Pitt a strong contender for 2021 center Efton Reid

Jeff Capel and the Pitt coaching staff addressed the Panthers’ longstanding frontcourt issues over the last year by landing four-star center John Hugley and adding some depth behind him. But with Terrell Brown set to move on after the coming season, Pitt will once again need to restock its frontcourt ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, and the program is considered a top contender for Efton Reid, a top-30 center in the 2021 class.

“Reid would be Capel’s best pick-up yet since taking over in Oakland,” said Rivals analyst Corey Evans. “Pitt snuck into contention earlier in the year when Reid was thinking about a move into the 2020 class, and it remains heavily entrenched within his recruitment now that he has decided to remain in his original class. Pitt has some catching up to do, but if the program can get Reid onto campus whenever allowed, the Panthers could generate some momentum in his recruitment.”

In addition to Pitt, Evans pointed to Florida State, Georgetown, Michigan, Ohio State and Virginia as contenders for Reid. Evans ranked Michigan as Reid’s top potential landing spot and placed Pitt in third. The only program aside from Michigan in better standing than Pitt for Reid, according to Evans, is Ohio State. Florida State, Virginia and Georgetown rounded out Evans' top six in descending order.

The 6’11”, 225-pound center is a native of Richmond, Virginia, currently playing at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Reid is a consensus four-star recruit, and ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports all rank him among the top 30 prospects in the 2021 class as well as the top five players at his position.

Last season, at the Steward School in Richmond, Reid averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and two assists per game. In the 2020-21 season, he will pair up with former Pitt target Charles Bediako in the IMG Academy frontcourt. IMG is two years removed from winning a national title and may well have the talent contend for another in the coming season with Bediako and Reid.