Panthers in the Pros (The start of a season-long series)

As we near the start of actual basketball (JJ Moore dunking over radio personalities notwithstanding) I thought it would be fun to see what some former Pitt players have been up to since they left the friendly confines of the Oakland Zoo.

Ashton Gibbs - Nobody was more critical of Ashton than me, particularly the last  two years of his career here when he couldn't rely on Wanamaker to run the offense.  On a more talented Pitt team (see 2008-2009) Gibbs could have been a great sixth man, providing instant shooting off the bench.  Sadly, he was just not talented enough to carry a team by himself.  You'll notice that most of his highest scoring games came in Panther losses.  I'd look up that information but I'm lazy.
Anyway Gibbs signed with Panionios of the Greek Basketball League in August. Note:  He appears to be the only player in the league whose last name does not end in opolous.  That's a joke, gotta have a joke for 'da comedy.

Team Website: http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=gre&Team=273

Prediction:  Gibbs shoots a lot, and the team goes bankrupt like its country.

Gilbert Brown - Brown had a shot to make the Celtics in camp last season but sadly, when asked, "What can Brown do for you?" Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge replied, "Nothing.  Nothing at all."  Anyway, Brown played last season in the NBA Development League for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (great name or greatest name?).  He played in 19 games (started 7) and averaged about 12 points and 4 rebounds.  His career high of 21 came against the Tulsa 66ers, proving once and for all that 66's should only play hockey.

Ooops, forgot this was a basketball blog.

Prediction:  Brown leads the Mad Ants in scoring and is asked to star in the sequel to the 1998 animated classic Antz alongside Danny Glover who is still too old for this shit.

Antonio Graves - He played last year for the Canton Charge of the D-League.  As one of three former Panthers on the roster he averaged 8.9 points a game.  I will discuss one of his teammates later, but the third one is Dante Milligan who played a few games with the Panthers in 2004 before transferring to UMass because Chevy Troutman was mean to him.

Prediction: He'll still look like like a goomba from the Super Mario Bros. movie.

Tyrell Biggs - The other member of the Canton Charge, it turns out that Biggs is actually a beast.  He made the all-star team last year.  Who knew?

Prediction: Biggs makes the Cleveland Cavaliers out of training camp, and leads them back to the playoffs.  However, being from Pitt, his team loses in the Sweet 16 (aka the first round of the playoffs).

Carl Krauser - Spent 2012 getting arrested for everything.

Prediction - Will attempt to challenge Brandin Knight in a game of one-on-one for scraps of food and a spot on Dixon's coaching staff.  Knight will beat him 11-1 in a suit.

Aaron Gray - Aaron Gray made 2.5 million dollars last year playing professional basketball in the NBA.  I repeat, Aaron Gray is still in the NBA.  He averaged a career high 16 minutes a contest for the Toronto Raptors, and even started 40 games, which begs the question.  Who the hell is the backup center for the Raptors?  The google has told me it is former all-star Jamaal Magloire, who only made the all-star team once because the East needed to send 2 centers.  In a February game against the Spurs, Gray started at Center opposite DeJuan Blair in what has to be the only time in history two former Pitt players started against one another in an NBA Contest.

Prediction: Gray will continue to be the city of Toronto's only chance to watch a professional athlete.

h/t to BGW

DeJuan Blair - He started 62 games for the Spurs last year and averaged a career high 9.5 ppg.  His Spurs won 20 games in a row at one point including the first 10 in the playoffs before the Kevin Durant decided to try and the Thunder won 4 straight.  Blair played sparingly in the playoffs and this is probably why they lost.

Prediction: Hunts down Hasheem Thabeet and breaks his other arm.

Sam Young - He played three seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies (even starting during their run to the Western Conference Semi's in 2011) before being dealt to the Sixers in March.  He barely played with the Sixers before signing a free-agent deal with the Pacers this September.

Prediction - He will still play piano better than me.

Shavonte Zellous - Apparently she is a force for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA.  She dropped 30 last night  on the poor Minnesota Lynx to give the Fever a 2-1 series lead in the WNBA finals (it's best of 5).  She hit a buzzer beater to win game 2 of the east finals against Connecticut as well.  What a player.

Prediction: WNBA Champion

Hail to Pitt,

J.O.