It not only was a tough season for the Pitt basketball program, but it has been a tough offseason to this point.
Things got a little bit better for Jamie Dixon on Friday when he landed some help for next year’s team.
Pitt landed 6-foot-4 shooting guard Sterling Smith, a transfer from Coppin State. Because Smith has already graduated, he will be eligible to play for the Panthers next season.
The signing of Smith should help lighten the blow of losing Durand Johnson, who elected to transfer.
Smith averaged 13.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game last season and is a solid perimeter shooter, something Pitt needs badly, as he drained 42 percent of his 3-point attempts last season.
He choose the Panthers over offers from Louisville, Wake Forest and Rutgers.
Pitt badly needed a guard with size that can shoot the ball well from deep and at least on paper Smith looks like an ideal fit into the Panthers lineup.
Smith joins center Rozelle Nix and guard Damon Wilson, Jr. as new players on the Pitt roster next season.
Dixon now has one more scholarship to hand out for next season. I would expect him to try and add size as Pitt could still use a true center.
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