Ryan Luther

Height:
6-9
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Gibsonia, Pa.
High School:
Hampton

The Storyline

Pitt’s leading returning player with 324 points and 199 rebounds over 76 career games (two starts) ... enters the year with a .557 field goal percentage and a .431 three-point field goal percentage
Veteran big man with the ability to score on the interior and from the perimeter ... has the skill set and scoring ability to be the focal point of the Panthers’ offense
Well-rounded offensive game and versatility will enable him to blossom under Kevin Stallings’ system ... has range out past the three-point line as well as solid post moves and the ability to put the ball on the floor
Strength and athleticism allow him to play multiple positions on both ends of the floor ... excellent instincts and feel for the game
Work ethic and consistent effort have allowed him to emerge as a team leader ... provides a steadying influence on a young team with both his voice as well as his actions
Game has steadily expanded over the past three years ... poised for a breakout year as Pitt’s leading returning scorer and rebounder
Working hard in the weight room to add strength ... proved to be one of Pitt’s best conditioned players during summer workouts
An effective rebounder on both ends of the floor ... has shown excellent offensive rebounding instincts throughout his career as well as the ability to rebound outside of his area
Runs well and does a good job getting out on the break and finishing in transition ... emerged over the past two seasons as an excellent finisher in traffic
A two-time All-ACC Academic Team selection ... also named to the NABC Honors Court as a junior
Grew up in Gibsonia, Pa., less than 15 miles north of Pittsburgh

2017-18

Missed majority of the season with an injury
Started in all 10 games played … averaged 12.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game
His point and rebound averages were tops on the team prior to his injury
He also led the team in steals (16) and blocks (seven), while ranking second in assists (28) prior to his injury
Scored a season-high 18 points in games against Montana (11/13) and Lehigh (11/25)
Scored in double figures in eight of 10 games played
Pulled down a season-high 16 rebounds against Mount St. Mary’s (12/5)
Pulled down 10 or more rebounds in five of 10 games played and never recorded fewer than eight rebounds in a game
Dished out a season-high five assists against High Point (11/28)
Dished out four or more assists in four of 10 games played
Scored 18 points to go along with 11 rebounds and two assists against Montana (11/13)
Recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks against Lehigh (11/25)
Scored 16 points to go along with nine rebounds, four assists and three steals against Duquesne (12/1)
Recorded 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks against High Point (11/28)

2016-17

Named to the All-ACC Academic Team ... also selected to the NABC Honors Court
Averaged 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game ... appeared in 21 games with two starts
Missed 12 conference games after suffering a stress fracture in his right root in early January
Led the team in field goal percentage (.538, 42-of-78), while also shooting 40.9 percent (9-of-22) from three-point range
Scored in double figures three times, including a career-high 20-point effort against Rice (12/17)
Set a Pitt record with 15 consecutive made field goals from Dec. 10-21 ... made his final two attempts against Penn State (12/10), all eight of his attempts in a win over Rice (12/17) and his first five shots against Omaha (12/21) to set the mark
Had seven points, three rebounds and two blocks in a start at No. 23 Virginia (3/4)
Returned from injury to play 13 minutes at Georgia Tech (2/28) ... finished with one point, three rebounds and a steal after missing the previous 12 games
Scored six points and grabbed six rebounds at No. 14 Louisville (1/11)
Went 4-of-6 from the field and finished with eight points, four rebounds and a block in a home overtime win over No. 11 Virginia (1/4) ... had a key tip-in and blocked shot late in the contest to help secure the win
Recorded 11 points, three rebounds and a blocked shot in a win over Omaha (12/21) ... went 5-of-7 from the field
Scored a career-high 20 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the field in a win over Rice (12/17) ... knocked down a pair of three-point field goals and added seven rebounds and a career-high four assists in the contest ... his effort was the fourth 20-point game with 100 percent shooting efficiency in program history ... it also marked the 12th-time a Pitt player has posted a 1.000 field goal percentage (minimum of eight attempts
Went 2-of-3 from the field for five points to go along with four offensive rebounds in a win over Penn State (12/10)
Had 11 points, seven rebounds, one block and a steal against Buffalo (12/7) ... went 2-of-4 from the field and 6-of-8 from the foul line
Grabbed a season-high eight rebounds to go along with four points and two blocks against Duquesne (12/2)
Contributed five points, seven rebounds and a steal in a road win over Maryland (11/29) in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge
Had eight points and four rebounds against Morehead State (11/25)
Posted eight points, five rebounds and a career-high three blocks in a come-from-behind win over Marquette (11/18) ... went 4-of-6 from the field in the contest
Scored seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field against SMU (11/17)
Had eight points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal in his first career start against Gardner-Webb (11/14) ... went 3-of-5 from the field and 2-of-3 from the free throw line

