Miami (Ohio) transfer Nike Sibande brings scoring potential to Pitt basketball

Jeff Capel’s makeover of Pitt basketball continued Saturday when he announced the addition of former Miami (Ohio) guard Nike Sibande to the 2020-2021 roster. He has one season of eligibility remaining.

Sibande must sit out this season as a transfer, unless he is granted a waiver by the NCAA. But he appears to be a player who eventually can help Pitt improve its offensive production after the Panthers averaged 65.2 points per game last season (315th of 350 Division I schools).

Sibande, a 6-foot-4, 185-pounder, averaged in double figures in all three seasons at Miami (15.1 points as a freshman, 16.1 as a sophomore and 13.9 last season.)

“Nike is an experienced, skilled and productive player who will fit in well with the culture we are building here at Pitt,” said Capel, who is entering his third season as coach. “He is an outstanding athlete who loves to compete and has a scorers’ mentality. We look forward to having him in the program and working with him as he continues to develop on and off the court.”

Sibande started 94 of 97 games at Miami, finishing with 1,463 points, 186 3-point field goals (33.6%) and an overall career shooting percentage of 41.4. He also averaged 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

Last season, he scored in double figures 22 times, with six double-doubles and seven games of 20 or more points, including a career-high 31 against Buffalo in the MAC Tournament.

He was named third-team All-MAC during the 2018-2019 season and conference freshman of the year and honorable mention All-MAC in 2017-18.

Sibande earned four letters at Crispus Attucks (Ind.) and was named one of the top 15 seniors in Indiana.

Pitt returns three of its top four scorers — Justin Champagnie, Xavier Johnson and Au’Diese Toney — from last season’s team that finished 16-17.

Most of the remainder of the roster will be comprised of seven players who last season were either in high school, sitting out as a transfer or (in the case of Sibande) on another college team.

Top 100 Rivals.com prospects John Hugley (No. 77) and William Jeffress Jr. (No. 79) lead an incoming freshman class that includes Femi Odukale, Noah Collier and Max Amadasun. Pitt’s class is ranked 20th in the nation, fourth in the ACC, by Rivals.com.

Plus, guard Ithiel Horton, who sat out last season after transferring from Delaware, will be eligible.

The NCAA approved a plan Wednesday to allow basketball teams to begin working with coaches July 20. It would end the covid-19 shutdown imposed since March.

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