Justin Champagnie decides to leave Pitt, declare for the NBA Draft
Jeff Capel received some additional bad news in his quest to reconstruct the Pitt basketball roster when All-ACC forward Justin Champagnie decided to enter the 2021 NBA Draft and hire an agent, ending his two-year college career.
The announcement comes the day after five-star center Efton Reid, who Pitt had been recruiting intensely, committed to LSU, and less than three months after Pitt lost it first of five players to the NCAA transfer portal.
Champagnie, 19, is the first Pitt player to declare for early entry into the draft since Steven Adams was selected No. 12 overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2013. He will be represented by the Life Sports Agency, headquartered in Los Angeles.
Pitt sophomore Justin Champagnie's college career is over, his agent Todd Ramasar confirms to ESPN. He'll be keeping his name in the 2021 NBA Draft. First-team All-ACC after averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds per game as a 19-year old, one of the youngest sophomores in the class. https://t.co/HnBHRwj8nu
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 10, 2021
He hopes to be the first Pitt player chosen in the NBA Draft since Lamar Patterson in 2014. Although having a player drafted is good for the program’s reputation and perception around the nation, Champagnie was Pitt’s leading scorer and rebounder and the fourth starter to leave the program since Xavier Johnson began the exodus Feb. 24.
Johnson was followed by starters Au’Diese Toney and Abdoul Karim Coulibaly — and now Champagnie, but for a significantly different reason. Reserves Gerald Drumgoole Jr. and Terrell Brown also entered the portal. Champagnie, Toney and Johnson were the team’s leading scorers. Overall, the six players who left scored 1,029 of the team’s 1,566 point total (65.7%) last season.
Adding to the uncertainty surrounding Pitt’s 2021-2022 roster is freshman forward John Hugley’s legal troubles. He was suspended indefinitely in January after three felony charges connected to a car theft in 2020.
Champagnie averaged 18 points and 11.1 rebounds last season when he was named honorable mention Associated Press All-American. He is the first Pitt player named first-team All-ACC.
His 20/20 performances (points/rebounds) early in the season against Northwestern and Gardner-Webb were one of the few highlights of Pitt’s season, which ended with 10 losses in the final 12 games. He scored 20 points, with 20 rebounds, against Northwestern and added a 24/21 effort in the Gardner-Webb game.
Capel, whose three-year record at Pitt is 40-48 (15-39 ACC), is in the process of rebuilding his roster. Champagnie’s return would have gone a long way in mitigating the loss of those five players. He was the nation’s only major conference player to average a double-double last season, ranked among the ACC leaders in nine categories and finished in the top 10 in the NCAA in rebounding (tied for seventh) and double-doubles (tied for eighth, 14).
But he said he’s ready to turn the page on his career.
“My parents and my family have been my biggest supporters and they have made a lot of sacrifices to help put me in this position,” Champagnie said in a statement. “I am excited about the opportunity to pursue my NBA dreams and be in a position to pay them back for everything they have invested in me.
“The University of Pittsburgh has elevated me on and off the court. I love coach Capel, the entire coaching staff and my teammates and will always be proud of the relationships I have built over the past two seasons.
“It was a difficult decision because Pitt has been such a special place in my development. I am going to miss the passionate support of the fans, especially the Oakland Zoo, but I know it is time to begin my professional career.
“I am prepared to take the next step, accept the next challenge and put in the work it takes to succeed at the next level.”
Capel hasn’t stood still since the end of the season. Along with his pursuit of Reid, he signed incoming 6-foot-7 freshman forward Nate Santos and 6-4 guard Jamarius Burton, a transfer from Texas Tech. In addition, 6-7 forward Dan Oladapo said he is transferring to Pitt from Oakland (Mich.).
But Champagnie would have been one of the top returning players in the ACC for the 2021-22 season.
”Justin has been a terrific member of our program for the past two years and has earned the opportunity to be a NBA Draft selection,” Capel said in a statement. “He put together an outstanding season under some difficult circumstances last year.
Excited to see your development continue in the league. Always a Panther!
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) May 10, 2021
“We are proud of the way he has developed within the Pitt program and excited to see him continue to evolve as a player. Justin’s competitiveness, toughness and desire to help his family will continue to be driving factors in helping his game reach new levels.
“I believe he is just scratching the surface of the player he can become and look forward to watching him carve out a lengthy pro career. Justin has our love and support and will always be a part of the Pitt family.”
Pitt has had 28 NBA Draft choices, including eight who were picked in the first round.
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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