High Point Transfer Zack Austin Commits to Pitt Following Official Visit

On Tuesday evening, Pitt earned its first transfer commitment of the offseason, as High Point transfer Zack Austin committed to the Panthers. 

“I am really excited to play in front of the zoo, honestly,” Austin told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “They really showed me mad love since I went on the visit. Even when I was there, I talked to the leader of the Zoo. They were bringing that energy. It’s going to be a fun place to play at.”

Austin, a 6-foot-7 wing out of Winston Salem, North Carolina, committed to Pitt after his recent official visit. He spent this past weekend in Pittsburgh, touring the Pitt facilities with the entire coaching staff. Specifically, Austin told PSN that he was recruited by the Capel brothers: Jeff (HC) and Jason (Assistant). 

“The visit went great,” he said. “I really liked it, and it was way better than I thought it was going to be, honestly. I didn’t realize how big of a city Pittsburgh actually was. The stuff around it, all of the colleges, how close it was to downtown. I think that’s what I took away from it the most.”

The Panthers now have three scholarships left to fill for next season with Austin on board. After Pitt’s back court – one that included Nelly Cummings, Jamarius Burton, Greg Elliott, and Nike Sibande – all graduated, the Panthers have now filled one of the open spots with Austin, who hit 60+ three pointers in each of his two seasons with High Point.

“Just coming in as a veteran player, a wing, bringing that veteran spirit, that leadership,” Austin said about Pitt’s pitch to him. “Overall, just developing me to be a better player. That was the main selling point. Coming in to contribute right away. They talked to me a lot about past guys, about wings that they have developed. They talked to me about Justin, about Blake, a couple of Duke guys – Jayson Tatum, Brandon Ingram, a couple of other wings that they have developed.”

Austin played two seasons at High Point, averaging 14.4 points per game in his first year and 14.1 this past season. He has scored a total of 897 points in his career and has grabbed more than 420 rebounds in his collegiate career.

“Just playing and coming to contribute to a winning team, a winning program,” Austin said when asked about what he is looking forward to. “Right away I can know that everybody is on the same page with the same goal, just to win, regardless of the role.”

Austin has two years of eligibility remaining. He began his career with a redshirt season, and then played each of the last two years.