything about it.”

Three days after a commitment was made.

“I talked it over with family,” Broughton noted. “The coaches, the campus … I loved everything there. I knew it was the place I wanted to be.”

The 10th-ranked junior in Michigan had been to Pitt one time prior for a camp.

“The architecture of the buildings just stuck out,” Broughton said. “The class sizes are small which is another drawn-in factor for me.”

The southpaw made an impression on Pittsburgh as well.

“I’m a left-hander who’s projectable,” Broughton explained. “They like how I throw the ball, the curve and the change. What the staff said motivated me to work to be bigger and stronger so I’m ready to earn the money when I go there.”

The idea of being part of college baseball has been in the mind of Broughton for some time.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing college sports,” Broughton related. “It seemed like a dream in September of last year. That’s when coaches started to reach out and that motivated me to start to pursue this dream.”

Broughton had an offer from Dayton and was talking with Michigan State and Kent State during his recruitment, but the Atlantic Coast Conference school located five hours from home was an easy choice in the eyes of the Northville junior.

“Pitt, in my opinion, blew everyone out of the water from a coaching and campus perspective,” Broughton said. “It was just the best option for me.”

There was help in getting to the point of a commitment according to Broughton.

“Going to the Procase in the winter really helped me out,” Broughton noted. “I saw all my hard work was paying off and was pleased with my numbers. To be able to tweet those out really helped a ton with coaches.”

It has the left-hander confident about his future and what he can provide the program at Pitt.

“I consider myself a very competitive person,” Broughton explained. “I like to play the position with energy. I want to go there and show that Michigan kids can play baseball.”

A college major is an uncertainty at this time, with business a possibility for the 3.5 student, who is thrilled to have his recruitment come to an end.

“It was a dream come true, a real emotional time for me,” Broughton said of making a commitment. “I was overwhelmed and so happy. My parents were so proud of me. It was just a great feeling overall.”

The hope is more great feelings are ahead at Pittsburgh.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people,” Broughton concluded. “I’m an outgoing person and I’m going to cherish meeting people from all over. That will be cool for me. I’m also excited to go out and be on my own. I’m excited for it all.”