I know Pitt's recruiting will definitely take a step into the spotlight once the actual season ends. Pitt has a winnable game tonight, but we are certainly in the last few days of the season however it shakes out in Charlotte.
So here are my thoughts on the 8 (or 9) guys that are eligible return next season. I will make a case for why they should stay, why they should leave, and what they need to do if they do stay.
1) Xavier Johnson
Why he should stay: He put together one of the best season for a freshmen in Pitt history. He is the centerpiece behind the program's rebuild.
What he should leave: He isn't and he shouldn't
What he needs to improve on next season: Johnson needs to play under control more often. I know a lot of his turnovers are blamed on dropped passes on the bigs, but if you take those away he's still committing quite a bit of turnovers with travels and bad passes. I think the game will slow down for him, and the turnovers will go down naturally.
2) Trey McGowens
Why he should stay: He is one of the most athletic guards to ever put on a Pitt uniform. He has tremendous upside and showed that throughout the first half of the season.
What he should leave: He isn't and he shouldn't
What he needs to improve on next season: McGowens is a great defender already, but a lot of work will need to be done to his offensive game. He can certainly improve upon his 31% from three. He needs a more consistent jump shot, and like Johnson, just needs to play under control. He makes bad decisions quite often. I think the game will slow down for him next year, and he'll be more consistent.
3) Au'Diese Toney
Why he should stay: Toney gained invaluable experience this season and spent most of the year in the starting lineup when that wasn't always expected. He is expected to be a big part of the Pitt rebuild.
What he should leave: He isn't and he shouldn't.
What he needs to improve on next season: Capel and Toney need to decide what he is going to be moving forward. As an undersized four, he got manhandled during most of the ACC slate when he played inside. When he stepped out and shot 3's, he only hit them at a 25% clip. So is he going to be a shooter or scrapper inside? They need to make that determination this offseason. He can rebound and defend though, and that will play at this level either way.
4) Sidy N'dir
Why he should stay: Pitt needs an extra guard, and N'dir is versatile and can provide that. He can defend three spots, and can spell either Johnson or McGowens or play alongside both of them. Pitt needs another guard for next season and he would be an easy plug and play.
What he should leave: He might not get a sixth year for one, and he could probably go play overseas and make some money as well.
What he needs to improve on next season: Like most grad transfers, N'dir was capable of being a good player at times, but would often be inconsistent. His 15 points against Wake Forest earlier this year were huge and kept Pitt in that game, but he also just went through a six-game stretch when he was 0-of-23 from 3-pointers. So if he were to stay next year, he needs to get his shot in better shape. For being a reserved guard for two guys that turn it over a lot, he could also cutback on turnovers.
5) Terrell Brown
Why he should stay: He has a 7'3" wingspan and can block shots. Terrell Brown scored in double-figures in 7/18 games in the ACC, which was third on the team tied with McGowens. When he played well, he's pretty good and useful.
What he should leave: ...but when he's bad - he's really bad. Brown struggled often and seemed to butt heads with Capel about his effort at times.
What he needs to improve on next season: Brown got better this season from last year, but obviously not as much as some would have hoped. He just needs to continue to progress and might benefit from having more help inside next year.
6) Malik Ellison
Why he should stay: Pitt won't have many seniors next year if he walks out the door. He's a captain and well liked by his teammates. He helps keep class balance, and can play multiple spots on the floor. I also think he's working on a degree, and wants to stay.
What he should leave: Pitt seems to be recruiting a lot of guys at his position. He was not as good as Pitt had hoped, and his play this year was a big disappointment. He could find a more prominent role at a mid-major
What he needs to improve on next season: If he stays, he needs to find his shot again. Overall, he makes 44% of his shots, which was a career-high for him. But he was a 34% 3-point shooter as a sophomore at Saint John's and only a 18% shooter here at Pitt. It's kind of weird how his outside shot fell apart, so if he stays, he needs to get it back
7) Kene Chukwuaka
Why he should stay: Like Ellison, he would provide senior leadership and help balance the class moving forward. He has one of the better games of his career recently against Miami. He hustles and provides energy.
What he should leave: There's a sense if he moves to his more natural spot of PF that he will improve, but I'm still not sure that'll make a huge difference. He mostly had mid-major offers and that's probably more of his problem than playing out of position.
What he needs to improve on next season: He needs to get stronger. Even if he slides over to the four, he's still too skinny to play in the ACC for being 6'9". He won't be a guy logging huge minutes if he returns, but he just needs to take advantage of the minutes he would get.
8) Khameron Davis
Why he should stay: Capel likes him. He's a good defender and a good locker room guy. He's not afraid to lead and tell teammates what to do, even as the 8th or 9th man this season.
What he should leave: He just doesn't provide enough offense. He shot OK as a freshman, but took a step back this year.
What he needs to improve on next season: He just needs to be more aggressive if he stays at Pitt. His defense will play fine at Pitt, but he doesn't give them enough offense to justify playing him for long stretches. If he could be a threat, he would be more useful.
9) Samson George
Why he should stay: He might be content to go to Pitt for free despite nearly ever getting into games.
What he should leave: He could go to a mid-major and likely play a lot more. He's not giving anything of value other than be a practice body at Pitt right now.
