Jeff Capel: Pitt in 'Good Space' With G Dior Johnson Suspended Indefinitely
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PITTSBURGH -- Dior Johnson had barely been on campus for three full months when he was arrested for felony assault and a litany of other charges late last week. Johnson's preliminary hearing is scheduled for a little over a week from now and the Pitt Panthers are making preparation for life without him while he waits out an indefinite suspension.
At ACC Media Day in Charlotte, North Carolina, Panthers head coach Jeff Capel declined to comment on the matter further and said he isn't concerned about having to play without Johnson, a former blue-chip that was the cornerstone of a decorated recruiting class.
"It's with the law now, so there's nothing any of us can say about that. ... We put out a statement, and that's the statement we'll go with," Capel said. "We feel for him, but we're good. As a program we're good. We're in a good space."
Capel said at the onset of preseason practices that this is the most talented roster he's had during his tenure at Pitt and Johnson, a former top-100 player in the class of 2023, was certainly a part of that, but this team is loaded with experienced transfers from across Division I as well, particularly in the backcourt.
Jamarius Burton, who arrived at Pitt after transferring from Texas Tech and Wichita State, averaged north of 12 points per game last season. Nelly Cummings was the lead point guard for an NCAA Tournament team in Colgate. Nike Sibande, a career 1,000-point scorer, is back from a knee injury. And former Marquette sharpshooter Greg Elliot will give the Panthers another reliable option should Johnson be suspended for some or all of the 2022-23 season.
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