Pitt forward Rafael Maia will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a right thumb injury during a Tuesday afternoon workout session, head coach Jamie Dixon announced Friday. Maia’s right hand is currently in a soft cast and will be reevaluated in two weeks.
Maia, a graduate transfer from Brown, averaged 9.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while leading the Ivy League in both rebounding and field goal percentage last year. He also earned All-Ivy League honorable mention honors as a senior. Over his three-year, 80-game collegiate career, Maia averaged 10.0 points (799 points), 8.1 rebounds (648) and 3.4 offensive rebounds per game while shooting 50.7 percent (289-570) from the floor. He is also a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District and All-Ivy League Academic selection.
The Panthers have been plagued by injury throughout the offseason. In addition to Maia’s injury, Chris Jones (toe), Cameron Johnson (shoulder), Alonzo Nelson-Ododa (eye), James Robinson (foot) and Sterling Smith (foot) each had offseason surgeries.