And I have asked him repeatedly why. So since he, and you all know who he is, refuses to explain his position, making him look like a Capel relative or a .bot created by Capel's family to defend him, I will do some prosecution.
I won't even go there in previous head coaching stops how his teams have regressed, and in Oklahoma's case, significantly regressed. I am just merely focusing on player acquisition.
So...Jeff Capel is hired at Pitt, after Kevin Stallings was fired from an 0-18 ACC season. Most of the team transferred. In comes Capel riding in from Duke and recruiting guys like Zion, Marvin Bagley, all the way back to Blake Griffin at Oklahoma. He had undoubtedly some "recruiting chops".
2018-19 So Capel comes in from a successful run as Duke's #1 recruiter and convinces Trey McGowens and Au'diese Toney to reclassify up, and Xavier Johnson to flip from Nebraska to Oklahoma. Capel sold them on playing time, the ACC, of his Duke's experiences, his ability to develop young guards. Xavier Johnson becomes the only non lottery NBA pick on the ACC All Freshman team, and Trey McGowens becomes the only true Freshman to score 30 points in a game twice in ACC history. The team wasn't overly successful, but there was alot to sell.
2019-20. Maybe the first major flag should be raised. He pulled in an unheralded Justin Champagnie, again reclassing up, but not his twin brother. Gerald Drumgoole was fairly decently regarded, but honestly his offer list was nothing great, and also Kareem Coulabily who only other offer was St Joseph and Ryan Murphy, an after thought. A disappointing class considering how good the first class was and the success those freshman had. Again, that should have been a flag. However, Justin Champagnie had a fantastic Freshman year and made the ACC All Freshman team. After the season, Trey McGowens, a starter, transferred.
2020-21. Capel brought in his best class yet. Consensus 4 stars John Hugley and William Jeffress. No doubt helped by the success of guys like Champagnie and Johnson. Also, Noah Collier, Max Admunsen and transfer Nike Sibande and Ithiel Horton. Despite losing Hugley to a police matter, Pitt started off 8-2, beat Syracuse twice, Northwestern, Miami and beat Duke. After that, Capel was given a huge extension. Champagnie became a star and not just an ACC POY candidate but also national and All American honors. Alas....all was not well behnd the scenes.. Pitt lost 10 of its next 12 and COVID shelved the season. There were fights, and towards the end of the season, starting guards Xavier Johnson and Au'diese Toney left the team and transferred. The entire FR class that Capel recruited left before they even finished their Jr years. Justin Champagnie then declared for the NBA draft. Gerald Drumgoole transferred. Coulabily transferred.
2021-22. Now what? No longer can Jeff Capel sell a future. His best talent have left the program. Off the court issues have clouded the program. On the court success is not happening. Last place finishes in the ACC abound. Capel lands only one recruit, lightly recruited Nate Santos, and some transfers including Mo Geuye and Jamarius Burton. Pitt again is at the bottom of the ACC, 11-21 record. This time Ithiel Horton is suspended for most of the season for police matters. Mo Gueye turned out great. Burton was a decent player. Hugley lived up to expectations, and miraculously stayed for next year. So far.
2022-23. Horton transferred. Collier. 7 spots open. No high school recruits again. Capel is on every hot seat list, I imagine it is impossible to recruit kids when they ask the question "will you be here after next year". Transfers wanting to win and play in the NCAA's isn't coming here. Nelly Cummings did because we are home, But now what do you sell? Playing time? Alot of teams sell playing time? Capel's really only hope is lower level kids who want to play in the ACC. And we are loosely in the ACC, we barely make a highlight on the ACCN during basketball season.
So.....now, how exactly is Capel going to turn this around? Him and Jason are going to go into a time machine and recreate 20 year old facsmile of themselves???
I won't even go there in previous head coaching stops how his teams have regressed, and in Oklahoma's case, significantly regressed. I am just merely focusing on player acquisition.
So...Jeff Capel is hired at Pitt, after Kevin Stallings was fired from an 0-18 ACC season. Most of the team transferred. In comes Capel riding in from Duke and recruiting guys like Zion, Marvin Bagley, all the way back to Blake Griffin at Oklahoma. He had undoubtedly some "recruiting chops".
2018-19 So Capel comes in from a successful run as Duke's #1 recruiter and convinces Trey McGowens and Au'diese Toney to reclassify up, and Xavier Johnson to flip from Nebraska to Oklahoma. Capel sold them on playing time, the ACC, of his Duke's experiences, his ability to develop young guards. Xavier Johnson becomes the only non lottery NBA pick on the ACC All Freshman team, and Trey McGowens becomes the only true Freshman to score 30 points in a game twice in ACC history. The team wasn't overly successful, but there was alot to sell.
2019-20. Maybe the first major flag should be raised. He pulled in an unheralded Justin Champagnie, again reclassing up, but not his twin brother. Gerald Drumgoole was fairly decently regarded, but honestly his offer list was nothing great, and also Kareem Coulabily who only other offer was St Joseph and Ryan Murphy, an after thought. A disappointing class considering how good the first class was and the success those freshman had. Again, that should have been a flag. However, Justin Champagnie had a fantastic Freshman year and made the ACC All Freshman team. After the season, Trey McGowens, a starter, transferred.
2020-21. Capel brought in his best class yet. Consensus 4 stars John Hugley and William Jeffress. No doubt helped by the success of guys like Champagnie and Johnson. Also, Noah Collier, Max Admunsen and transfer Nike Sibande and Ithiel Horton. Despite losing Hugley to a police matter, Pitt started off 8-2, beat Syracuse twice, Northwestern, Miami and beat Duke. After that, Capel was given a huge extension. Champagnie became a star and not just an ACC POY candidate but also national and All American honors. Alas....all was not well behnd the scenes.. Pitt lost 10 of its next 12 and COVID shelved the season. There were fights, and towards the end of the season, starting guards Xavier Johnson and Au'diese Toney left the team and transferred. The entire FR class that Capel recruited left before they even finished their Jr years. Justin Champagnie then declared for the NBA draft. Gerald Drumgoole transferred. Coulabily transferred.
2021-22. Now what? No longer can Jeff Capel sell a future. His best talent have left the program. Off the court issues have clouded the program. On the court success is not happening. Last place finishes in the ACC abound. Capel lands only one recruit, lightly recruited Nate Santos, and some transfers including Mo Geuye and Jamarius Burton. Pitt again is at the bottom of the ACC, 11-21 record. This time Ithiel Horton is suspended for most of the season for police matters. Mo Gueye turned out great. Burton was a decent player. Hugley lived up to expectations, and miraculously stayed for next year. So far.
2022-23. Horton transferred. Collier. 7 spots open. No high school recruits again. Capel is on every hot seat list, I imagine it is impossible to recruit kids when they ask the question "will you be here after next year". Transfers wanting to win and play in the NCAA's isn't coming here. Nelly Cummings did because we are home, But now what do you sell? Playing time? Alot of teams sell playing time? Capel's really only hope is lower level kids who want to play in the ACC. And we are loosely in the ACC, we barely make a highlight on the ACCN during basketball season.
So.....now, how exactly is Capel going to turn this around? Him and Jason are going to go into a time machine and recreate 20 year old facsmile of themselves???
