There has been another departure from the Pitt men’s basketball program as center Karim Coulibaly has elected to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Coulibaly becomes the fifth member from this year’s roster to decide to transfer, joining guard Xavier Johnson, wings Au’Diese Toney and Gerald Drumgoole and center Terrell Brown.
Following the news from Coulibaly, head coach Jeff Capel released the following statement:
“We appreciate Karim’s time and efforts where with our program and wish him luck as he looks to continue his career elsewhere.”
This news comes as somewhat of a surprise considering Coulibaly started 20 of the Panthers 22 games and averaged 22 minutes per game. This season, he averaged 5.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 blocks per game, while shooting 51% from the field.
The departure of Coulibaly leaves Pitt with six available scholarship openings for the 2021-22 season and that could grow to eight, depending on what happens with sophomore Justin Champagnie, who put his name into the NBA Draft pool on Tuesday, and freshman center John Hugley, who is still currently suspended from the team.
With the exit of Coulibaly, Brown and the unknown status of Hugley, Pitt’s current lone center is redshirt freshman Max Amadasun. Forward Noah Collier also played the five position some as a true freshman last season.
wow .. what the heck ? what is the word on the street ? this is getting somewhat concerning .. given our lack of depth in general and gaps at each position, this can’t be about Capel telling these kids to move elsewhere because they aren’t ACC caliber players. so … 1) is Capel just a bad coach and these kids see that and want to bail , 2) is Capel a perfectionist and too demanding and these kids can’t / won’t play in that environment, 3) is it just coincidental and this mix of kids don’t respect each others’… Read more »
Capel is a great coach. Only someone who knows nothing about bball would say Capel is a bad coach. The players are not good enough, but Colliers will be nice. Champagne is not NBA ready until he can create off dribble to lead team like Walker from uconn.
Capel needs to go. This is absolutely pathetic. Hire an up and coming coach like Paul Mills or somebody of that ilk.