Junior guard Josh Newkirk, who had microfracture surgery on his left knee on May 6, will not rejoin the Pitt Panthers this fall as expected.
Instead, Newkirk will return home to Raleigh, North Carolina to continue his rehab and is expected to transfer to another NCAA Division-I school.
“Josh is looking to get closer to home while he recovers from knee surgery and we are in full support of his decision,” said head coach Jamie Dixon in a statement. “He has been an excellent student and strong representative of the University of Pittsburgh. We wish him the best of luck in his rehab and recovery.”
Newkirk will leave the University of Pittsburgh in good academic standing.
The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 5.9 points per game in 2014-15, which was sixth on the team. He also added 1.3 rebound and 2.7 assists per game. Newkirk appeared in all 34 contests for the Panthers with four starts.
With the graduation of 2014-15 starter Cameron Wright, the Panthers are now thin at guard. Senior James Robinson will be joined in the backcourt by graduate transfer Sterling Smith, junior swingman Chris Jones, sophomore Cameron Johnson and incoming freshman Damon Wilson.
Wilson was the team’s top recruit out of Powder Springs, Georgia and was rated four stars by Rivals.com.
Keith Srakocic/Associated Press
