Guillermo Diaz Graham Adjusting to His New Role, Position for Pitt

Guillermo Diaz Graham is playing a different position for Pitt this season.

The Panthers added center Cam Corhen from the transfer portal this offseason, and also added freshman bigs Papa Amadou Kante and Amdy Ndiaye to the mix. With more talent at the five with Corhen and added depth with the two Senegalese rookies, Diaz Graham’s role has shifted to the four spot, where he started the Panthers’ first game against Radford.

Pittsburgh Panthers forward Guillermo Diaz Graham (25) November 4, 2024 David Hague/PSN

“[It’s] really different,” Diaz Graham said on Thursday about his role. “I’ve worked on so many things. Now, I’m playing the four, so it’s a different thing. But I also can play the five so I’m kind of still doing the same things as last year, but now, being the four, my game expands much more because I have more freedom to shoot the ball, to put the ball on the ground, to go attack the rim, to go offensive rebound, too. It just expands my options in the game. I also give the team spacing with my shooting.”

Diaz Graham’s shooting ability, at 7-feet tall, is one of his best skills. Last year, he hit 22 of his 55 three-point attempts in pick-and-roll (in this case, pick-and-pop) situations.

Quick Film | Guillermo Diaz Graham | @guilleediazz_

Pitt’s Guillermo Diaz Graham was 22-for-55 (40%) on pick-and-pop threes as a sophomore.

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There is an added element of suspense for teams tasked with defending Pitt this year. With Corhen’s ability to handle the ball, shoot from the mid-range, and back down defenders in the post, he poses a significant threat with the ball in his hands. Without the ball, he is still a threat to catch lobs and roll off screens to field passes from Pitt’s guards. You add a shooter — with size — like Diaz Graham to the mix, and defenders do not know who to prepare for in terms of who will be setting screens, and if they will roll, pop, cut, and more.

Diaz Graham had one bucket out of the pick and roll in Monday’s game against Radford. In transition with point guard Jaland Lowe handling the ball, Diaz Graham quickly raced to the right wing to set a screen on Lowe’s defender. Lowe drove to his strong side, the left, and caught Radford’s defense lacking. He tossed up a lob to the rolling Diaz Graham, and he finished at the rim.

Diaz Graham and the Panthers will host Murray State on Friday night at 7 p.m.