Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt Players Preparing Zoo Crew for TBT Run

Hear from the former Pitt Panthers as the Zoo Crew prepares for the TBT.

Stephen Thompson

Former Pitt Players Preparing Zoo Crew for TBT Run
Former Pitt Players Preparing Zoo Crew for TBT Run /
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PITTSBURGH -- With the start of The Basketball Tournament - a 64-team, single-elimination basketball tournament with a grand prize of $1 million awaiting the winner - set to begin in less than a week, a group of former Pitt Panthers known as The Zoo Crew were hard at work on the floor of the Petersen Events Center. 

Led by the greatest center in Pitt history, DeJuan Blair, who is serving as their head coach, a team headlined by Sam Young, Levance Fields and Gary McGhee will mesh bygone eras of Panthers basketball in hopes of taking home the cash

Hear from Nelly Cummings, Greg Elliot, Justin Champagnie and Blair after they wrapped up a workout with the rest of the Zoo Crew in Oakland. They talked about their own professional careers, why they like their odds in TBT and what they make of the the team Pitt has put together for this coming season.  

Nelly Cummings

Greg Elliot

Justin Champagnie

DeJuan Blair

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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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