PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Former Pitt forward Justin Champagnie was confident he would be selected in the 2021 NBA Draft. He decided to sign with an agent early and eliminate the possibility of returning to Pitt. Thursday night, Champagnie went undrafted, but later signed a two way deal with the Toronto Raptors.
A two-way deal means Champagnie can play for both Toronto and in the G league while under control of the Raptors for the 2021-22 season. He won’t count against Toronto’s 15-man roster.
Champagnie was hoping to be the seventh player Pitt player drafted since 1999 and fourth forward joining Chris Taft (2nd round, 2005), DeJuan Blair (2nd round, 2009), Sam Young (2nd round, 2009) and Lamar Patterson (2nd round, 2014).
“I will keep my head high, keep working to get to where I want to get to,” Champagnie said two weeks ago when asked what he would do if he wasn’t drafted. “It’s the same thing that happened to me when I came to Pitt. I didn’t expect to play. I didn’t expect to get the offer. I worked and I got here. It’s all about that.”
Champagnie vaulted to first-team All-ACC and Honorable Mention All-America in just his second year with the Panthers. He averaged 18 points and 11.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore. The season highlighted by a pair of 20 points/20 rebound games and 14 double-doubles with 8 of those 20 points and 10 rebounds. He also had 31 points (12-15 FG), 14 rebounds and five blocks in a win at the Pete against Duke.
The Brooklyn native is the first Panther AP All-America since Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker were honorable mentions after the 2010-11 season.