Sibande Signs Pro Contract in Finland
8/21/2023 11:28:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – 2023 ACC Sixth Man of the Year Nike Sibande has signed a professional contract with Kataja Basket of Finland's top league Korisliga. The Indianapolis, Ind., native averaged 8.4 points and 4.1 rebounds, while making 43 three-point field goals for the Panthers last season.
Sibande made a tremendous impact at Pitt last season, helping the team to a 24-win season that included a pair of NCAA Tournament victories. He became the first Pitt player to earn ACC Sixth Man of the Year recognition after averaging 9.7 points per game in conference play and was the first Pitt player to earn a conference individual award since Ashton Gibbs was named Big East Most Improved Player in 2010. He was the Panthers' first sub in all 34 games he didn't start and had 17 double-figure scoring games on the season.
Sibande totaled 1,864 points, 680 rebounds, 198 assists and 114 steals with 246 three-point field goals in 147 career games (105 starts) at Miami [Ohio] and Pitt. He scored in double figures 96 times in his career and was one of 14 active players in the NCAA during the 2022-23 season with 1,700+ points, 600+ rebounds, and 200+ threes in a career.
Kataja Basket, founded in 1949, has played 28 seasons in the Finnish top league. The team is in its longest run of play in the league, being a member since 2001, and won the Finnish Cup championship last season.
