The first pull of the thread in the unraveling of the 2020-21 Pitt men’s basketball season came with the suspension of freshman forward John Hugley on Jan. 15.
Since then, Pitt lost 10 of its final 12 games of the season, and has also lost five players to the NCAA transfer portal and All-ACC wing Justin Champagnie will try the waters of the NBA Draft.
Hugley was suspended from the Panthers team indefinitely after being charged with felony counts of criminal conspiracy and receiving stolen property.
According to a copy of the criminal complaint levied against Hugley that was obtained by Pittsburgh Sports Now, Hugley and an unidentified accomplice stole a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu that had been parked on Coltart Avenue in Oakland near Pitt’s campus on July 19, 2020.
The University or anyone associated with the Pitt basketball program hasn’t commented on Hugley’s situation since releasing the initial statement announcing his suspension. At this point it seems like that the situation must play out in the courts before it’s determined whether Hugley has a future at Pitt or any other college basketball program.
PSN talked on Monday afternoon with a person close to Hugley and tried to get an update on the Cleveland native. PSN was told that Hugley “is still enrolled at Pitt and is currently taking classes. He’s doing very well academically and mentally. He is also working out regularly and is eager to return to the court.”
When asked if he’d be returning to Pitt if given the opportunity, our source said “that hasn’t been determined yet” and also wouldn’t comment on if Hugley would want to return to Pitt if given the opportunity.
A 6-foot-9 freshman out of Brush High School in Cleveland, Ohio, Hugley played in seven games and made one start this season for Pitt. He scored 36 points and grabbed 30 rebounds while averaging 14.9 minutes per game.
I’m inclined to say they should just cut ties with the guy.
Dennis I would not blame Hugley to tell Pitt to get lost if he wins this case. Pitt coaches bungled and let this kid and his family down as well as Jefferess, and Noah. With nothing but idle time on their hands, the staff should have been providing strict supervision of 17 to 19-year-old kids. Two co-eds had free access to the freshman recruits in their dorm, who they know because they probably most likely were escorts for the boys to help recruit them to Pitt. The girls “fall asleep” in the dorm room with their keys exposed. “I believe… Read more »
You are saying that Pitt should have
provided strict supervision of young
recruits prior to the beginning of
classes to avoid stealing a car. hmm! hmm!
College isn’t just someplace to take classes, it’s a place to learn how to become an adult. Youngsters make mistakes without parental supervision HOW they deal with these mistakes determines whether they stay children or become adults. Drugs, sex, alcohol are all available to a varying degree. Probably the worst contributors are frats and sororities. A friend joined a frat which was having financial problems. As a sophomore, he was charged with correcting the problem. 6th and 7th year students were living rent free. He stopped that and faced a blowback but didn’t buckle. Today he is a prominent figure… Read more »
Pitt should just drop basketball..they will be trash forever
Wow, what a dramatic comment without any research or ratonale to back it up. I have been following them since Buzz Ridl and they have had many championship teams in the Eastern 8, Big East, and now they are transitioning to a higher level conference. They were in the Elite 8 a few years ago under Dixion. Trash? Billy Knight, Sam Clancy, Charles Smith, Khem Birch, Dejuan Blair, Sam Young, et al?
I am a 1973 Pitt graduate, I live in Atlanta and my brother is a professor at Georgia Tech. I am personally aware of circumstances among recruits alumni and rapid students. This is not unique to Tech. A couple of decades ago Tech majors were confined to engineering and a business program. They were able to recruit SEC caliber athlete’s. However their lack of attractive academic program for their hampered their football program until they hired Paul Johnson and he demanded expansion of the Business Department to included a Communications Degree. The football program has made great strides since that… Read more »
He should be kicked off the team permanently. Dude stole a car before classes and games even started. He blew a tremendous opportunity and (potentially) a free education. He can get used to free room and board in prison.
Do you really think these girls are telling the truth or trying to save their reputations from their actions. “Teenage girls going to jocks dorm and “falling asleep.” I have some Florida land in the everglades I am trying to sell are you interested?