PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – ‘Exciting and bittersweet’ are the words Jeff Capel used to describe Bub Carrington announcing Wednesday he is leaving for the NBA in belief he would be a first-round draft choice. The exciting emotion is obvious, now about the bittersweet.
You lose one of the best freshmen in the nation and one of the most talented guards in the country. It’s a tough recover for Pitt, but Capel spins it the other way.
“I think it’s great for our program,” Capel said. “Obviously, we’d love to have him back, but when you have an opportunity like this. All of these kids dream of being a pro. When I was his age I dreamed of being a pro. When you have an opportunity to do it and it’s the right opportunity right now. You have to take advantage of it.”
There have been eight Panthers drafted in the first round over the history of the program-the most recent was someone who transferred away, Cameron Johnson. The one before that was also a one-and-done, Stephen Adams. Prior to Adams it was Vonteego Cummings in 1999.
If Carrington does indeed go in the first round, Capel believes the short-term pain will be eclipsed by the help in the reputation of the program.
“Every kid that plays this sport wants to be a pro, that’s their dream,” Capel said. “To have someone do that from your program is something that is a huge accomplishment. It’s something you can talk about in recruiting. It’s something that people see. Kids see this is a path. I can do it from here.”
“We’ve had two guys in Mo Gueye and Justin Champagnie that have spent time in the NBA. I think Blake (Hinson) will be a guy in that league next season. To have a guy that’s drafted. I think he will be a high draft pick, I know it will be first round. It’s something that is huge for our program.”
Carrington said he wouldn’t be where he is without his teammates. He spoke of that bond, that culture at Pitt. He said he learned to love his peers and coaches and that made not only him, but the team improve. There is something that has been created around the program that pulls everyone in the right direction.
“It’s a great opportunity to come to honestly get better,” Carrington said. “To have coaches that actually have interest in you getting better. Coaches that believe in you. Coach preached to us in practice that he’s living and dying by any shot that we take, by any defensive effort we put forth.”
“If you want a coach that is going to believe in you and a culture that is always welcoming you. This is a perfect spot for you. Why go anywhere else?”
I can see those last three sentences being sent to every recruit in the nation. It wasn’t a contrived quote from a news release, the answer Carrington gave to why he believes he improved at Pitt.
“The way I look at it, we as coaches are in the business of trying to help kids reach their dream,” Capel said. “All of these guys have goals, things they want to accomplish. Everyone’s race is different and it’s our job I feel to teach them how to accomplish that.”
“One of the main things is work. Now you have to have talent, being put in the right positions help, but if you work and all of those other things are right then you have a chance for something like this to happen.”
The players noticed. Pitt had more scouts at practice this season than in the previous six seasons combined.
“It’s a great thing for our program, certainly we would be better if he were coming back, but I think we will be good anyway with the guys that we will have coming back,” Capel said. “The guys that we will add. I think him being able to do this will show other recruits that this is possible at the University of Pittsburgh.”
Capel says he knows he won’t find someone exactly like Carrington, but will find someone who can be a part of the culture. They already signed Lincoln Park HS star guard Brandin Cummings for next season and have their name attached with a few players in the transfer portal, not just guards.
The Pitt head coach said Carrington also helped the Panthers by making the decision in early April instead of waiting until or near the April 27 deadline. It allows them more time and transfer prospects can officially see there is an opening for a starting or impact guard at Pitt.
Having Carrington for only one year stings, but several of the top programs seemingly have this decision every season. It’s also become more commonplace in today’s game because it seems like you are re-recruiting every player after every practice let alone every year.
It’s a blow for Pitt, but given their success in the portal and the connection for freshmen to learn here and then head to the NBA, it shows Pitt basketball in a far better light than it has been in years.