Federiko Federiko fills big void in Pitt’s lineup
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Pitt’s itemized list of things you never would have predicted in preseason defines the Panthers’ run to first place in the ACC.
• The proliferation — and success — of the transfers and freshmen, who comprise the top six players in terms of points, rebounds and minutes played. Four are new this season.
• The impressive shooting touch from long range. Pitt’s total of 246 3-pointers leads all ACC teams, even those that have played more than 26 games.
• The contributions off the bench of twin brothers Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham, freshmen from the Canary Islands.
• The 19 victories in 26 games and a school-record 12 amidst only three losses in the ACC.
• The ability to score and defend. Pitt is fifth in the conference in average points per game (75) and third in scoring defense (67.5).
But perhaps nothing is more amazing than Pitt creating all this good fortune without its best player from a year ago, John Hugley.
Entering this season, those outside the program — and, probably, a few inside — believed the team would need to lean heavily on Hugley. He led the team in scoring (14.8 points per game) and rebounding (7.9) last season while playing nearly 30 minutes per game.
A month ago, however, Pitt officials released a statement, revealing that Hugley, a 6-foot-9 center who was an honorable mention All-ACC player in 2021-22, would miss the remainder of the season “while coping with mental health challenges as well as recovery and reconditioning from a preseason injury.”
In a statement, coach Jeff Capel said, “We are here to support John as he continues to learn to manage challenges in his personal life. John has worked hard to get to this point and should be applauded for seeking out the help to continue to grow as a young man.”
Hugley’s absence looked like it would create a void, but on the day Pitt announced his departure, the Panthers were 12-6. Hugley had played in only eight of those games while averaging less than half the minutes. His last game was Dec. 10.
Into the void in the starting lineup stepped Federiko Federiko, a 6-11 sophomore. He doesn’t score or rebound like Hugley — 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game — but he has provided the necessary paint presence. He is third in the conference in blocks (51) and has at least three in seven of the past nine games.
“He can clean things up,” said Capel, whose team visits Virginia Tech at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Meanwhile, Federiko, Blake Hinson (15), Jorge Diaz Graham (14) and Guillermo Diaz Graham (11) have helped Pitt climb to fourth overall in the ACC (117) in blocks.
Federiko is another of the transfers — he played last season at Northern Oklahoma, where he was an honorable mention NJCAA All-American — who has assimilated smoothly with his new surroundings.
Which is impressive when you consider he didn’t arrive on campus until the end of August.
“Right away, everything was new: the speed, the physicality, the work,” Capel said. “He’s become more and more comfortable, which normally makes you confident when you understand what you’re doing, what’s required.
“He’s been as good of a defender (as there is) in this league, especially since conference play has started. We need him to continue to do that.”
Capel also made the point that Federiko is “incredibly, incredibly low maintenance.”
“He’s easy to deal with. He’s not a problem off the court. He’s a joy to be around every day. He is not a guy who talks a lot, (but he’s) smart, inquisitive, wants to learn, not afraid of work.”
Added point guard Nelly Cummings: “Fede comes in every single day, and he works hard. He works on the right stuff. Coaches put him in the right position to do the right things, and Fede’s going to do them.”
Capel said it’s unusual for a player to adapt so quickly to a new place.
“It takes a while. It normally does,” he said. “When you have a work ethic like him, when you’re smart and you’re low maintenance, it can happen quicker. We’re fortunate that it’s happened quicker for us.”