Pitt transfer target Trey Murphy III has included the Panthers in his top four.
Murphy, a sophomore guard from Rice, announced on Twitter on Tuesday that his final four choices will come down to Houston, Pitt, Virginia and Villanova. Murphy narrowed his list to four from over a dozen high-major schools.
A 6-foot-8 guard from Durham, North Carolina, Murphy will have two years of NCAA eligibility remaining after his transfer, but will have to sit out the 2020-21 season, unless he can secure a waiver.
With the Owls, Murphy established himself as a 3-point shooter, a significant need for the Panthers. He shot 39% from beyond the 3-point arc in two seasons at Rice. Point guard Xavier Johnson will lead all returning Panthers with a 33% mark from 3-point range a year ago.
In his sophomore season, Murphy averaged 13.7 points per game after posting an 8.4 mark as a freshman. He also added 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, both up from his freshman season.
Pitt and Murphy have been in contact since the day after he announced he had entered the transfer portal, and he’s had conversations with Jeff and Jason Capel, as well as a virtual visit to campus.
“I talked to coach Jason Capel [last] Sunday and he told me that they need a guy that can shoot the ball and a bigger wing because in the ACC you need to be able to get your shot off,” Murphy said to Pittsburgh Sports Now last week. “The main thing that they stressed with me is that they need more shooters.”
Pitt has two open scholarships following the transfers of shooting guards Trey McGowens to Nebraska and Ryan Murphy to Tulane.
In addition to Murphy, the Panthers are targeting Erie small forward Will Jeffress, potentially reclassifying Malian center Adama Sanogo and Canadian guard Karim Mane.
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