Prep stars Brandin Cummings, Amdy Ndiaye sign Pitt letters of intent, plan to enroll for 2024-25

Pitt coach Jeff Capel built more hope for the future with the signing of a guard with a promising pedigree and a 6-foot-10 forward to national letters of intent.

Brandin Cummings and Amdy Ndiaye made good on their verbal commitments and will join the team for the 2024-25 season.

Capel believes the fit with the Pitt program will be a good one for each player.

“We are excited to add Brandin and Amdy to our program,” he said in a statement. “Both of them are high-character prospects who love to be in the gym and fit the culture of Pitt basketball. They will both have an opportunity to impact winning here at Pitt.”

Cummings, a four-star guard prospect from Lincoln Park High School, is the younger brother of former Pitt guard Nelly Cummings, who was instrumental in helping the Panthers reach the NCAA Tournament last season. Brandin averaged 23.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game and made 75 3-pointers as a junior last season while earning Class 4A first-team all-state honors. Lincoln Park won WPIAL and PIAA championships.

He enters his final prep season with career marks of 1,482 points and 186 3-pointers, with national rankings of 127 by 247Sports and 135 by Rivals.

Additionally, he was named to the All-Elite Youth Basketball League second team on the Nike circuit this summer while playing with the All-Ohio Red team. He averaged 19 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

“Brandin is a dynamic guard who can really put the ball in the basket,” Capel said. “We have been able to develop a great relationship with him and his family and look forward to watching him continue to develop here at Pitt. He has been a part of an outstanding high school program and will bring a winning pedigree with him.

“Brandin’s style of play is a little different than his brother Nelly’s, but they are both extremely skilled with great intangibles and a tireless work ethic.”

Ndiaye is a three-star prospect who was a NYSSWA All-State selection last season after helping Long Island Lutheran to a 24-3 record. At 6-10, 215 pounds, he averaged 8.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 35% from beyond the 3-point arc. Long Island finished the year ranked No. 3 nationally.

Ndiaye has a diverse basketball background after playing AAU basketball with the NY Jayhawks. He also played in France with junior team Nanterre and was a member of the Senegalese National Team for the 2021 FIBA U18 African Cup.

“Amdy is a versatile inside-out player whose recruitment really took off over the past year,” Capel said. “He fits our system extremely well with his ability to guard multiple positions on the floor as well as be an efficient offensive weapon out of the pick and roll or pick and pop. He plays with great energy and is another guy who always wants to be in the gym.”

Cummings and Ndiaye join a Pitt program that can return 10 of its current 12 scholarship players next season. Blake Hinson and Michael Hueitt Jr. are the only players whose collegiate eligibility will expire after the 2023-24 season.