Pitt F Blake Hinson Explains Decision to Return to School

Pitt Panthers forward Blake Hinson has some very specific goals for the 2023-24 season.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers and their fans waited with bated breath during the month of May as their leading scorer and rebounder from last year's NCAA Tournament team went through the early stages of the NBA Draft process.

Blake Hinson took his decision right down to the wire and announced that he would return to school one day before the deadline to withdraw from the Draft process. The week after he made his decision to play one more season at Pitt, Hinson explained that he was looking for professional, honest feedback about his NBA prospects and that's exactly what he got.

I felt like it went very truthful," Hinson said in an appearance on Sirius XM ACC Radio. "I feel like they definitely took it seriously and I’m responding to it. It gave me something else to look for. After having a good season last year, you start looking for what you can do individually to track down and hunt and attack. So the things they said I need to work on, I’m waking up every morning and attacking them full speed so that when we get to this time next year, I can prove that I’m conquered that.” 

Hinson said it was mostly positive feedback, but he needed to get in better shape. It was encouraging and he now has very clear goals heading into the 2023-24 season. 

"Getting more in shape and becoming more in shape … that’s what they say I need to fix," Hinson said. "So I’m super pumped. … They’re not saying I’m trash. They’re saying I need to fix my body.”

But his return to Pitt wasn't just informed by what he heard from NBA scouts and coaches. He has a genuine relationship with the coaching staff in Pittsburgh, one that has boundless confidence in his abilities. That faith was there even as Hinson transfered for the second time during his college career and felt his own confidence waver. 

That’s why I transferred three times. I’m looking for that opportunity so a coach can finally believe in me and I can deliver for him and I found that coach in Coach Capel.” 

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