Busting Brackets
Fansided

Pittsburgh Basketball's frontcourt set to be a strength in the 2025-26 season

ByTristan Freeman|
Iowa State Cyclones center Dishon Jackson (1) reacts after a defensive play against Cincinnati during the second half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 15, 2025 in Ames, Iowa.
Iowa State Cyclones center Dishon Jackson (1) reacts after a defensive play against Cincinnati during the second half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 15, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. | Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

There were several reasons as to why Pittsburgh Basketball finished 17-16 overall this past season. One of the most problematic issues was the frontcourt play, as the inconsistencies from Jorge and Guillermo Diaz Graham, Cam Corhen, and Zach Austin (when he was at the 4-spot) became glaring in ACC play.

Changes were made, with the Diaz-Graham brothers entering the portal, while Austin ran out of eligibility. The first move that the Panthers made via the transfer portal was Dishon Jackson, a 6’10 and 240-pound center from Iowa State. He started 33 games for the NCAA Tournament team, producing 8.5 ppg and 5.1 rpg and over a block in 19 mpg. 

Jackson is one of the better interior big men in the transfer portal this offseason and should be a nice boost to the Panthers, especially on the boards, where they ranked towards the bottom of the ACC this past season. He’s set to be the starting center next season, potentially ahead of Corhen.

What’s interesting is that Corhen started all 32 games last season for the Panthers, averaging 11 ppg and 5.2 rpg, shooting 64% from the field. He had his ups and downs at Pitt on defense and rebounding, but he was also one of the better offensive scoring threats. Corhen had eight games of at least 15 points, including 20 against Notre Dame. He could’ve easily entered the portal for a guaranteed role once Jackson joined, but his staying is big for the program.

Another player coming back for the Panthers is Papa Kante, a 6’10 redshirt sophomore center. He played 22 games this past season, scoring 47 points in limited minutes. Kante had 12 points in the team’s biggest win of the year (at Ohio State) but didn’t get into the main rotation in ACC play.

Yet Kante’s return gives Pittsburgh three capable centers on the roster for 2025-26. Corhen is also athletic enough to play some minutes at the four-spot, while Kante gets more playing time at the five. While this group doesn’t provide the floor spacing that the Diaz-Graham brothers did, the rebounding and interior defense should make major improvements.

We’ll see who else joins the Panthers in the backcourt, but they should be in a good spot inside going forward.

Home/ACC Basketball