Three Transfer Portal Targets for Pitt
PITTSBURGH -- The dust has settled on the Pitt Panthers 2022-23 season after an NCAA Tournament loss to Xavier in the second round. As head coach Jeff Capel said in his postgame press conference, the work preparing for next season begins now and that means diving into the transfer portal to search for reinforcements.
Four of the Panthers' top six by minutes played are guards and each of the four will be on their way out of the program at the end of this semester. With that in mind, the coaching staff will likely prioritize wings and guards, which will be plentiful in the portal this offseason.
Damien Dunn -- Temple
Dunn, a three-year starter for the Owls and two-time All-AAC selection, will be one of the hottest names in the portal after averaging 15.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game during the 2022-23 season. His name showed up in the portal officially just this week but things move fast in the transfer market and he will have plenty of suitors soon.
He is listed as a guard, but at 6'5 and 165-pounds, he could fit better on the wing, leaving room for Pitt to use blue-chip sophomore Dior Johnson or talented incoming freshmen Jaland Lowe or Carlton Carrington as primary ball handlers. As a 34.8% 3-point shooter, cable shot maker from the mid-range and strong driver, he's an easy fit with whoever the Panthers surround him with offensively.
After the success Jeff Capel and company had drawing older players through the portal, Dunn's experience is a plus too.
Jared Bynum -- Providence
I mentioned Lowe, Johnson and Carrington as potential options to do the bulk of the ball handling for Pitt next season but they're young and taking some pressure off of them while they learn the ropes in college basketball wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. That's where Bynum comes in.
Ed Cooley's departure from Providence for Georgetown will send many talented Friars rushing to the transfer portal and Bynum, who made the decision to transfer this week. A former All-Big East second team and Sixth Man of the Year selection, Bynum could star in the ACC for the Panthers. He owns a career assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.33 while averaging 10.3 points per game. His 3-point shooting took a major dive this season after he posted a career-high in percentage (41.3%) and attempts (3.6 per game) in 2021-22, but wi
Both his career arc and playing style looks strikingly similar to Nelly Cummings', who was a crucial asset as Pitt's offensive catalyst from the starting point guard spot.
Zack Austin -- High Point
Austin had been linked to the Panthers ever since the portal opened officially weeks ago and it's easy to see why the Panthers would want to reach out as soon as possible. He's a somewhat undersized forward but Austin can score and rebound with the best of them.
After a spectacular 2021-22 season, Austin was named an All-Big South selection and the Big South Rookie of the Year. Over his two years at High Point, he averaged 14.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 42.4% from the field and 75.7% from the free throw line. And his production didn't take much of a dip when he faced better competition - over four games against Power 5 teams, he made 36% of his 3-pointers and averaged 12 points, 5.5 rebounds two assists and a block per game. He did shoot just 33.3% from the floor in those contests, however.
In addition to losing experience, the Panthers will enter the offseason without five of their top six scorers and four of their top six rebounders. Austin can address both of those things right away.
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