The turnover ravaging Pitt's basketball roster this offseason — largely confined to players with limited roles and modest production — now includes its leading returning scorer.
Redshirt sophomore Cameron Johnson has requested his release from the university and will look to transfer, his father, Gil, said Saturday. Pitt confirmed the news Saturday morning.
The 6-foot-8 guard, who carries a 3.9 grade point average, is set to graduate this month and will have two years of eligibility remaining at whatever school he selects. As a graduate transfer, he will be immediately eligible.
The decision to transfer, Gil Johnson said, did not have to do with Kevin Stallings, who just finished his first season as the Panthers head coach; rather, it had to do with the uncertainty next season facing Pitt, which will have at least seven new players.
Johnson, a Moon native and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart graduate, averaged 11.9 points per game and was the team's best and most reliable outside shooter, making 41.5 percent of his 3-pointers.
He would become the fifth Pitt player with remaining eligibility to not return next season, joining Crisshawn Clark, Damon Wilson, Corey Manigault and Justice Kithcart, the first three of whom opted to transfer following the end of the Panthers season. Kithcart was dismissed from the program March 3 for conduct detrimental to the team.
When paired with four graduating seniors -- Michael Young, Jamel Artis, Sheldon Jeter and Chris Jones — Johnson's departure means Pitt will be returning only a combined 9.3 points per game from the four players currently scheduled to play next season, a group led by forward Ryan Luther at 5.7 points per game.
A message to Stallings requesting comment was not immediately returned.
Craig Meyer: cmeyer@post-gazette.com and Twitter @CraigMeyerPG.
First Published: April 1, 2017, 4:58 a.m.
Updated: April 1, 2017, 5:37 a.m.
