Pitt's Jeff Capel unafraid to prepare Justin Champagnie for NBA Draft possibilities

In a season when no one is sure whether the next game will be played, postponed or canceled, Pitt’s Jeff Capel is ready for anything.

With the Louisville game postponed Wednesday, he scheduled two days off for his players this week, knowing Pitt (9-6, 5-5 ACC) is supposed to play three games in eight days, starting Sunday at Georgia Tech. It will be Pitt’s first game since losing to Virginia on Feb. 6.

He also is ready to tackle a more difficult question:

Will sophomore forward Justin Champagnie declare for the 2021 NBA Draft?

A serious question, for sure, but Capel didn’t duck it Thursday morning when he appeared on 93.7 FM. In fact, he said he proactively has discussed the possibility with Champagnie and his parents.

“I think it’s something that will be a conversation,” he said. “I think he’s put himself in a position, as of right now — obviously, there’s a lot of time left — where there is some interest from people in the NBA, which should pique his antenna, he and his family.”

Losing Champagnie would be a blow to the 2021-2022 team, especially with almost all the contributing players eligible to return and the program starting an upward trajectory. In less than two seasons, Champagnie is one of only three players in the nation averaging more than 18 points and 10 rebounds per game, and he leads the ACC in both departments (19.2 and 12), plus double-doubles (nine).

Champagnie was selected Thursday to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Team. The Naismith Trophy is awarded at the end of the season by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the nation’s best player.

But Capel is not ignoring the possibility of losing his best player and a leading candidate for ACC Player of the Year.

“Just talking about how we want to handle the rest of the year because he and they are being hit pretty hard by agents, by different things,” Capel said.

His message is to formulate a plan “to protect Justin, to protect them,” Capel said.

Capel said he can gauge the NBA’s interest in Champagnie through his contacts in the league. Some mock drafts don’t mention Champagnie. The Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman projects Champagnie, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, going to his hometown New York Knicks at No. 31.

Capel said he would offer his opinion, if asked, but he told the family, “I can get you accurate information. That’s the most important thing.”

“A lot of times, these agents, they just want guys to leave because they’re looking at it as money for them. Because of the relationships I have, I am able to get you real and accurate information and then after that, you guys can make an informed decision about what is the best thing for you and your family.

“My thing with all these guys who are in that position that I’ve had an opportunity to coach, you don’t owe me anything. You don’t owe the University of Pittsburgh anything.

“This decision should be about you and what you and your family think is best.”

Note: Georgia Tech’s Jose Alvarado and Louisville’s Carlik Jones of the ACC also were among the 30 players named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Team. West Virginia’s Derek Culver also made the list.

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