Because Ryan Luther graduated from Pittsburgh in late April, he had plenty of time to arrive in 蜜柚直播 before the bad stuff really hit.
Some 31 days of triple-digit temperatures since early June rolled out a sun-warped welcoming mat that hits Luther even on days when he exits the Richard Jefferson Gym following a 7 a.m. workout.
鈥淚t was definitely different weather from Pittsburgh, but that鈥檚 what I expected,鈥 Luther said.
Different, for Luther, may be a good thing. A new vibe on and off the court is what prompted the 22-year-old power forward to leave his hometown school as a grad transfer and enroll at 蜜柚直播, giving the Wildcats some much-needed size and experience inside 鈥 and himself a chance to start over.
Luther said he loved his time at Pitt, and wouldn鈥檛 change anything about the four years he spent with the Panthers, but there was always something that kept his hometown hero story from fully developing.
People are also reading…
Ryan Luther, trying to block a shot from Virginia鈥檚 London Perrantes, can bring a 鈥渟tretch four鈥 presence to the Wildcats, but he will also spend time in the post.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, a fan of the Panthers with relatives who played sports at several area colleges, Luther signed up to play for Jamie Dixon at Pitt starting in 2014-15.
But just after Luther began to break out as a sophomore in 2015-16, Dixon left for TCU in a move that Pitt appeared to endorse by lowering his buyout clause.
The next season, Luther became a regular contributor under new coach Kevin Stallings, but suffered a stress fracture in the second metatarsal of his right foot that cost him 12 games. Then last season, after averaging a double-double over 10 games, Luther sat out with a stress reaction in the third metatarsal of the same foot, eventually shutting down for the season.
When it was over, Pitt fired Stallings.
Another obstacle.
Luther supported Stallings publicly, saying on Twitter that the players wanted to play for him and complaining about 鈥渢he decision from people who are not involved with the program daily and influenced by the wrong things.鈥
Six weeks later, Luther announced he was transferring to 蜜柚直播. During an interview last week, he said he wasn鈥檛 sure how Stallings鈥 fate affected his decision.
鈥淟ooking in the reverse situation I don鈥檛 know what I would have done, but it is what it is,鈥 Luther said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited about getting out here.鈥
Pitt coach Kevin Stallings, with Luther, was fired in March.
Once Luther hit the grad transfer market last spring, the Wildcats were an obvious choice. Not only did the UA have a wide-open opportunity for him to start or play major minutes in the frontcourt, but the Wildcats also had a touch of Pittsburgh, too.
That is, in coach Sean Miller and trainer Justin Kokoskie, two Pittsburgh-area natives who have been central to Luther鈥檚 transition .
It didn鈥檛 take them long to hit it off.
鈥淕reat kid!!鈥 Kokoskie said via text message. 鈥淐an never have enough Pittsburgh on your team!鈥
Miller was drawn to Luther, too. His brother, Archie, once recruited Luther for Dayton and the UA coach said both Dixon and Stallings spoke highly of Luther as a player and person, making it an even more natural choice for both sides.
鈥淚 know his family well, very similar to my relationship with (former UA guard) T.J. McConnell and his family,鈥 Miller said in May. 鈥淜ind of grew up drinking the same water.鈥
Not surprisingly, the recruitment came to a quick close. Luther visited the UA along with Belgian forward Omar Thielemans in mid-April and both committed within a week.
鈥淚 was still considering Pitt, but going through (recruiting) the second time I kind of knew what I wanted,鈥 Luther said. 鈥淚 was able to narrow it down to a few schools and when coach Miller contacted me, I thought coming out here would be a good experience for me.鈥
Ryan Luther, right, averaged 12.7 points and 10.1 rebounds last year for Pittsburgh, but played in just 10 games.
During limited offseason workouts this summer, Luther has been part of a post-player workout group that also includes Chase Jeter, Ira Lee and Emmanuel Akot.
Luther鈥檚 combination of perimeter shooting and interior skill suggest he can bring a 鈥渟tretch four鈥 presence to the Wildcats, though Luther said Miller is also looking for him to play center, something he did at Pitt out of necessity.
With 7-footers Deandre Ayton and Dusan Ristic gone, the Wildcats鈥 only natural center is Jeter, while Lee can play both post spots and Akot might need to swing between both forward spots.
Opportunity was 鈥渄efinitely a part of it,鈥 Luther said. 鈥淥bviously, 蜜柚直播 lost a lot of guys to the draft and graduation, so I knew there was going to be a hole. But at the same time, there鈥檚 a lot of talented guys that have been here so I think it was a combination of the right opportunity and the guys here.
鈥淐oach Miller, from what we鈥檝e done so far, he鈥檚 stressing and encouraging us to do things like pop and space the floor, and run wide, things that can kind of stretch the floor as a four man.鈥
Luther just has to make sure he doesn鈥檛 stretch things too far. The Wildcats鈥 relative lack of post depth means Luther needs to stay healthy, and that鈥檚 where Kokoskie comes in.
So far, so good. Kokoskie said Luther has been cleared fully for three months and is doing well, while Luther has no complaints.
鈥淛ustin and some of the doctors here have been good so I鈥檝e kind of got it under control now,鈥 Luther said. 鈥淚 just have to be smart with it. I can go all-out, but at this point it鈥檚 so far away from the season, I have to be smart about it 鈥 don鈥檛 overdo it, don鈥檛 overwork it.鈥
It鈥檚 a concern, of course, but also a blessing. Because the injury stopped Luther after 10 games last season, he stayed just under the maximum number of games he could play in order to still qualify for a medical redshirt season 鈥 and what turned out to be the chance to transfer to 蜜柚直播.
鈥淐oach (Miller) said, 鈥業f you wouldn鈥檛 have gotten hurt you鈥檇 be done with college basketball,鈥欌 Luther said. 鈥淪o I feel like this is just a new opportunity, fresh, to get out here and kind of start over again.鈥
