Jeff Capel holds the character and personality of Barry Dunning Jr. in very high esteem.

During his brief time at Pitt so far, Dunning has proven to be easygoing and unproblematic.

But if Dunning is to help the Panthers get where Capel wants them to go this season, the transfer guard/forward is going to have to get mean.

“He’s a really, really nice guy and a good guy,” Capel said. “But we need him to flip a switch at times when he’s on the court. It can’t take us having to curse him out all the time and things like that.”

The 6-foot-6 Dunning, who joined Pitt from South Alabama in the offseason, knows Capel has a point.

Last season, Dunning’s third collegiate campaign at as many schools (he also played at Arkansas and UAB), resulted in All-Sun Belt honors after he averaged 15.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists on a Jaguars team that went 21-11.

But if those numbers are going to translate to the ACC, Dunning realizes he’ll have to step out of his comfort zone and play with more of an edge.

“I’m really laid back, really cool and I let my work do the talking,” Dunning said. “But my coaches and teammates preach to me, ‘Hey, Barry, you should be more aggressive. Talk to us.’ (Capel) is totally right. I do need to be a little more assertive offensively and defensively.”

Dunning’s place in Capel’s rotation still seems up in the air after two exhibitions and Monday’s season opener versus Youngstown State.

Against the Penguins, Dunning was used sparingly, seeing the second-fewest minutes (nine) of the nine players Capel utilized.

In Pitt’s 74-59 win, Dunning made a pair of free throws with a rebound but was 0 for 3 from the floor, missing two 3-point tries.

At South Alabama, Dunning demonstrated a versatile scoring touch.

Late in the regular season, he dropped 46 points against Texas State, tying a Jaguars single-game scoring record set in 1974.

He also shot 40.7% (33 of 81) from long range and was a 45.7% shooter from the floor overall.

Those kinds of returns have yet to materialize at Pitt, which hosts Longwood on Friday at Petersen Events Center, but Dunning remains confident he can be an impact player on both sides of the ball.

“Helping this team is learning how to play off the ball, being ready to catch, shoot, play off the drive and get to my pull-up, go all the way to the rim or catch and shoot a 3,” Dunning said. “Being a guy that’s disruptive on the defensive end — trying to get blocks, playing in those passing lanes and also being a leader, too. Bringing energy day-in and day-out. That’s the biggest thing.”

Capel is still looking at Dunning as an important piece to this year’s puzzle.

“I think he did some good things in both scrimmages. He’s done a lot of good things in practice, and we need those things to translate more consistently to when we get into playing opponents,” Capel said. “Barry’s talented. (But) there has to be a level of competitive spirit all the time with him.

“… He has an athleticism. He can shoot the basketball. He can defend multiple positions. I’ve thought he’s made some good passes at times — he just can’t play weak on the court.”

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