Pitt signee Justin Champagnie named PBC Roundball MVP

Pitt commit Justin Champagnie played in his first game in the Pittsburgh area on Saturday night, as he led the Pennsylvania all-star team in a matchup with the U.S. all-star team in the PBC Roundball event at Montour High School. While it ultimately ended in a lopsided 125-92 victory for the U.S. team, Champagnie still set himself apart from the pack in the competition and took home team MVP honors for the key role he played on the Pennsylvania squad.

The 6’6” small forward finished the night with 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals and one block, and he was flanked by fellow Pitt commit Karim Coulibaly, who also had a solid outing. The 6’8” product of Scotland Campus Sports ended up with 13 points, five rebounds, two steals, one block and one assist. Coulibaly started the game by knocking down a three-pointer but did not convert on any other shots from distance despite several attempts.

The future Pitt duo faced a U.S. team led by Louisville commits Jaelyn Withers and Quinn Slazinski. Slazinski chipped in 18 points, but Withers, a consensus four-star recruit, had a relatively quiet outing. After the game, Champagnie praised the U.S. all-star team.

“It’s a blessing coming here and playing against all these great players,” Champagnie said. He also added that he enjoyed sharing the court with his future Pitt teammate.

Champagnie and Coulibaly were joined on the Pennsylvania all-star team by former Pitt target Maceo Austin, and another player of interest was Austin’s Kennedy Catholic teammate Oscar Tshiebwe. Tshiebwe, another former Pitt target, was listed on the Pennsylvania team’s roster but failed to show up for the game. The organizers of the event did not provide an explanation for Tshiebwe’s absence.

Despite that personnel hiccup, the game proved to be an excellent showcase for the two Pitt recruits, and Champagnie, in particular, was able to make the most of his Pittsburgh-area debut.