PITTSBURGH – The transfer portal continues to add names and find new destinations for some of the sport’s top talents. North Carolina, Virginia, Louisville, and Florida State are major headliners entering the second week of April.
North Carolina Wing Dontrez Styles Transfers to Georgetown
Dontrez Styles has found his next basketball home. The former North Carolina wing committed to Georgetown Sunday, according to On3’s Joe Tipton. A former four-star, top-70 recruit out of Kinston, North Carolina, Styles joins new head coach Ed Cooley in an attempt to bring the once-prominent program back to stardom. Pitt contacted Styles early in the portal process.
Styles played in only 15 games this season after playing 30 the year prior, averaging two points or less in both seasons. He played in only 88 minutes for the Heels after appearing in 175 during UNC’s run to the 2022 National Championship. The 6-foot-6 sophomore scored a season-best nine points against The Citadel on Dec. 13. Georgetown fired former great Patrick Ewing before bringing Cooley into the fold from Big East foe Providence. The Hoyas finished 2-18 in conference play.
Virginia Transfer Forward Kadin Shedrick to Visit Duke Saturday
Virginia forward Kadin Shedrick is narrowing his list of possible teams to play for next season. Shedrick told Joe Tipton on On3 that he will visit Duke on Saturday. Tipton also noted that Shedrick will pick between five schools: Duke, Texas, Xavier, Kansas State and Missouri. An inter-conference transfer is not out of the realm of possibility for Shedrick, potentially ending up as a Blue Devil.
The 6-foot-11 redshirt junior started 15 of 30 games for the Cavaliers under Tony Bennett, losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Furman. He averaged 6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game and scored 10 points in Virginia’s loss at the Petersen Events Center to begin 2023. Duke fell to Tennessee in the second round of March Madness.
Louisville Transfer Guard El Ellis Hearing From Pitt, NC State, Clemson, Florida State
Louisville guard El Ellis is keeping all of his options on the table regarding his next basketball destination. Already in the transfer portal and thinking about taking the next step to the pros, the Louisville senior is “focused on going to the NBA first,” according to Adam Zagoria. Ellis declared for the 2023 NBA draft on March 22 while retaining his collegiate eligibility.
In the portal, Ellis is hearing from fellow ACC schools including Pitt, NC State, Clemson, and Florida State. Ellis, 6-foot-3, averaged a team-high 17.7 points and 4.4 assists as the main offensive catalyst for the worst Louisville team in program history, winning two of 20 ACC games. He scored 19 points at the KFC Yum! Center in his first meeting against Pitt and seven in the second matchup. His breakout campaign came after scoring 8.7 points in 32 games (nine starts) during the 2021-22 campaign.
Guard Bobby Pettiford to Choose Between Three Teams Including Florida State
Former Kansas sophomore guard Bobby Pettiford may be joining the ACC. The 6-foot-1 Durham, North Carolina native played in 32 games off the bench for the 2022 national champs, averaging scoring 71 total points and shooting 53% from the floor. Agent Anthony Raia announced over the weekend that Pettiford has three teams remaining on his transfer list. East Carolina, Georgetown, and Florida State are in the final stage of contention for the former top recruit.
Florida State ended the year 9-23 overall and 7-13 in the ACC, losing to Georgia Tech by one in the first round of the ACC Tournament. The Seminoles did defeat Pitt, 71-64, at the Pete on Jan. 21 but lost by eight in February to the Panthers. Pettiford would add a dynamic guard from the Big 12 with Carolina ties to a program in need of a spark this upcoming season.
Pitt Basketball Transfer Portal Guide for 2023 Offseason
