Gone are Pittsburgh natives Nelly Cummings and Aidan Fisch. In are two freshmen and one junior transfer ready to make their impact for Pitt basketball.
Pitt guards in junior Ish Leggett and freshmen in Carlton “Bub” Carrington and Jaland Lowe may be new to Pittsburgh but are enjoying their new home. In fact, Leggett already sounds like a true “Yinzer.”
“I love it, no complaints from me, other than the potholes on the road,” Leggett said.
The Prince George County, Md, native started all 32 games from Rhode Island a season ago. Leggett averaged a career-best 15.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while playing over 34 minutes.
“I love it here,” Leggett said. “Coming from Rhode Island, it’s totally different—almost a 360 from city to rural area. I have no complaints. I’m loving Pittsburgh with the guys.”
On a fairly warm 66-degree October day, Houston native Jaland Lowe chose to wear a hoodie to the facility and doesn’t have a great first impression weather of in the “City of Bridges.”
“It’s been an awakening a little bit,” Lowe said. “You all don’t want to say it’s cold outside, but it’s a little chilly for me.”
Despite cold temperatures on his mind, Leggett has been warmly welcomed to Pitt.
“Pittsburgh’s been great so far. Everybody’s welcoming,” Lowe said. “The city is amazing. It was not my first thought of what Pittsburgh would be like. I’m really surprised and glad to be here.”
Carrington, from Baltimore, did not want to talk about the Steelers-Ravens game Sunday, but did have a positive outlook on the city.
“[Pittsburgh] lives up to the cold,” Carrington said. “Pittsburgh’s definitely a better place to be than I expected.”
Has Carrington tried Primanti’s? “Yes, they force-fed it.”
Did he like it? “I liked it.”
What about fries on the sandwich? “That’s weird. Or fries on a salad. “
Leggett, Carrington, and Lowe are also upset the Spins scooter is no longer available on campus, their favorite mode of transportation.
“That’s transportation right there,” Lowe laughed. “We have a (cardiac) hill to walk up!”
A new group of players might cause a bit of uncertainty from Pitt basketball fans, even with the praise they received in the past year. Still, it’s clearly apparent the culture that last graduating guards from last season Jamarius Burton, Nelly Cummings, Greg Elliott, and Nike Sibande built, is something that will continue on to the next Pitt backcourt.
