Pitt loses backup forward Chris Payton to transfer portal
Pitt basketball lost another player Thursday when sophomore forward Chris Payton, who spent only one season on the team, entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Payton joins former Pitt teammate Noah Collier, who entered the portal earlier this week. Pitt coach Jeff Capel is beginning to reconstruct his roster after a fourth consecutive losing season.
While playing 43 minutes in 13 games this season, Payton recorded a total of 10 points and 10 rebounds. He made four of his six shot attempts, including a 3-pointer against Clemson.
Payton (6-foot-7) previously played at Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College where he averaged 12.5 points, 10 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game during the 2020-21 season. He has two seasons of eligibility to use at his next school.
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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