After testing his NBA option, Blake Hinson says he's returning to Pitt

Blake Hinson, whose productive shooting and rebounding and aggressively courageous style of play were among the most significant factors in Pitt’s turnaround during the 2022-23 season, has decided to withdraw his name from the NBA Draft and return to school for his senior season.

B2 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Flvr3VvEHm

— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) May 30, 2023

After last season, Hinson, along with Pitt coach Jeff Capel, said he planned to test his NBA Draft prospects. The deadline for making a decision to enter the draft is Wednesday. Hinson and Pitt produced a video announcing his plans to return and posted it on Twitter on Tuesday.

Losing Hinson, a rising senior, would have been a significant blow to Pitt’s hopes of repeating its NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024. Pitt (24-12, 14-6) also lost Jamarius Burton, Nelly Cummings, Nike Sibande and Greg Elliott from last season’s team after they exhausted their eligibility. Those five players were Pitt’s leading scorers last season when the Panthers finished tied for third in the ACC regular-season standings and won two games in the tournament for the first time since 2009.

Hinson, a second-team All-ACC selection, led Pitt in successful 3-pointers (97), scoring (15.3 points per game) and rebounding (six). He also was second to Burton in overall field goals (181). His late-game 3-pointer from just inside the halfcourt line in Pitt’s 60-59 NCAA Tournament victory against Mississippi State on March 14 was one of the most dramatic plays of the season.

He was one of two NCAA players to average at least 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds and make at least 95 3s, leading to his being named named CollegeInsider.com Riley Wallace Award winner (Top Impact Transfer). He ranked among ACC leaders in scoring (15th), rebounding (12th), 3-point percentage (4th, 38%) and 3-point field goals (1st,). Those 97 3s rank third most in Pitt history.

After starting his career at Mississippi State and transferring to Iowa State, Hinson immediately fit smoothly into Pitt’s preseason workouts last year. When the season started, he provided a solid rebounding presence at 6-foot-7 and the willingness to shoot the 3-pointer. Starting with the 2018-19 season, Hinson has totaled 1,098 points, 440 rebounds, and 188 3-point field goals in 96 career games (93 starts).

Hinson, 23, will join Federiko Federiko, William Jeffress and the Diaz Graham twins — Guillermo and Jorge — as returning forwards for the Panthers.

Federiko was second in rebounding (5.3 per game). Jeffress, who started a total of 20 games before last season, is recovering from a season-ending foot injury suffered before the start of the season. Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham played important roles coming off the bench, especially when Federiko was injured and played sparingly in the tournament.