Pitt dips into transfer portal, gets verbal commitment from ex-High Point forward Zack Austin
Jeff Capel reaped the first reward of his offseason roster construction when Zack Austin, a 6-foot-7 rising junior forward who played at High Point (N.C.) University the past two seasons, announced his plans to transfer to Pitt.
It’s time???????? #h2p???????? #ripmom???????? pic.twitter.com/aQwrzsdVwX
— Zack???????? (@ZackAust11) April 11, 2023
Austin is the first piece of the puzzle Capel must assemble after losing four players whose eligibility expired — Jamarius Burton, Greg Elliott, Nike Sibande and Nelly Cummings. All those players, plus returning forward Blake Hinson, came from the NCAA transfer portal.
Austin placed his name in the portal after High Point finished its season 14-17, 6-12 in the Big South.
After sitting out his freshman season (2020-21) as a redshirt, he quickly made an impact in the High Point starting lineup.
Austin was a productive scorer and a willing shooter during his two seasons of action at High Point. He appeared in 63 games, with 58 starts, averaging 14.1 points this season and 14.4 in 2021-22. He’s not afraid to shoot from beyond the 3-point arc, attempting 394 shots over two seasons and converting 129 (32.7%). Overall, he shot 42.4% from the field (314 of 740).
Sophomore Zack Austin is entering the transfer portal. The 6’5 Guard had a great season for High Point averaging 14 PPG,5 RPG,1 SPG,and 2 Blocks a game. Austin was also efficient finishing with a 57% TS. Austin is an elite athlete who dunks everything and he’s a great defender. pic.twitter.com/QcdAjeGVAo
— KJ (@Kjpistons) March 15, 2023
During the nonconference season, Austin scored 25 points against North Florida, leading High Point to a 93-88 victory.
North Florida coach Matt Driscoll described Austin as “an explosive scorer, a really good kid. Crushed it (this season).”
He also has the kind of length and athleticism Capel covets in his defense. He averaged 6.7 rebounds per game over two seasons, including 8.0 this season. Austin also totaled 135 blocks and 76 steals in 63 games.
Driscoll said he warned his team, “(Austin) wants to block shots.” He added he plays like a “fourth guard” and makes a point of “hunting 3s.”
After securing Austin, Capel will have three more scholarships available for the 2023-24 roster.
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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