PITTSBURGH – Senior forward Blake Hinson was named Preseason Second Team All-ACC and the Panthers were picked ninth overall in the Preseason Poll as released by the league office Thursday evening.
Hinson, a Second Team All-ACC selection a year ago, averaging 15.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and leading the ACC with 97 three-point field goals in his first season in Oakland. He also led the Panthers in double-figure scoring games (30), 20+ point games (9), and double-doubles (5), while ranking among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding, three-point field goals, three-point percentage, and defensive rebounds.
Pitt also returns starting center Federiko Federiko (6.6 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 1.7 bpg., .667 FG pct.), two-year starter William Jeffress, who missed the 2022-23 campaign with a foot injury, and twins Guillermo Diaz Graham (3.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg.) and Jorge Diaz Graham (2.9 ppg., 2.2 rpg.) from last year’s team that finished 24-12 overall and 14-6 in the ACC.
The Panthers also have added a trio of experienced transfers in Ishmael Leggett (16.4 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 2.4 apg.), Zack Austin (14.1 ppg., 5.4 rpg., 2.1 bpg., 62 3FG) and Michael Hueitt, Jr. (4.7 ppg., 57 3FG in two seasons) to go along with highly touted high school prospects – Papa Amadou Kante, Marlon Barnes, Jr., Carlton Carrington, and Jaland Lowe.
2023-24 Pitt Basketball season tickets, mini plans, single game tickets or I.C. Light Baseline Club membership are available HERE or through the Panthers Ticket Office at (800) 643-7488 or email [email protected].
ACC Predicted Order of Finish
School, Points
1. Duke (44), 757
2. Miami (5), 693
3. North Carolina (1), 670
4. Virginia (1), 593
5. Clemson, 570
6. Wake Forest, 440
7. NC State, 420
8. Virginia Tech, 390
9. Pitt, 380
10. Syracuse, 321
11. Florida State, 294
12. Boston College, 227
13. Georgia Tech, 157
14. Louisville, 108
15. Notre Dame, 100
First-place votes in parentheses
51 total voters
Preseason All-ACC
First Team
Kyle Filipowski, Duke, 51
Armando Bacot, North Carolina, 50
PJ Hall, Clemson, 48
Reece Beekman, Virginia, 44
Norchad Omier, Miami, 42
Second Team
Judah Mintz, Syracuse, 39
Nijel Pack, Miami, 34
Blake Hinson, Pitt, 33
Tyrese Proctor, Duke, 24
Quinten Post, Boston College, 23
Preseason Player of the Year
Kyle Filipowski, Duke, 35 votes
Armando Bacot, North Carolina, 13
PJ Hall, Clemson, 2
Tyrese Proctor, Duke, 1
Preseason Rookie of the Year
Elliot Cadeau, North Carolina, 40 votes
Jared McCain, Duke, 6
Caleb Foster, Duke, 3
Carlton Carrington, Pitt, 1
Donald Hand Jr., Boston College, 1
Source: Matt Plizga/Pitt Athletics
