Pitt lands Miami (OH) transfer Sibande

PITSTBURGH Former Miami [Ohio] standout Nike Sibande has signed an aid agreement and will join the University of Pittsburgh basketball program for the 2020-21 season, school officials announced Saturday afternoon. Sibande was one of the most productive players in the Mid-American Conference over the past three seasons and has one season of eligibility remaining.

Former Miami [Ohio] standout Nike Sibande has signed an aid agreement and will join the University of Pittsburgh basketball program for the 2020-21 season, school officials announced Saturday afternoon. Sibande was one of the most productive players in the Mid-American Conference over the past three seasons and has one season of eligibility remaining.

"Nike is an experienced, skilled and productive player who will fit in well with the culture we are building here at Pitt," said head coach Jeff Capel. "He is an outstanding athlete who loves to compete and has a scorers' mentality. We look forward to having him in the program and working with him as he continues to develop on and off the court."

Sibande, a 6-4, 185-pound guard, averaged 15.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, while starting 94 of 97 games over the past three seasons with the Redhawks. He finished his time at Miami [Ohio] with 1,463 points scored, 186 three-point field goals and 311 made free throws. He is a career 41.4 percent (483-of-1166) shooter from the field, including 33.6 percent (186-of-554) from three-point range.

Last season, Sibande averaged 13.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game with 22 double-figure scoring games and six double-doubles. He scored 20 or more points in a game seven times, including a career-high 31 points in a MAC Tournament win over Buffalo.

The Indianapolis, Ind., native, eared third team All-MAC honors as a sophomore after averaging 16.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He made 76 three-point field goals and scored in double figures in 25 of 32 games on the season. He topped the 20-point mark nine times with a season-best 26 points at Toledo.

As a freshman, Sibande registered 15.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game en route to earning MAC Freshman of the Year, honorable mention All-MAC and All-MAC Freshman Team accolades. He scored in double figures in 28 of 34 contests and finished the season with 77 three-point field goals. Sibande posted a season-high 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field in a CBI First Round game at Campbell.

Sibande, a four-year letterwinner at Crispus Attucks High School, averaged 22.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game to lead the team to the Class 3A state championships in 2017. He was one of the top 15 seniors in the state of Indiana and was a high honorable mention selection by the Associated Press in 2017.

Pitt returns three of its top four scorers from a season ago, including double-figure scorers Justin Champagnie (12.7 ppg., 7.0 rpg.) and Xavier Johnson (11.7 ppg., 4.9 apg.). Two-year starter Au'Diese Toney also returns after averaging 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season.

The Panthers also bring in one of the top recruiting classes in the ACC, led by top 100 prospects John Hugley and William Jeffress, Jr. Hugley, a 6-9, 240-pound forward, was ranked 77th by Rivals after averaging 24.0 points and 13.3 rebounds per game as a senior. Jeffress, Jr., a 6-7, 205-pound wing, was a three-time all-state selection before graduating early and joining the program following his junior year of high school. He was ranked 79th by Rivals and was a member of the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas gold medal team.

They are joined in the class by highly-touted guard Femi Odukale (6-5 – 185), three-time all-state selection Noah Collier (6-9 – 210) and top 5 recruit out of New York Max Amadasun (6-10 – 230).

Pitt is also expected to receive a lift from transfer guard Ithiel Horton, who is eligible after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Horton earned CAA All-Rookie Team honors after averaging 13.2 points and shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range with 79 made threes as a freshman at Delaware during the 2018-19 season.

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