Pitt freshman forward Papa Amadou Kante injures knee, lost for the season
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Jeff Capel’s roster rebuilding efforts suffered another blow Thursday with the announcement that freshman Papa Amadou Kante, a forward who might have provided a rebounding and defensive presence off the bench, will miss the entire 2023-24 season with a knee injury.
Amadou Kante suffered a non-contact injury during a workout Wednesday night.
Kante’s loss is Pitt’s second of a young player in the past two weeks after redshirt freshman Dior Johnson, a guard who would have received significant playing time, left school last month.
“Papa is a terrific person with great spirit and a relentless work ethic,” Capel said in a statement. “We feel for him to have this happen so early in his collegiate career. We have an outstanding medical and athletic training staff, and we know that Papa will attack the rehab and recovery process. This will be a minor setback for a young man with a great future in our program.”
Amadou Kante, a native of Senegal, is a four-star prospect with big-man skills and the ability to shoot the 3-point shot. He led South Kent (Conn.) Prep to a 29-7 record and the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Class AAA championship as a senior. He was an All-Class AAA first team selection this year after getting honorable mention honors in 2022. In the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League last year, he averaged 12.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.0 block per game.
After losing Amadou Kante, Capel still plans to depend on six other frontcourt players, including four who assumed key roles in Pitt’s run to the NCAA Tournament last season — 7-foot Guillermo Diaz Graham, 6-11 Jorge Diaz Graham and 6-11 Federiko Federiko. Also, second-team All-ACC forward Blake Hinson (6-7) is back after averaging 15.3 points and 6 rebounds per game last season.
They will be joined by William Jeffress (6-7), who missed 2022-23 with a foot injury, and transfer Zack Austin (6-6), who recorded 897 points, 424 rebounds, 135 blocked shots and 129 3-point field goals in two seasons at High Point (N.C.).