Inside The Panthers

Pitt Adds Two Transfers to Recruiting Board

The Pitt Panthers reached out to a point guard and forward from the transfer portal.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Adds Two Transfers to Recruiting Board
Pitt Adds Two Transfers to Recruiting Board /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers lost a total of five players so far this offseason to either graduation or the transfer portal and, with their three-man high school recruiting class in place, they've turned to recruiting the transfer portal with an eye on guards and frontcourt players. 

The Panthers identified a power forward they like in Ball State transfer Payton Sparks, according to a report from George Michalowski of Pittsburgh Sports now. Sparks, a 6'9, 240-pound player who averaged 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last season. He's started all 62 games of his freshman and sophomore seasons. 

Illinois, Dayton, Iowa State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Florida, Arkansas, Seton Hall, Butler, LSU, Georgetown, Missouri, Purdue and Virginia have also reached out to Sparks, according to Dushawn London of 247Sports. 

Pitt also got in contact with Minnesota transfer point guard Ta'Lon Cooper, a  star facilitator for Morehead State and the Gophers, according to 247Sports' Travis Branham. His senior season with Minnesota was the best of his career. Cooper averaged 9.8 points, 6.3 assists and four rebounds on 37.8% shooting from 3-point range. 

Mississippi State, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Seton Hall, Arkansas, LSU, Georgia, College of Charleston and Grand Canyon are also interested in landing Cooper's services for his final year of eligibility. 

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and so much more!

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Published
Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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