ACC Basketball: Breakout candidates from each team for 2020-21 season

ACC Basketball breakout candidate – Ithiel Horton (Pittsburgh)

Three-point shooting takes the cake once more. Transferring from Delaware to a team with the worst shooting percentage from beyond the arc last season, Ithiel Horton plans to medicate Pitt’s seemingly undying “three-point” illness upon his arrival next year.

Horton last year averaged 13.2 PPG while shooting over 40% from outside, eventually making 79 threes during the season, the sixth most all-time by a Blue Hen. Now playing for the Panthers, Horton obviously brings exactly what the Panther’s need. Even beyond his three-point skills, Horton’s 6’3, 200-pound stature which also helps him drive inside and score there as well helps Pitt who struggled last year with their scoring from a general standpoint last too, averaging only 62.5 points per contest.

Meanwhile, Pitt’s defense served admirably, even ranking as a top-five ACC squad, but with such a dull offensive attack, it mattered not as they sank towards the ACC’s basement once more.

With scoring as their most obvious flaw, Horton and Pitt form a perfect match, so expect the team to feed him all season long. Lone remaining point guard Xavier Johnson awaits a larger role and likely improved season as well with Trey McGowens and Ryan Murphy both leaving, but Pitt’s situation and Horton’s skill set prompt him as the foolproof bet to break out.