Pittsburgh Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Panthers
Key reserves
JR Ithiel Horton
2020-21 stats: 8.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.6 apg
Horton is the lead returning scorer from last season, starting in 18 of 22 games and leading the team with 37% three-point shooting. He was inconsistent in his production though, with a number of scoring outputs of five points or fewer. Horton struggled in creating his own offense at times and shot under 40% from inside the arc.
There’s a real case to be made that Horton should remain as a starter, especially if Burton is going to be out at the start of the season. However, there’s a real concern about the scoring production among the rest of the “bench” so it would be best to have Horton part of the second unit, which would allow him to be a focal point of the offense as well.
SR Daniel Oladapo
2020-21 stats (at Oakland): 12.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.7 apg
The two-year starter at Oakland doesn’t have a natural offensive game as a 6’7 undersized power forward. However, Oladapo’s energy, hustle, and overall physicality made him into an All-Horizon League player last season. In the final 10 games, the forward averaged around 16 points and had 18+ rebounds on four different occasions throughout the season.
While Oladapo may be a bit undersized in ACC play he adds needed rebounding and frontcourt defense off the bench. He won’t stretch the floor which limits his ceiling but he’ll be an upgrade over the more limited past options Pitt has had off the bench.
JR Chris Payton
2020-21 stats (at Indian Hills Community College): 12.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg
A JUCO All-American last season, Payton was a double-double machine and impressive athlete that can drive to the basket from the perimeter with ease. He’s also undersized at 6’7 and 220 pounds but has the potential to shoot from the perimeter and is a solid defender as well.
Assuming Gueye holds down the starting power forward position, it’ll be Payton versus Oladapo for the backup minutes. Both are good rebounds and have the same limitations so it’ll be interesting to see who cracks the rotation between them.
SO William Jeffress
2020-21 stats: 2.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg
The 6’7 forward was the youngest player in college basketball last season at 17 years old, having to deal with the pandemic and the unique situation overall. Yet he still started four games last season and has plenty of promise as a versatile 6’7 athlete that can play up to three positions on the floor.
Jeffress is going to get minutes early on to get a spot in the rotation and he has the tools, including potentially being a breakout offensive player. But he’ll have to be consistent and prove that he can shoot and defend at a high level. Odukale and Hugley are two breakout sophomore candidates but Jeffress may be the third.
FR Nate Santos
The only “true” freshman on the roster, Santos was at one time a four-star wing prospect, before an injury in high school took him off the radar for a bit. But he comes to Pittsburgh with a reputation of being a lethal perimeter shooter, with a beautiful stroke to boot. How quickly he learns the offense and how badly Pittsburgh needs his shooting will determine his role.
Just like how Payton and Oladapo are fighting at the 4-spot, Santos and Jeffress are fighting for minutes at the wing. There’s a real chance one of them may start the season with Burton out and both getting minutes overall. The question will be whether Santos’ shooting skills or Jeffress’ overall promise wins out.
SR Onyebuchi Ezeakudo (walk on)
The 6’0 senior is the third point guard on the roster behind Odukale and Horton and with one out, Ezeakudo could see some minutes early on in the season. He doesn’t provide much offense but is a solid ball-handler and understands the playbook after being with the program for so long.
SO Max Amadasun and Noah Collier
If Gueye spends most of his time at the power forward spot, the backup center spot to Hugley would be up for grabs. Both of these sophomores played limited minutes as freshmen but are solid defenders. Collier offers more offensive upside but Amadasun is better suited to guard bigger centers in the ACC.