A potential transfer for Pitt chooses a competitor within the ACC conference.
In Pittsburgh, the Panthers are back to searching through the transfer portal for a new starting center, having missed out on a promising prospect this offseason. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, formerly with Louisville, was slated to visit Pitt later this month. However, he has made an early decision, opting for NC State over UConn, Pitt, and a return to Louisville
Huntley-Hatfield’s transfer coincides with the departure of head coach Kenny Payne, who was let go after two seasons with a record of 12-22 leading the Panthers. Despite the team’s struggles, Huntley-Hatfield stood out as one of the bright spots, averaging 12.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game during the 2023-24 season. He maintained impressive shooting percentages, making 57% of his field goals and 42% of his 3-pointers, although his attempts were limited.
Originally touted as a five-star prospect by recruiting services like 247Sports and ESPN, Huntley-Hatfield hails from Scotland Campus Prep, located roughly two and a half hours from Pittsburgh by car. Both On3 and 247Sports ranked him as the top player in Pennsylvania for the class of 2021. He received offers from numerous prestigious programs, including Tennessee, Kentucky, Memphis, Baylor, Florida State, and Kansas.