Jeff Capel’s tall task of replacing much of Pitt’s guard production from this past season has gotten a little relief.
Rhode Island transfer guard Ishmael Leggett committed to Pitt Monday, providing the Panthers with a player coming off his best year as a collegiate player.
Leggett averaged 16.4 points per game last season to lead the Rams. He also grabbed 5.8 rebounds per game and had 73 assists — both good for the second best marks on the team.
The 6-foot-3 redshirt sophomore paced Rhode Island with 42 steals while shooting 39.3 percent from the field. His 48 made three-pointers were the most on the Rams, and his 147 made free throws was the third-best mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
The 2022-23 season was a breakthrough one for the Prince George County, Maryland native, as he nearly doubled his scoring output from a year prior. He had nine 20-point games and a pair of 30-point efforts, including 34 against Tulane in November.
Leggett, who has two years of eligibility remaining, is the second player to commit to the Panthers in the last week, joining 6-foot-7 High Point forward Zack Austin.
Capel, after taking Pitt to the NCAA Tournament last month, will have to replace over 45 points per game from graduated guards Jamarius Burton, Nelly Cummings, Greg Elliot and Nike Sibande. Pitt currently has two scholarship spots remaining for the 2023-24 season.