One player has asked for his release to seek a transfer
There is always some attrition when a coaching staff is replaced, but it usually comes after the new coach is hired. Pitt freshman (sophomore to be) Parker Stewart has reportedly decided he will seek a transfer less than a week after the firing of Kevin Stallings.
Pittsburgh freshman Parker Stewart has asked for his full unconditional release, sources told ESPN. Terrific shooter. Averaged 9.1 points per game. Finished in top two in ACC play in 3's made, first in 3-point field goal percentage and top 3 in 3's made per game.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) March 15, 2018
Stewart was easily one of the bright spots on a very year. He started slow but became a fairly reliable scorer for Pitt, and was definitely one of the two to three players I was excited to see come back next year. He broke the Pitt freshman record for 3’s in a season as well.
College athletes have every right to decide “this situation isn’t for me, I’m out”, but I have to question the logic a little bit. Stewart not even waiting to see who Pitt hires as coach is short sighted, in my opinion. He gains nothing by deciding to transfer two weeks earlier. He’ll now have to sit out a year as well, and can’t play in the ACC unless he wants to sit out two years.
And yes, he could decide to stay, but it might be a bit awkward with the cat out of the bag now. There’s also the possibility that he was going to transfer whether Stallings stayed or not, but we won’t ever know for sure.
If he does end up elsewhere, I wish him good luck. He’s a good player and I think he has the potential to be very good.
