PITTSBURGH, PA (PTTP)- Pitt alumni Blake Hinson, Bub Carrington, and Justin Champegnie have been showing their talent in the NBA this season. All three spent time under Head Coach Jeff Capel and have been having career-best seasons.
Hinson spent two years at the University of Pittsburgh and was a part of the Panthers’ win against Iowa State in the 2023 NCAA Tournament win. In both seasons at Pitt, he was named to the ACC All-Conference team, and led the team in points, as well as the entire conference in three-point percentage. After spending 2 years in the G-League, the NBA’s developmental league, he made his NBA debut in February of this year with the Utah Jazz, in which he has started one game, and averaged 9.1 points per game.
Carrington, who was one of Capel’s highest ranked recruits brought in, spent one season at Pitt, where he received All ACC Freshman team honors. Carrington was drafted 14th overall by the Washington Wizards, being the first and only Panther under Capel to be drafted in the lottery, and the third ever Panther to do so. Carrington was named to the 2024-2025 All-Rookie team and has started in half of the Wizards games this season, averaging 10 points, and leads the team in assists with 4.5 per game.
Champegnie played under Capel for 2 seasons, making one All-ACC team, despite going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, and is in his 5th season in the NBA. He is currently averaging 8.4 points per game, and 5.6 rebounds.
Hinson faced both Carrington and Champegnie this season, a game in which the Wizards bested the Jazz 122-112.
These are not the only Panthers performing in the NBA, with Steven Adams and Cameron Johnson both spending time at Pitt, cutting out key roles in the NBA over the course of their careers. Adams holds the record for most NBA games played by a Panther, with 796.