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"The birth of my daughter has had a huge impact on me," said Sibande. "It changed my whole life and moved me into a whole different direction. It has made me more mature, really forced me to think further than myself and about another person's life. It definitely has had a huge impact on me and my family and was a factor in deciding to transfer to Pitt. When I opened up my recruitment, I had to look at a whole other person's life and how can she be safe? How can I put her in a situation to be safe and not just look at it for myself?
Sibande saw tremendous opportunity at Pitt while evaluating his transfer options that included schools such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgetown, Georgia and Xavier.
The opportunity to play for head coach Jeff Capel, the opportunity to test his on court abilities in one of the top conferences, the opportunity to continue his education but most importantly the opportunity to grow off the court and provide for his family.
Sibande arrives at Pitt with an impressive resume, scoring 1,493 points and making 186 three-point field goals in three seasons at Miami [Ohio]. The Indianapolis, Ind., native is averaging 15.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game over 97 career contests (95 starts). He has scored in double figures 76 times, including 22 games with 20 or more points scored. A natural scorer and high-level athlete, Sibande fills an immediate need for a Pitt program that averaged 65.2 points per game and shot under 30 percent from three-point range a year ago.
One of seven newcomers, including Delaware transfer Ithiel Horton who will be eligible this season, Sibande has a chance to do much more than score the basketball for the Panthers. With his experience, versatility and athleticism he is poised to be a leader, a veteran voice and an impact player on both ends of the floor.
"Being in college for a couple of years I feel like I can be a voice," said Sibande. "We have some young guys and I feel like I can help them out and make the game easier for them. I bring that mentality and the game to back it up. I defend. I can score in different ways and do a lot by putting people in different positions. I am trying to do everything and work on my game to get better each and every day."
Working hard and developing his game is something that Sibande is familiar with. A self-proclaimed student of the game, his path to Division I basketball didn't really materialize until late in his high school career.
Despite not playing on the varsity basketball team until his junior season, Sibande developed into a high school standout and Division I prospect at Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis. He capped off a scholastic career by averaging 22.0 points and 7.2 rebounds and leading the Tigers to a 25-4 record and the class 3A state championship as a senior. An honorable mention all-state selection, Sibande was under-recruited by Power 5 teams and considered going to prep school before ultimately electing to attend Miami [Ohio] and play for fellow Crispus Attacks alum Jack Owens.
"I was definitely a late bloomer," said Sibande. "I started blowing up my senior year and that's when things kind of took off for me and when I started getting offers. That experience has made me more competitive, hungrier, and makes me want to know the game more because the opportunities haven't always come easy. Getting my shot makes me hungry, makes me want to learn more, be a sponge, and take in all the information and try and use it to my advantage."
Arriving in Oxford with a chip on his shoulder, Sibande delivered one of the top freshman seasons in program history, averaging 15.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures 28 times, including 10 games with 20 or more points scored, and knocked down 77 three-point field goals, third-most in Redhawk history, en route to being named MAC Freshman of the Year and earning All-MAC Freshman Team and honorable mention All-MAC honors.
As a sophomore, Sibande continued to excel, averaging 16.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game with 76 three-point field goals, while earning Third Team All-MAC honors. He topped the 20-point mark nine times and became the first sophomore in program history to top the 1,000-point plateau.
Following the season, Sibande declared for the NBA Draft and spent two months exploring professional opportunities, including workouts with the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder before electing to return to Miami [Ohio] for his junior year.
"It was fun taking in information from [Boston Head Coach] Brad Stevens," said Sibande. "Listening to him tell me I can be there [in the NBA] one day and giving me hope and telling me things I can work on. It was amazing, a good process for sure. The one piece of advice that really stuck with me was to be consistent in everything that you do."
Sibande used the feedback provided through the NBA workout experience to alter his style of play going into his junior season.
He put more of a focus on relying on his teammates, sacrificing scoring and shot attempts in favor of increased offensive efficiency and scoring balance throughout the team. Still, Sibande averaged 13.9 points per game and established career highs in rebounds (5.9 rpg.), assists (54), field goal percentage (.440) and free throw percentage (.820).
"Going through the draft evaluation taught me to be more aggressive," said Sibande. "It made me want to attack more instead of settling for jumpers. Early in my career, I shot more from the perimeter instead of putting pressure on the defense by attacking. When I came back to school, I realized I am more athletic than a lot of guys and I can use my speed to my advantage. Going through that process, hearing people I really wanted to be around with my whole life and dreams, tell you that makes you want to learn more about it and get into it."
His top performance came in what would be his final game as a Redhawk when Sibande scored 31 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 from the foul line in an 85-79 win over Buffalo in the opening round of the MAC Tournament, just days before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2019-20 college basketball season.
Now, when Sibande is not in the gym working on his game or watching children's movies and laughing with his daughter (her favorite is Moana), he is watching games and breaking down the play of some of his favorite players like Bradley Beal, CJ McCollum, Zach LaVine and Donovan Mitchell. He sees beyond the highlights to recognize the pace, the balance and the confidence it takes to excel against the highest level of competition.
During a time of chaos and uncertainty across when much of the world was at a standstill, Sibande created his own opportunities. For him, for his daughter and for Pitt Basketball.
"I love it here. It is a real good vibe, a safe place to be and I feel really connected with the coaches," said Sibande. "We have had a great relationship and great vibe from the start. I feel like I am a good fit for this team. We have a lot of good tools to work with and we have a lot of different pieces to put in positions to do different things. I expect big things from this team because we are a talented young group and we have dudes that love to work, and I like that. Guys who go to the gym and stay active."
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