PITTSBURGH – Pitt’s roster for the 2023-24 basketball season continues to round into shape with the addition of High Point transfer Zack Austin. The 6-7 forward with two seasons of eligibility remaining recorded 897 points, 424 rebounds, 135 blocked shots, and 129 three-point field goals in two seasons of action at HPU.
“Zack is a versatile and productive forward with the ability to make an impact on both ends of the floor,” said head coach Jeff Capel. “He is an outstanding athlete with strong rebounding and defensive instincts along with a solid shooting stroke out beyond the three-point line. We believe Zack with be a great fit in our system and we look forward to working with him as he continues to grow and develop.”
Austin, a 2023 All-Big South Honorable Mention honoree, averaged 14.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 31 games (26 starts) for the Panthers last season. He made 62 three-point field goals as a redshirt sophomore with nine games with three or more three-pointers. Austin scored in double figures in the final 13 games of the season and 26 times overall. He ranked 17th in the NCAA in blocks, while collecting three or more blocked shots in a game 13 times. Austin also added three double-doubles and four games with 20 or more points scored to his resume last season.
The Winston-Salem, N.C., native earned Big South Freshman of the Year and All-Freshman Team honors in 2022 after averaging 14.4 points and 8.0 rebounds with 69 blocked shots and 63 three-point field goals at High Point. He was an eight-time Big South Freshman of the Week, setting the conference record for FOTW awards. He scored in double-figures 26 times, including eight games with 20 or more points, and recorded seven double-doubles.
Austin, the only player in the NCAA to register 60 or more three-pointers and 60 or more blocks in each of the past two seasons, provides Pitt with another versatile wing player to pair with 2023 Second Team All-ACC forward Blake Hinson (15.3 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 97 3FG).
Pitt also returns starting center Federiko Federiko (6.6 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 1.7 bpg.), along with twins Guillermo Diaz Graham (3.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg.) and Jorge Diaz Graham (2.9 ppg., 2.2 rpg.) as well as two-year starter William Jeffress, who missed the 2022-23 season with a foot injury.
Austin is Pitt’s second addition from the transfer portal joining guard Ishmael Leggett. The Rhode Island transfer averaged 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game during the 2022-23 season.
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Source Image: Matt Plizga/Pitt Athletics