2015-16

Named to the All-ACC Academic Team
Averaged 5.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per game ... appeared in 32 of 33 contests
Led the team in field goal percentage (.583, 63-of-108) ... was 8-of-18 (.444) from three-point range
Had five double-figure scoring games, including four in ACC play
Grabbed five or more rebounds six times with one double digit effort on the glass
Scored 13 points and grabbed five offensive rebounds in an ACC Tournament win over Syracuse, 3/9 ... also had two steals
Had eight points and three rebounds at Virginia Tech (3/2)
Posted 10 points, three rebounds and two assists in a home win over No. 15 Duke (2/28) ... went 4-of-5 from the field with a three-point field goal
Scored a career-high 17 points against Louisville (2/24) ... added five rebounds, one assist, one blocked shot and a steal ... went 6-of-8 from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, and 3-of-3 from the foul line in the contest
Had six points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal at Syracuse (2/20)
Recorded seven points, three rebounds and a steal at No. 9 North Carolina (2/14)
Went 5-of-6 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line to score 12 points at No. 12 Miami (2/9) ... also had seven rebounds, one blocked shot and a steal
Tallied nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field against Virginia Tech (1/31) ... added two rebounds and two steals in the win
Knocked down two three-point field goals and finished with eight points at Clemson (1/27)
Went 3-of-4 from the field and finished with six points, four rebounds, one assist and a steal versus Maryland Eastern Shore (1/2)
Had seven points and five rebounds in a win over Kent State (11/28)
Posted his first career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds against Detroit (11/20) ... went 6-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from the foul line in the win
Went 3-of-4 from the field and 1-of-1 from the foul line en route to seven points in the season opener against Saint Joseph’s College (11/17) ... added four rebounds and a career-best blocked shots

2014-15

Saw action in 23 games ... averaged 1.9 points and 1.0 rebounds while shooting 51.4 percent (18-of-35) from the field, including 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from three-point range
Began his college career with four points and two rebounds at Hawaii (11/21)
Had five points and three rebounds against No. 15 San Diego State (11/25)
Set a career-high with 13 points in a win over Kansas State (11/26) at the EA Sports Maui Invitational ... went 5-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range, and added two rebounds, two assists and a steal
Scored four points to go along with a rebound, an assist and a block at Indiana (12/2)
Recorded two points and three rebounds at Virginia Tech (1/27)

High School

Four-year letterwinner at Hampton under head coach Joe Lafko
Concluded his career as Hampton’s all-time career leading scorer with 1,968 points ... became the school’s all-time leading scorer after just three seasons
Scored 30 or more points six times, 20 or more points 37 times and reached double figures in 104 of 107 career contests
Two-time member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous Five and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific-10 all-area teams
Named the Class 4A Pennsylvania State Player of the Year and earned Class 4A first team all-state honors as a senior ... was also a WPIAL Class 4A all-area and all-section selection
Finished with 578 points (22.2 ppg.), 201 rebounds (7.7 rpg.), 39 assists, 35 steals and 54 blocked shots in 26 games in 2013-14 ... also shot 66 percent from the floor, 71 percent from inside the three-point line, 65.8 percent of his free throws and hit 18 three-pointers
Reached double figure scoring in all 26 games, scored 30 or more points two times, 20 or more points in 17 contests and compiled eight double-doubles as a senior
Played in the Roundball Classic following his senior season
Ranked third among WPIAL area players in scoring (21.3 points per game) and led the Talbots to a 22-6 record and WPIAL Class 4A finals appearance as a junior
Earned Class 4A third team all-state honors ... member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous Five and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific-10 all-area teams ... also earned all-section first team honors
Named the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Player of the Week on Dec. 19, 2012 after he scored 32 points against North Hills and hit a game-winning layup to help defeat Mars
Finished with 597 points (21.3 ppg.), 216 rebounds (7.7 rpg.), 54 assists, 46 steals and 40 blocked shots in 28 games as a junior ... posted a .591 field goal percentage and .721 free throw percentage
Scored 17 points and pulled down nine rebounds for Hampton in a 68-53 championship final loss to New Castle
Scored 31 points against McKeesport in the WPIAL quarterfinals (11-of-17 FG, 9-of-11 FT, nine rebounds)
Season-high was 32 points vs. North Hills (12-of-18 FG, 8-of-9 FT)
Tallied 30 or more points four times and 20 or more points in 14 games
Reached double figure scoring in 27 of 28 contests in 2012-13
Led Hampton to a 25-5 record, a 16-game win streak and Class 3A final as a sophomore
Finished with 491 points (16.4 ppg.), 192 rebounds (6.4 rpg.) and 62 steals and converted 54.9 percent (185-of-337) of his field goals, 75.5 percent (80-of-106) of his free throws and went 41-of-108 (.380) from three-point range as a sophomore
Scored a season-high 28 points twice vs. Warren ... matched his season-high with 28 points against Oliver
Averaged 13.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and shot 49.5 percent from the floor as a freshman while guiding Hampton to a 15-8 record
Played AAU Basketball with the Maryland 3D squad
Consensus three-star recruit by Scout, Rivals and ESPNU
No. 1 ranked player in the Pittsburgh area in the Class of 2014
Also played quarterback on the football team

Personal

Born Ryan S. Luther on September 10, 1995
Son of Bill and Kate Luther
Twin brother, Collin, plays at Elon
Also has an older brother, Bill, and older sister, Jodie
The Luthers became just the second family in WPIAL history to have four siblings score over 1,000 career points: Ryan (1,968), Collin (1,033), Bill, Jr., and Jodie
Older brother Bill, Jr. was a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous Five selection and played at Pitt-Johnstown
Cousin, Mike Shanahan, played wide receiver at Pitt (2009-12) and with the New York Jets in 2013
Uncle, Brian Shanahan, scored 1,355 points on the Duquesne basketball team (1986-89)
Chose Pitt because he always has followed the Panthers and realized the opportunity that he would have at Pitt ... stated that it “was pretty hard to turn down a school that he’s liked since he was a little kid”
Outstanding student who owns a 3.0-plus GPA
Chose Pitt over Dayton, Duquesne and George Washington