Returning to the Pete for The Basketball Tournament gives ex-Pitt players chance to reflect on careers

If the Zoo Crew is fortunate enough to win six games in The Basketball Tournament that starts Saturday at Petersen Events Center and share the $1 million winner-take-all prize, the victory will raise an obvious question for the nine-man team of former Pitt and Pittsburgh area players: What will they do with all that money?

Three former Pitt players have definite thoughts on the subject: no beach vacations, fast cars or diamond rings.

Nelly Cummings, the point guard from Pitt’s team that won two NCAA Tournament games in 2023, is thinking about the future.

“Put it away,” he said. “We have to invest it for a long time.”

Nike Sibande, who shared the backcourt with Cummings, had a mature and thoughtful answer.

“I got two kids,” he said. “Take care of them.”

Then, it was Ryan Luther’s turn to reveal his financial plans. The Hampton graduate who played at Pitt from 2014-2018 before transferring to Arizona refused to count — or spend — money he hasn’t earned yet.

“Focus on winning these games in Pittsburgh and then worry about that later,” he said.

Those three members of the No. 2 seed Zoo Crew — plus Mike Young and Jamel Artis (2013-17), Lamar Patterson (2009-14), DeJuan Blair (2007-09), Greg Elliott (2022-23) and Dustin Sleva (Montour and Shippensburg) — will tip off against No. 7 seed Million $ Worth of Game, a team from the Philadelphia area, at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Three other games are scheduled for earlier in the day:

• Dubois Dream vs. Happy Valley (Penn State) Hoopers, 1 p.m.

• Best Virginia (WVU) vs. Brotherly Love, 3 p.m.

• Stars of Storrs (UConn) vs. Herkimer Originals, 6 p.m.

The four winners advance to Monday’s Round of 32 with a chance to reach the Sweet 16 of the 64-team tournament.

“It’s going to come down to who wants it the most and who’s hot that day,” said Cummings, a graduate of Lincoln Park.

How Nelly Cummings and Nike Sibande ended up at Pitt … pic.twitter.com/j1kHOMxaUi

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) July 19, 2024

“Just try to play hard, play together,” Luther said. “Be unselfish. If you try to play like a pickup game, you’re probably not going to do very well. If you play hard and have some organization, you’re going to win some games.”

The Zoo Crew practiced Thursday with current Pitt players. They approach their business with similar intensity to what they displayed as collegians, but with the bonus of returning to the Pete and reliving good memories.

Cummings and Sibande were part of the first successful Pitt team under coach Jeff Capel. He’s proud of what they accomplished, winning 24 games, including two in the NCAA Tournament.

“We wanted to rebuild the program. We came here to do a job, and we did that job,” Cummings said. “We’re super happy the program is still on the (rise). We’re proud we were able to lay the bricks.”

“Still the same smiling, happy people, good energy” Sibande said of the people who populate the Pete on a daily basis.

Said Luther: “It feels normal. We would always come in the gym and work out.”

All three players are pleased with the program’s trajectory under Capel, who received a contract extension this week.

“There’s a lot of conversation surrounding this topic, but if you know, you know,” Cummings said. “He laid the foundation for this program, and it’s going to continue to ascend.”

Said Sibande: “He deserves it. He comes in every day, and he pushes these guys to be better as men on the court and off the court. I’m extremely happy for him. He takes care of his business and goes home to his kids. That’s what we follow.”

Cummings said Capel taught him about basketball and life.

“He’s a point guard. He showed me a lot of things I was able to learn that translates to being a professional,” he said. “Whether it’s screen-and-roll stuff or just how to handle yourself and how to become a man. He’s a great person to have in your corner when you’re going into uncharted territory like we all did going pro.”

Cummings pointed to how Pitt’s players and Capel attended the NBA Draft to support former teammate Bub Carrington.

“I think that was a really cool moment to show we built a family here,” he said. “It’s not fake. It’s, ‘That’s my brother and I’m happy for him.’ A lot of players aren’t like that, and that starts with your head coach. If he doesn’t create an environment (where) everybody does that here, it’s not going to work. That’s why I think he’s the one to lead this program to the promised land, for sure.”

All three players are taking a break from their professional careers overseas. Cummings played on teams in Cypress and Bulgaria last season and is negotiating with others to continue his career. Sibande is headed to Spain next month. Luther played in Turkey last season and next will compete in Japan.

“You can really carve out a nice living and see a bunch of different countries,” Luther said, noting the sold-out gyms in Spain. In Turkey, he said he played in front of “crazy fans” and encountered “some eye-opening experiences that Americans maybe are not used to.”

“It can get pretty wild.”

Added Cummings: “You don’t even know what people are saying. They’re just screaming at you.”