After coach fired, 8 players have come forward demanding release from program
After a season that saw them go 8-24 — including 0-18 in the Atlantic Coast Conference — everyone knew changes were coming to the Pittsburgh Panthers men’s basketball team.
The Panthers, once a proud basketball powerhouse, were the worst team in the ACC, so it made sense that they would fire head coach Kevin Stallings, who, in his two years leading the program, won just 24 games and lost 41.
But it seems as though the ramifications of Stallings’ departure might be greater than Pittsburgh anticipated.
According to ESPN‘s Jeff Goodman, who cited multiple sources close to the program, the majority of the team’s returning players, as well as a top recruit, are looking to jump ship.
In addition to freshman Parker Stewart, seven other players have asked to be released so they can explore what their options are regarding potential transfers.
“Senior Ryan Luther, sophomore Kene Chukwuka and four more freshmen — Marcus Carr, Khameron Davis, Terrell Brown and Shamiel Stevenson — asked for permission to contact other schools on Friday afternoon. Luther will have to apply for another year of eligibility and is expected to receive it,” Goodman reported.
“Junior Malik Ellison, who sat out this past season after transferring from St. John’s, also asked for his release,” the report continued, while noting that Ellison’s situation is “somewhat uncertain because he didn’t play last season after transferring.”
On Wednesday, all of those players met with executive associate athletic director Chris Hoppe.
Making matters worse for Pittsburgh, the school’s only remaining men’s basketball recruit, four-star guard Bryce Golden, has changed his mind about attending.
Though not all the players have made public remarks about why they want to leave, Stewart was blunt.
“We had a tough year, but most of the team was freshmen, and we felt like we’d have a chance to improve next year,” Stewart told ESPN.
“We liked Coach Stallings. He was a great guy as a person, and he treated us well.”
If the players’ requests to be released are granted — and it’s expected that they will be — they likely won’t be allowed to transfer to an ACC program or any other school who the Panthers play next year, as per Pittsburgh policy.
Though things aren’t looking particularly great for Pittsburgh at the moment, at least one head coach thinks they will eventually overcome their issues.
“(I)t’s going to take a little time again, but once you get some continuity here again, you’ve got everything in place here to have a great program,” Villanova head coach Jay Wright said Wednesday, according to SB Nation.
First, though, Pittsburgh will have to hire a new head coach.
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