Pitt honors Brandin Knight upon his return to the Pete
Former Pitt All-American point guard Brandin Knight returned to Petersen Events Center on Tuesday night as a Rutgers assistant, and was greeted with a video tribute during the Panthers’ 71-60 victory.
Knight, one of only four Pitt players to have their jersey (No. 20) retired, was a four-year starter during the Panthers’ resurgence under former coach Ben Howland from 1999-2003. The school’s all-time assists leader (785), Knight helped Pitt win a Big East championship and led the Panthers to two Sweet 16s.
We noticed a familiar face/name at shoot-around today.
Assistant Coach Brandin Knight was a standout for @Pitt_MBB from 1999-2003 and he has his number hanging in the rafters to prove it.
?⚔️ #GardenStatement pic.twitter.com/uR67kOl1sr
— Rutgers Basketball ? (@RutgersMBB) December 3, 2019
Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said Knight, who was an assistant at Pitt from 2006-16, will be a head coach some day.
“I know he worked really hard to get a really good scouting report (on Pitt),” Pikiell said. “You can tell why his number is up in the rafters (at the Pete). He’s determined. He’s driven. He’s smart. He’s going to be a terrific head coach.”
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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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