Pitt lost six players to the transfer portal this offseason but has gradually begun rebuilding its depth, particularly in the backcourt. Jeff Capel’s club landed its second commitment from a guard in the past three days on Monday afternoon, when Oregon State transfer Damarco Minor announced via his NIL representation, Rize Management, he would be a Panther next season. ESPN’s Jeff Borzello first reported the news.
Minor named Pitt to a top-three list that included ACC foes Virginia Tech and Florida State. He figures to fill a ball-handling role left behind by Jaland Lowe, a third-team All-ACC selection who transferred to Kentucky this offseason. Fellow backcourt starters Damian Dunn and Ishmael Leggett both graduated.
Prior to his junior season at Oregon State, Minor averaged 14.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game at SIU Edwardsville. He earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors in 2024 before opting to transfer.
In his lone year with the Beavers, Minor’s scoring averages took a step back, but he became a more prolific playmaker, averaging a career-best 5.1 assists. He ranked 89th among Division I players in assist rate during the 2024-25 season, according to KenPom, and logged 18 points and dealt four assists in an overtime win over Gonzaga in January.
Of his 99 career appearances, Minor has started 98.
To date, Pitt has landed four commitments from transfer players and signed two of them. Former Iowa State teammates Dishon Jackson and Nojus Indrusaitis both signed with the program within the past four days. On Saturday, former South Alabama guard Barry Dunning Jr. announced he would be playing for Pitt next year.
The Panthers had three scholarship players set to return from last year’s squad and one high school recruit slated to join the roster. Now, they’ve added four players from the transfer portal and have seven roster spots left to work with.
First Published: April 14, 2025, 7:16 p.m.
