Pitt Adds Four-Star Forward Papa Kante
5/23/2023 3:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Head coach Jeff Capel and the Pitt Basketball staff continued a strong spring recruiting season with the addition of four-star prospect Papa Kante. A 6-10, 225-pound forward from the South Kent School in Connecticut, Kante is ranked among the top 100 incoming freshman by 247Sports (No. 67), On3 (No. 82), and Rivals (No. 87).
"Papa is a terrific addition to our recruiting class and our roster," said Capel. "He fits our culture with his competitiveness, ability to play at a high level on both ends of the floor, and strong work ethic. He has a great combination of physicality and athleticism that enables him to impact the game in a variety of ways. We are excited to have him join our program and look forward to helping him continue to develop his game."
Kante, a First Team All- NEPSAC AAA selection, averaged a double-double (14 ppg., 10 rpg.), while shooting 57 percent from the field, including 38 percent from three-point range, as a senior. He helped lead South Kent to a 32-7 record, the 2023 NEPSAC AAA Championship, and an appearance in the National Prep School Championship.
Kante, a native of Senegal, moved to the United States in 2019 at played at the South Kent School, where former Pitt standout and current Director of Player and Alumni Development Gilbert Brown was an assistant coach for one season (2020-21). His recruitment exploded in the summer of 2022 after posting a strong showing on the Nike EYBL Circuit with NY Rens. He was named Nike EYBL Louisville Second Team after averaging 12.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game at the session.
He joins a Pitt roster headlined by 2023 Second Team All-ACC selection Blake Hinson (15.3 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 97 3FG). The Panthers also return 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 the twin tower tandem of Guillermo Diaz Graham (3.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg.) and Jorge Diaz Graham (2.9 ppg., 2.2 rpg.).
Pitt's incoming recruiting class of Kante, Jaland Lowe, Carlton Carrington, and Marlon Barnes, Jr., is now ranked No. 22 by Rivals and No. 27 by On3, while its 247Sports rankings projects to be No. 20 with the addition of Kante.
The Panthers, coming off a 24-12 season with a trip 2023 NCAA Tournament, have also added a pair of impact transfers in Zack Austin (High Point) and Ishmael Leggett (Rhode Island). Austin, a 6-7 forward with two seasons of eligibility remaining, has recorded 897 points, 424 rebounds, 135 blocked shots, and 129 three-point field goals in two seasons of action at HPU. Leggett, a 6-3 combo guard, totaled 932 points, 343 rebounds, 145 assists, 89 steals, and 88 three-pointers in 87 career games (70 starts) at Rhode Island.
"Papa is a terrific addition to our recruiting class and our roster," said Capel. "He fits our culture with his competitiveness, ability to play at a high level on both ends of the floor, and strong work ethic. He has a great combination of physicality and athleticism that enables him to impact the game in a variety of ways. We are excited to have him join our program and look forward to helping him continue to develop his game."
Kante, a First Team All- NEPSAC AAA selection, averaged a double-double (14 ppg., 10 rpg.), while shooting 57 percent from the field, including 38 percent from three-point range, as a senior. He helped lead South Kent to a 32-7 record, the 2023 NEPSAC AAA Championship, and an appearance in the National Prep School Championship.
Kante, a native of Senegal, moved to the United States in 2019 at played at the South Kent School, where former Pitt standout and current Director of Player and Alumni Development Gilbert Brown was an assistant coach for one season (2020-21). His recruitment exploded in the summer of 2022 after posting a strong showing on the Nike EYBL Circuit with NY Rens. He was named Nike EYBL Louisville Second Team after averaging 12.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game at the session.
He joins a Pitt roster headlined by 2023 Second Team All-ACC selection Blake Hinson (15.3 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 97 3FG). The Panthers also return 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 the twin tower tandem of Guillermo Diaz Graham (3.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg.) and Jorge Diaz Graham (2.9 ppg., 2.2 rpg.).
Pitt's incoming recruiting class of Kante, Jaland Lowe, Carlton Carrington, and Marlon Barnes, Jr., is now ranked No. 22 by Rivals and No. 27 by On3, while its 247Sports rankings projects to be No. 20 with the addition of Kante.
The Panthers, coming off a 24-12 season with a trip 2023 NCAA Tournament, have also added a pair of impact transfers in Zack Austin (High Point) and Ishmael Leggett (Rhode Island). Austin, a 6-7 forward with two seasons of eligibility remaining, has recorded 897 points, 424 rebounds, 135 blocked shots, and 129 three-point field goals in two seasons of action at HPU. Leggett, a 6-3 combo guard, totaled 932 points, 343 rebounds, 145 assists, 89 steals, and 88 three-pointers in 87 career games (70 starts) at Rhode Island.
?? Officially a Panther.
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) May 23, 2023
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