Well, things obviously aren’t going so well for Jeff Capel and Pitt basketball. Not only have the Panthers lost seven of their last nine games, but twice within the last two days, one of the program’s top players has entered the transfer portal.
First, it was starting point guard Xavier Johnson who entered the portal; one day later, though, junior forward Au’Diese Toney also entered the portal.
Au'Diese Toney has entered the transfer portal, Pitt just announced. The Panthers have lost two of their top three scorers in the past 25 hours
— Craig Meyer (@CraigMeyerPG) February 25, 2021
During his time at Pittsburgh, Toney appeared in 79 games and made 69 starts: 763 points and 423 rebounds, total. Toney improved each season under Capel, too. As a junior, Toney averaged 14.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals — all career highs. Toney also shot a career-best 34 percent on 3-point looks (3.3 3PA per game).
This now means that Pitt has seen three high-profile recruits from Capel’s initial recruiting class (2018) leave the program via a transfer. Shortly after the 2019-20 season ended, combo guard Trey McGowens transferred to Nebraksa.
The Panthers are 9-9 (5-8 ACC) now on the season. Of the team’s Big Three for this season, only Justin Champagnie, a candidate for ACC Player of the Year, remains.