The offseason has begun with a significant move for the Pitt Panthers as Brandin Cummings, a standout from Lincoln Park High School, is set to enter the transfer portal. This comes after two seasons with the Panthers, where he made a notable impact on the court.
Cummings, a former four-star recruit and younger brother of Nelly Cummings, who played a pivotal role in Pitt's 2022-23 NCAA Tournament run, has shown flashes of brilliance. As a freshman, he exploded for 30 points against Eastern Kentucky, finishing the season with an average of 6.3 points per game and impressive shooting percentages: 42.9% from the field and 37.7% from beyond the arc.
This past season, Cummings started strong, scoring a combined 37 points in early victories. However, an ankle injury sidelined him temporarily.
Despite the setback, he returned to deliver a career-high 34-point performance against Hofstra. His resilience saw him back in the starting lineup by late January, where he tallied 53 points over three games.
Unfortunately, the ankle issue persisted, limiting his playtime to just 12 minutes in a late January game against Clemson. He didn’t appear in any games after that, and his absence was noted as the season wound down.
Cummings wrapped up the 2025-26 season as Pitt's third-leading scorer, averaging 12.5 points per game, while maintaining a shooting percentage of 42.4% from the field. Despite playing only 19 games, he was fourth in three-point field goals made and showcased a solid free throw rate of 71.8%.
As it stands, Cummings is the first Panther reported to be entering the transfer portal. The team is also set to lose seniors Cam Corhen, Barry Dunning Jr., and Damarco Minor.
The Panthers concluded the season with a 13-20 overall record and a 5-13 mark in ACC play, marking another challenging year under head coach Jeff Capel. Despite these hurdles, Athletic Director Allen Greene has confirmed Capel's return for a ninth season, signaling continued faith in his leadership.