Portal players of Pitt interest--so far

[gary2]

Pitt Contacts Ball State Transfer Payton Sparks for Second-Straight Year in Portal

As the transfer portal heats up, the Pitt basketball staff continues to reach out to prospects from all over. The most recent prospect to hear from Pitt is Payton Sparks, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward from Winchester, Indiana. Sparks played two seasons for Ball State, averaging near identical...

pittsburghsportsnow.com

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

This appears, IMHO, to suggest that the staff is looking for a physically strong backup for Fede so that the Twins can play facing the basket rather than as back to the basket backup 5s.

It also suggests that they aren't limiting their interest to only finding shooters to replace Elliot, Sibande and Burton.

Notice also, from the portal list on PSN that they are apparently standing pat at point guard with Dior Johnson and incoming freshman Jayland Lowe and not looking for a Nellie Cummings replacement in the portal.

 

[gary2]

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

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Hmm. Who had that one

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

They were one of the Big 12 eight.

B12 9
Kansas getting a bid every year. 9 others fighting for 6 bids.

 

[gary2]

Hmm. Who had that one

You did. Any update on Brakefield?

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

You did. Any update on Brakefield?

Probably staying at ole miss now that 2 time transfers won’t be allowed immediate eligibility

 

[pittbb80]

Probably staying at ole miss now that 2 time transfers won’t be allowed immediate eligibility

Just curious how long do they have to sit out?

 

[gary2]

Probably staying at ole miss now that 2 time transfers won’t be allowed immediate eligibility

Thanks for the reply

 

[gary2]

Probably staying at ole miss now that 2 time transfers won’t be allowed immediate eligibility

Does that apply to grad transfers?

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

Does that apply to grad transfers?

No

 

[TD_6082]

I am being more selective. I worry about players coming from losing programs/bad cultures. That was the worst coached team I've seen.

And some guys, like the 5-star kid from Tennessee, transfer to schools like Louisville because they don't like being coached. That pipeline does indeed flow both ways.

 

[gary2]

No

Thanks

 

[Elsalvador]

@BballinsiderfromPitt Anything new on Pitt’s efforts in the portal??

 

[gary2]

@BballinsiderfromPitt Anything new on Pitt’s efforts in the portal??

Believe he mentioned 4 players he was pitching. Brakefield and Talon Cooper identified as two. I don't know the 2 others.

 

[Elsalvador]

Hopefully, we start seeing some visits being finalized.

 

[Pittnerski]

Girard from Cuse…

 

[gary2]

 

[gary2]

Wonder how many of the same we are pursuing?

 

[Buster2016]

Wonder how many of the same we are pursuing?

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Pretty sure so far it would only be Ledlum, Austin, Styles, and Cooper.

 

[Drew1208]

Wonder how many of the same we are pursuing?

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4 officially but I bet it's almost half that list

 

[JD1976]

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

@BballinsiderfromPitt Anything new on Pitt’s efforts in the portal??

Hey, sorry I don’t know how I missed this.

Brakefield I believe is staying at Ole Miss because he won’t graduate in May and would have to sit out. Gonna give it one year with Beard and possibly grad transfer now. He makes around 250k NIL so not sure we were priced into that one.

Not sure how much interest there is in Cooper. He seems to want to go back down south too.

Amzil was just on a visit to South Carolina with Okkk Federiko. Not sure how this aligns with his goals that he told me. Not sure if Pitt is truly interested in him either.

2 others are still not in the portal.

I don’t know anything about anyone else they’re pursuing

 

[Drew1208]

Hey, sorry I don’t know how I missed this.

Brakefield I believe is staying at Ole Miss because he won’t graduate in May and would have to sit out. Gonna give it one year with Beard and possibly grad transfer now. He makes around 250k NIL so not sure we were priced into that one.

Not sure how much interest there is in Cooper. He seems to want to go back down south too.

Amzil was just on a visit to South Carolina with Okkk Federiko. Not sure how this aligns with his goals that he told me. Not sure if Pitt is truly interested in him either.

2 others are still not in the portal.

I don’t know anything about anyone else they’re pursuing

Thanks for the update

 

[gary2]

 

[gary2]

Hey, sorry I don’t know how I missed this.

Brakefield I believe is staying at Ole Miss because he won’t graduate in May and would have to sit out. Gonna give it one year with Beard and possibly grad transfer now. He makes around 250k NIL so not sure we were priced into that one.

Not sure how much interest there is in Cooper. He seems to want to go back down south too.

Amzil was just on a visit to South Carolina with Okkk Federiko. Not sure how this aligns with his goals that he told me. Not sure if Pitt is truly interested in him either.

2 others are still not in the portal.

I don’t know anything about anyone else they’re pursuing

That is too bad about Cooper.

I like him, though I wish he shot free throws better.