Pitt announced that Brown University’s Rafael Maia of Sao Paulo, Brazil has signed a financial aid agreement and will transfer to Pitt for the 2015-16 season.
Maia, who completed his junior year at Brown will be immediately eligible to compete for Pitt because he will graduate this May. He joins Coppin State graduate transfer Sterling Smith (Chico, Calif./Redemption Christian Academy-Troy, N.Y.), center Rozelle Nix (Cincinnati, Ohio/Pensacola State J.C./Withrow H.S.) and guard Damon Wilson, Jr. (Powder Springs, Ga./Our Savior New American H.S.)—as new players on the 2015-16 roster.
“We are extremely excited about bringing in Rafael for the 2015-16 season,” Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon said. “Over his three years at Brown, he has proven to be the Ivy League’s top rebounder, effective offensive rebounder and consistent scorer. His size and length will also help us defensively at both low post positions.”
Maia (pronounced My-ah) is a 6-foot-9-inch, 245-pound forward who averaged 9.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while leading the Ivy League in both rebounding and field goal percentage last year at Brown. He also earned All-Ivy League honorable mention honors as a senior. Over his three-year, 80-game collegiate career, Maia averaged 10.0 points (799 points), 8.1 rebounds (648) and 3.4 offensive rebounds per game while shooting 50.7 percent (289-570) from the floor. He is also a two-time CoSIDa Academic All-District and All-Ivy League Academic selection.
Pitt returns four starters including All-ACC honorees Jamel Artis and Michael Young, nine total letterwinners, 85 percent of its scoring, 74 percent of its rebounding and 86 percent of its assists from the 2014-15 team. Pitt is one of only nine programs nationally to earn at least 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 14 seasons (Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Texas, Pitt, Louisville and Arizona).
Photo: BrownBears.com
