Pitt Basketball

Panthers Look Forward to Bulked Up Version of Guillermo Diaz Graham Inside

Published

6 months ago

October 26, 2023

Ahead of the 2023-24 season, PSN will be introducing every Pitt player and updating each player’s current situation on the roster. We continue our breakdowns with another sophomore twin from the Canary Islands!

GUILLERMO DIAZ-GRAHAM

Guillermo Diaz Graham celebrates his dunk against the Blue Devils as Pitt faces Duke in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in Greensboro, N.C. on March 9, 2023. (Mitchell Northam / Pittsburgh Sports Now)

Hometown: Canary Islands, Spain

Height, Weight: 7’0, 220 LBS

Position: Forward

Number: 25

Year: Sophomore

Last year: Last season, Guillermo appeared in 33 games, starting three in Federiko’s absence. He played 12 minutes per game, scoring 3.5 points and grabbing 3.2 rebounds per contest. He ranked second on last year’s squad with 26 blocks.

The storyline: This summer, Diaz-Graham and his twin Jorge chose not to go home to Spain for several months, and instead stayed in Oakland to train. The twins bulked up, focusing on eating and drinking habits as well as training and lifting. Guillermo went from 205 pounds (last season) to 220 pounds (this season), and is ready to make an impact down low alongside Federiko Federiko and Blake Hinson.

With Federiko starting 27 games last year, it feels safe to assume that the Finnish big man will handle the starting five duties ahead of Diaz-Graham. However, Diaz-Graham brings a different look to the Panthers with his ability to pick-and-pop and shoot the three. With more weight on his body and more confidence upstairs, Capel has made it clear that Diaz-Graham is a very valuable piece to this Panthers’ team and that he will contribute.

In his own words:

“I feel faster than before,” Guillermo said. “I feel stronger, I feel like I can move guys better. I feel like when I’m in my stance, no guys can push me around. I also feel kind of faster, and I jump quicker and higher, like, more powerful. I think Vince [Williams] did a great job with us with how we got stronger. It was all movements, explosions, so right now, I feel great.”

“I think on defense, it’s really good to box out and get more rebounds. On offense also, be able to post up guards. Last year, when they would switch, it was hard for us because we couldn’t post the point guards. But now, I feel like with the extra weight, it’s easier to back guys down and score over them.”

In Capel’s Words:

“They’re more confident,” Capel said about the twins. “They’re able to play through physicality better than they were last year for longer period than they were last year, but more importantly, they’re more confident in their bodies and in their ability.”

“They have to be able to block out, to rebound, to play through contact. That’s what we’ve seen with those guys with the strength and the work that they continue to put in in the weight room.”

Check out PSN’s preview of his brother, Jorge, from Thursday.