PITTSBURGH – Rising junior Josh Newkirk will return home to continue rehabbing a knee injury school officials announced Sunday. Newkirk, who had microfracture surgery on his left knee May 6, leaves in good academic standing and is expected to transfer to another Division I school.
“Josh is looking to get closer to home while he recovers from knee surgery and we are in full support of his decision,” said head coach Jamie Dixon. “He has been an excellent student and strong representative of the University of Pittsburgh. We wish him the best of luck in his rehab and recovery.”
Newkirk averaged 5.9 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season for the Panthers. The Raleigh, N.C., native appearing in all 34 games last season, including four starts.
Pitt returns four starters, including All-ACC performers Jamel Artis and Michael Young, from last year’s team that finished 19-15 and reached the NIT. Artis and Young are the only two returning players in the ACC to rank in the conference top 20 in scoring and rebounding a year ago.