Inside The Panthers

Rapper J. Cole Visits Pitt Practice

The Pitt Panthers hosted a special visitor this week at practice.

Stephen Thompson

Rapper J. Cole Visits Pitt Practice
Rapper J. Cole Visits Pitt Practice /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers got a special visit from a rap star with connections to head coach Jeff Capel's hometown this week ahead of another ACC contest against Louisville. 

It was the floor of the Petersen Events Center, not 2014 Forest Hills Drive, but the Panthers looked right at home with J. Cole, who visited Pitt practice ahead of a show with Drake at PPG Paints Arena just down the road from Oakland. 

J. Cole hails from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and the Panthers have a handful of fellow Fayetteville natives on their roster and coaching staff, starting with brothers Jeff and Jason Capel in addition to reserve point guard K.J. Marshall. All three posed with the rap star after a practice at the Petersen Events Center. 

This isn't the first time a rap superstar has graced the home of the Panthers during the Jeff Capel Era. In 2019, with No. 2 Duke and superstars Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish in town to face Pitt, Jay Z - one of Capel's personal favorites - sat courtside. Legendary Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett was there too and posed for a picture with him. 

It's anything but the Off-Season for the Panthers, who are chasing an NCAA Tournament bid. Their next game against Louisville isn't 4 Your Eyes Only - it'll air on ACC Network for everyone starting at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday night. 

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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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