What he needs to improve on next season: If he stays, he at least needs to be an option. He can't take up a scholarship and not provide any sort of playing time.
So here are my thoughts on the 8 (or 9) guys that are eligible return next season. I will make a case for why they should stay, why they should leave, and what they need to do if they do stay.
1) Xavier Johnson
Why he should stay: He put together one of the best season for a freshmen in Pitt history. He is the centerpiece behind the program's rebuild.
What he should leave: He isn't and he shouldn't
What he needs to improve on next season: Johnson needs to play under control more often. I know a lot of his turnovers are blamed on dropped passes on the bigs, but if you take those away he's still committing quite a bit of turnovers with travels and bad passes. I think the game will slow down for him, and the turnovers will go down naturally.
2) Trey McGowens
Why he should stay: He is one of the most athletic guards to ever put on a Pitt uniform. He has tremendous upside and showed that throughout the first half of the season.
What he should leave: He isn't and he shouldn't
What he needs to improve on next season: McGowens is a great defender already, but a lot of work will need to be done to his offensive game. He can certainly improve upon his 31% from three. He needs a more consistent jump shot, and like Johnson, just needs to play under control. He makes bad decisions quite often. I think the game will slow down for him next year, and he'll be more consistent.
3) Au'Diese Toney
Why he should stay: Toney gained invaluable experience this season and spent most of the year in the starting lineup when that wasn't always expected. He is expected to be a big part of the Pitt rebuild.
What he should leave: He isn't and he shouldn't.
What he needs to improve on next season: Capel and Toney need to decide what he is going to be moving forward. As an undersized four, he got manhandled during most of the ACC slate when he played inside. When he stepped out and shot 3's, he only hit them at a 25% clip. So is he going to be a shooter or scrapper inside? They need to make that determination this offseason. He can rebound and defend though, and that will play at this level either way.
4) Sidy N'dir
Why he should stay: Pitt needs an extra guard, and N'dir is versatile and can provide that. He can defend three spots, and can spell either Johnson or McGowens or play alongside both of them. Pitt needs another guard for next season and he would be an easy plug and play.
What he should leave: He might not get a sixth year for one, and he could probably go play overseas and make some money as well.
What he needs to improve on next season: Like most grad transfers, N'dir was capable of being a good player at times, but would often be inconsistent. His 15 points against Wake Forest earlier this year were huge and kept Pitt in that game, but he also just went through a six-game stretch when he was 0-of-23 from 3-pointers. So if he were to stay next year, he needs to get his shot in better shape. For being a reserved guard for two guys that turn it over a lot, he could also cutback on turnovers.
5) Terrell Brown
Why he should stay: He has a 7'3" wingspan and can block shots. Terrell Brown scored in double-figures in 7/18 games in the ACC, which was third on the team tied with McGowens. When he played well, he's pretty good and useful.
What he should leave: ...but when he's bad - he's really bad. Brown struggled often and seemed to butt heads with Capel about his effort at times.
What he needs to improve on next season: Brown got better this season from last year, but obviously not as much as some would have hoped. He just needs to continue to progress and might benefit from having more help inside next year.
6) Malik Ellison
Why he should stay: Pitt won't have many seniors next year if he walks out the door. He's a captain and well liked by his teammates. He helps keep class balance, and can play multiple spots on the floor. I also think he's working on a degree, and wants to stay.
What he should leave: Pitt seems to be recruiting a lot of guys at his position. He was not as good as Pitt had hoped, and his play this year was a big disappointment. He could find a more prominent role at a mid-major
What he needs to improve on next season: If he stays, he needs to find his shot again. Overall, he makes 44% of his shots, which was a career-high for him. But he was a 34% 3-point shooter as a sophomore at Saint John's and only a 18% shooter here at Pitt. It's kind of weird how his outside shot fell apart, so if he stays, he needs to get it back
7) Kene Chukwuaka
Why he should stay: Like Ellison, he would provide senior leadership and help balance the class moving forward. He has one of the better games of his career recently against Miami. He hustles and provides energy.
What he should leave: There's a sense if he moves to his more natural spot of PF that he will improve, but I'm still not sure that'll make a huge difference. He mostly had mid-major offers and that's probably more of his problem than playing out of position.
What he needs to improve on next season: He needs to get stronger. Even if he slides over to the four, he's still too skinny to play in the ACC for being 6'9". He won't be a guy logging huge minutes if he returns, but he just needs to take advantage of the minutes he would get.
8) Khameron Davis
Why he should stay: Capel likes him. He's a good defender and a good locker room guy. He's not afraid to lead and tell teammates what to do, even as the 8th or 9th man this season.
What he should leave: He just doesn't provide enough offense. He shot OK as a freshman, but took a step back this year.
What he needs to improve on next season: He just needs to be more aggressive if he stays at Pitt. His defense will play fine at Pitt, but he doesn't give them enough offense to justify playing him for long stretches. If he could be a threat, he would be more useful.
9) Samson George
Why he should stay: He might be content to go to Pitt for free despite nearly ever getting into games.
What he should leave: He could go to a mid-major and likely play a lot more. He's not giving anything of value other than be a practice body at Pitt right now.
What he needs to improve on next season: If he stays, he at least needs to be an option. He can't take up a scholarship and not provide any sort of playing time.
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