Pitt's Blake Hinson will test his NBA Draft option while retaining collegiate eligibility
Pitt is faced with the possibility of losing junior forward Blake Hinson, who has decided to test the 2023 NBA Draft process while retaining his collegiate eligibility. Pitt officials made the announcement Friday morning.
Hinson could remove his name from draft consideration and return to Pitt. The deadline to decide is May 31.
Losing Hinson would be a significant blow to Pitt’s hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament next season. He was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2022-23 and is one of two starters Pitt coach Jeff Capel was expecting to form the nucleus of the 2023-24 team.
He led Pitt in scoring (15.3 points per game), rebounding (6.0), 3-point field goals (an ACC-high 97), and is one of two NCAA players to average 15-plus points and six or more rebounds while making more than 95 3-pointers. His 97 3s are third-most in Pitt history.
He scored in double figures in 30 of 36 games, including 20 of 15 or more and nine of 20-plus. He also was named winner of the CollegeInsider.com Riley Wallace Award as the nation’s top impact transfer.
For his career that includes two seasons at Ole Miss, he has played in 96 games, with 93 starts, 1,098 points, 440 rebounds and 188 3s.
The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 22.
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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