Pitt Men’s Basketball Adds Rafael Maia From Brown
By Larry Snyder
The University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball program announced Monday that Brown University’s Rafael Maia will transfer to the Panthers for the 2015-16 season.
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The native of Sao Paulo, Brazil is the second graduate transfer brought on board by head coach Jamie Dixon in the last 10 days. He joins Coppin State guard Sterling Smith, who transferred April 24 to the Blue and Gold. Both have completed their junior years and will graduate this spring which means they will be eligible to compete right away.
In his last season at Brown, Maia averaged 9.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest while also leading the Ivy League in both rebounding and field goal percentage. He contributed a double-double in league games with 11.4 points-per-game and 10.0 rebounds-per-game.
The 6-foot-9, 245-pound forward led the Ivy League in rebounding for three straight seasons from 2012-2015. He has also participated in international competition representing Brazil at the World University Games in Russia during the summer of 2013.
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“We are extremely excited about bringing in Rafael for the 2015-16 season,” Dixon said on the school’s web site. “Over his three years at Brown, he has proven to be the Ivy League’s top rebounder, effective offensive rebounder and consistent scorer. His size and length will also help us defensively at both low post positions.”
There are two other new faces that will be on the court this fall for the Panthers. They are center Rozelle Nix, a junior college transfer from Pensacola State, and freshman guard Damon Wilson, Jr., who played for Our Savior New American High School in New York.
According to Paul Zeise of the Post-Gazette and Anson Whaley of Cardiac Hill on SB Nation, Pitt still has one scholarship to offer for next season, and the reports are that Dixon is having Seton Hall guard Sterling Gibbs visit this week.
From The Clipboard: Pitt returns four starters for the 2015-2016 campaign including All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorees Jamel Artis and Michael Young…The Panthers are one of nine programs to have earned at least 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 14 season. The other eight are Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Texas, Louisville, and Arizona.
Next: Is the NL Central chase already a lost cause for the Bucs?