Dan Furman, a 6-foot, 185-pound right-handed pitcher from Monsignor Bonner HS arrived at the PA Top Prospect Games unsigned and planning to attend school somewhere in the Philadelphia area. Three weeks after the event ended Furman had committed to the University of Pittsburgh.

So what changed in three weeks? For starters, Furman was very impressive at the Top Prospect Games. He used a solid lower half to generate good late life on his fastball out of a high 3/4 arm slot. Furman sat 85-87mph with his fastball while also showcasing an 11/5 breaking curveball that sat 73-75mph. He also commanded a 75mph changeup at near fastball arm speed that had solid arm side run.

Furman recently answered some questions for Prep Baseball Report regarding his choice of colleges.

PBR:  Where have you decided to attend college and why did you make this choice?
Furman: I have decided to attend the University of Pittsburgh. I chose Pitt because it offers a world-class education and a great baseball program.

PBR:  What other schools were you considering?
Furman: I was considering Temple, West Chester, Alvernia and a few other Division III schools in the area.

PBR:  Was distance from home a factor in your decision?
Furman: Yes, distance was a factor, but when I was given the opportunity to attend Pitt and play baseball at the University of Pittsburgh I could not turn it down.

PBR:  Where did the coaches first see you?  How did your relationship develop with their coaching staff?
Furman: The Pitt coaches first saw me at one of their prospect camps. I had the opportunity to work with their coaching staff and I realized that they were a group of coaches that I could definitely see myself playing for.

PBR:  What role do the coaches expect you to play your first year on campus?
Furman: The coaches want me to be able to contribute on the mound as a freshman and help the Panthers win ball games.

PBR:  What is your biggest strength as a player and how do you feel that will help your team?
Furman: I feel that my leadership and ability to get hitters out is what will help my team the most. You have to get outs to win championships!

PBR:  Who do you play for in the summer and what was your most memorable experience from this past summer?
Furman: During the summer I played for the Chester County Crawdads which is a group of kids from all over the Philadelphia area. My most memorable experience would have to be winning the Triple Crown U.S. Baseball Championships and being on the mound when the last out was recorded. It was really a special summer.

PBR:  What is your current GPA?
Furman: My current GPA is a 3.6

PBR:  Now that you have your commitment out of the way, what are your goals both individually and for the team going into your senior season?
Furman: As an individual I want to get myself in the best possible shape so that I can help Monsignor Bonner win a Catholic League Championship, a City Championship and a State Championship.

PBR: How did Prep Baseball Report aid you in gaining exposure as a potential college baseball recruit?
Furman: Prep Baseball Report helped in a huge way by promoting me through articles and information on their website. College coaches who had not seen me in person were able to see my video and statistical information and compare me to players they had seen.