Pittsburgh Basketball: Should the last roster spot be a guard or a forward?

After landing Cashius McNeilly this past weekend, Pittsburgh Basketball has one scholarship spot remaining. Which position should they target for it?

After losing 8 of 13 players from last season’s roster, Pittsburgh Basketball has slowly rebuilt itself, mostly through the transfer portal. The latest newcomer is Cashius McNeilly, a 6’4 guard from Northern Oklahoma College (JUCO) that has attended three different D-I programs (TCU, Texas A&M, Maryland) but didn’t play a minute due to various circumstances.

The Panthers are hoping that McNeilly can have an impact on a completely revamped backcourt, joining returning guards Nike Sibande and Jamarius Burton, as well as incoming transfers, Greg Elliott (Marquette), Nelly Cummings (Colgate), and combo forward Blake Hinson (Iowa State). That makes the total number of confirmed scholarship players on the roster to 12, with one more to go.

There’s a chance that that last roster spot will go to Weber State transfer Seikou Sisoho Jawara, a 6’3 guard that averaged 12.3 ppg and 3.1 apg in the past couple of years. He recently took a visit to Pittsburgh and is currently back at home in Spain, with no other visits going on. If the Panthers land him, that would wrap up the offseason moves.

Would another forward be a better option?

There’s an argument that that last scholarship would be better off in the frontcourt, superficially at the power forward position. Starter Mo Gueye had an effective lone year with the program and there isn’t a clear candidate as to who would replace him on the current roster. The team was after UConn transfer Akok Akok but missed out on him to Georgetown last month. Now, with Kentucky transfer Keion Brooks off to Washington, the number of legit high-major talent still in the portal at the four-spot is next to nothing.

So does Pittsburgh really want to reach for a guy that could play some at the four and possibly not be good enough to play like they did with Chris Payton and Daniel Oladapo, or go for someone that could have an impact, either this or next year? One thing with Jawara is that he has multiple years of eligibility, while Sibande, Burton, and Elliott each only has one. So a case can be made that the backcourt can be set up for the 2023-24 campaign as well, instead of adding a bunch more guards a year from now.

Current power forward options

If I had to project a starter on opening day, Hinson would get the nod. He’s a 6’7 forward that started at the four-spot at Ole Miss as a freshman, averaging 8.3 ppg and 2.9 rpg. The rebounding numbers are scary because it puts all the pressure on center John Hugley and an average-size backcourt to secure the boards in that hypothetical lineup.

What he does do though is add a perimeter and spacing option offensively that would benefit the entire lineup. Hugley, who needs double-teams often, would be alone in the paint on offense. And the guards will have plenty of room to work with as well. Another player would be William Jeffress, a 6’7 guard/forward that struggled mightily last season offensively but did do well as a defender. He can guard forwards and for 10-15 mpg can sub in at the four-spot.

Then there’s Jorge Díaz Graham, a 6’11 forward and twin of Guillermo, the incoming freshmen frontcourt players for Pittsburgh. Jorge is the one that can play at the four-spot and can shoot from deep. Although he’s young and unproven, the Panthers may be better off giving him and Jeffress the minutes instead of someone who might not be as talented.

If Jawara is willing to commit in the next week, Pittsburgh Basketball should absolutely take him on and add to the backcourt. Guards are very important in today’s game and you can’t have enough of them, especially when they can shoot around 40% from three-point range. There may be some talk about what to do with the last roster spot but unless Northwestern transfer Pete Nance is willing to pick them, the Panthers should finish business with the Weber State guard.