Meridian’s Pittman signs with East Mississippi CC

Published 10:50 pm Friday, April 12, 2019

Traemond Pittman’s hard work and dedication culminated with a major reward.

Thursday evening, the senior signed with East Mississippi Community College, ensuring the explosive point guard another two years to play the game he loves.

“It felt pretty special,” Pittman said. “I’m very grateful and very thankful for it because I came from zero offers my junior year, and I (now) have 10. I chose East Mississippi.”

Flanked by family, friends, teammates and members of the Wildcat athletic community, Pittman made his college decision official in an signing ceremony at the school’s multipurpose building.

Pittman was inserted into Meridian’s lineup as a junior and helped guide the Wildcats to a 32-2 record and a berth in the MHSAA Class 6A state championship game that year. 

As a senior, Pittman not only provided Meridian with a consistent source of offense, but his veteran leadership as one of just three seniors served as mentorship to younger players. He finished his senior season averaging 10 points, five rebounds and three assists per game. He earned spots on the All-Region 5-6A and All-State tournament teams. 

“I just bought into what Coach (Ron) Norman told me,” Pittman said. “Before the season, everyone was saying, ‘I can’t do this, and I can’t do that, and Meridian won’t be that.’ I just told myself I was going to face all the odds and beat all the odds, and prove everyone wrong.  And that’s what I did. I just worked hard.”

Pittman made his first visit to East Mississippi in February and followed with another at the end of the high school basketball season.

“My mom went with me that time, and it just felt like I was at home,” Pittman said. “I trust the coaches. I feel like it’s the best place to get me to where I’m trying to go, which is to the next level and D-I.”

Pittman compiled a 58-7 record over the last two years. While he holds the wins and the three consecutive state championship appearances in high regard, he said his growth as a teammate and a mentor are as fulfilling as any on-court accolade. 

“I feel like I’ve grown a lot,” he said. “My junior year, I was a leader on the team, but we had other leaders such as Miles (Miller) and Ty (Brewer). My senior year, I had to lead the team and do everything I could each night to help win a game. I had a lot of juniors on the team, and they didn’t have a lot of experience the previous year because they didn’t get a lot of run. I had to lead and guide them and trust the process. Each and every game, we just got better and better.”  

For Meridian coach Ron Norman, it was but a matter of time before Pittman’s on-court prowess received warranted recognition.

“He’s the ultimate overcomer, and he’s the ultimate competitor,” Norman said. “If I was going to describe Traemond in one word, it would be ‘winner.’ And that’s all he’s done while he’s played this game — is win. East Mississippi is getting one heck of a basketball player.”

While Pittman entered his senior season without an offer, Norman said that changed during the course of the year. Each week, he said, Pittman would collect yet another offer.

“As an 11th grader, he had no offers, nobody (was) thinking he was capable of playing college basketball, to now, he was one of the hottest point guards out there,” Norman said. “It’s gratifying because now all of my kids who think they can’t, see a kid who was not supposed to, do it. And that’s a credit to hard work, and it’s truly going to help me emphasize and reiterate to the kids and tell them to keep working hard because you never know what can happen.”

East Mississippi last season went 19-8 en route to winning the MACJC state championship. The Lions closed the season on a nine-game winning streak that was ended with a loss in the Region 23 tournament quarterfinals. 

“I’m ready to play,” Pittman said. “I’m just ready for the competition, and I feel like it will be a great atmosphere.”