Pittsburgh Basketball: Projected minutes and rotation with Dior Johnson on board

Point guard

Projected starter: Dior Johnson (28 mpg)

Last season, Pittsburgh didn’t really have a lead guard to run the offense. Jamarius Burton and Femi Odukale had the most reps but the offense was most stabilized when former walk-on  Onyebuchi Ezeakudo was on the court. Going from that to a five-star talent in Johnson is a massive upgrade.

And when Johnson is on the court, he’s shown flashes of being an elite playmaker, a quality passer and individual scorer, and a solid shooter. He can come in and take major minutes at the one-spot and stabilize the position and could be the better option at the ACC level than Cummings.

It doesn’t come without risk though. Johnson can be a ball-dominant guard and high usage so if he’s inefficient or simply ineffective, it could pull the Panthers down. And there’s simply no telling if his likely lone year will come with chemistry and off-the-floor issues considering his past of not staying at one place for long. But for a team that has lacked good and consistent guard play, it’s a risk worth taking.

Reserve: Nelly Cummings (12 mpg)

The Colgate transfer would’ve been a solid starting option for Pittsburgh but now, the team can have a legit ball-handler on the court for all 40 minutes. He averaged 14.7 ppg and 3.6 apg this past season and led the Raiders to the NCAA Tournament, including 20 points versus Wisconsin in the Round of 64.

As a 6’0 guard, Cummings is a solid offensive player and shooter and instantly becomes one of the best backup point guards in the ACC. And as a 5th-year senior, he can be a mentor to Johnson and help with his own development.