Pitt's basketball season keeps taking hits and the season still hasn't begun. Ithiel Horton has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a Pittsburgh Police officer on the South Side of Pittsburgh.
A report from KDKA says that Pittsburgh Police were called to East Carson Street at 1 a.m. Saturday morning because a tow truck driver got into a dispute with a driver who was upset that his car was being towed. Police say that upon arriving at the scene, the driver, 21-year old Horton of New Jersey assaulted a police officer by striking them in the face before fleeing the scene on foot. Horton would later be arrested and faces charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
Horton was one of Jeff Capel's few returning starters from the 2020-2021 Pitt basketball team. He transferred to Pitt in 2019 and sat out the 2019-2020 season before becoming the team's starting shooting guard in 2020. Last season he started 18 games and played in 22, when he led the team with 116 three-point attempts and 43 three-point shots made. Horton was one of Pitt's best contributors in the Panthers' 89-64 win over Gannon in an exhibition on Monday, scoring 16 points with five rebounds, three assists, two steals and no turnovers.
This news comes in the same week that Pitt announced guard Nike Sibande tore his ACL in the preseason win over Gannon and would be out for the season. The Panthers' backcourt was already shorthanded after transfer senior point guard Jamarius Burton required surgery before the season began, who's still rehabbing from the injury to get back to full strength for the Panthers.
Pitt basketball released the following statement Saturday morning:
“We are aware of a report regarding one of our student-athletes, but will decline comment until additional information is gathered.”
Capel and players are scheduled to be available via Zoom Monday at 3:15 p.m.
Pitt opens its regular season against The Citadel, 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Petersen Events Center.
