The requests come just over a week after Kevin Stallings’ firing
A total of eight members of the Pitt men’s basketball team have requested their release from the program, according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN. That figure includes Parker Stewart, who requested his release on Wednesday, in addition to seven other players.
The seven additional players include Terrell Brown, Marcus Carr, Kene Chukwuka, Khameron Davis, Malik Ellison, Ryan Luther and Shamiel Stevenson.
Craig Meyer of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted that “it’s far from certain they’ll be leaving,” but the players are expected to be granted their release so they can weigh their options.
The total mentioned by Goodman does not include Danya Kingsby, a member of the 2018 recruiting class who requested his release from his national letter of intent and reopened his recruitment last Friday.
Stewart said his primary reason for requesting his release was the firing of Kevin Stallings.
“We had a tough year, but most of the team was freshmen, and we felt like we’d have a chance to improve next year,” Stewart said, per ESPN. “We liked Coach Stallings. He was a great guy as a person, and he treated us well.”
Pitt has a policy of not allowing undergraduate players to transfer within the ACC or to teams on the schedule for the following season, and the releases will reportedly include those restrictions.
The news leaves Pitt with Samson George, Peace Ilegomah, Joe Mascaro, Anthony Starzynski and Jared Wilson-Frame as its only players not exploring other options.
