Former Pitt forward Karim Coulibaly decides to transfer to St. Bonaventure
Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, one of five Pitt players who entered the NCAA transfer portal since the latter days of the season, said Friday he has decided to transfer to St. Bonaventure.
Coulibaly, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward, started 20 of 22 games this season for the Panthers, averaging 5.2 points and 3.9 rebounds. He was one of the team’s best defensive players around the basket while recording 19 blocks (second on the team) and 15 steals (fifth).
A native of Mali who went to high school at the Scotland Campus in Scotland, Pa., he played an average of 9.2 minutes as a freshman, averaging 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds.
After completing his sophomore season at Pitt, he will have three years of collegiate eligibility remaining. The NCAA ruled that the 2020-21 season doesn’t count against eligibility years because of the covid-19 pandemic.
St. Bonaventure (16-5, 11-4) finished first in the Atlantic 10 this season and won the conference tournament to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament. As a No. 9 seed, St. Bonaventure lost its first-round game to LSU.
Former Pitt player Au’Diese Toney said Thursday he will transfer to Arkansas, another NCAA Tournament team. Meanwhile, point guard Xavier Johnson may be close to picking a new school.
Almost that TIME!!!! ?? Praying I make the best decision for me and my future!
— Xavier Johnson “1” (@TheXavierJ0) April 2, 2021
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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