Khem Birch confirms Pitt exit

In the wake of head football coach Todd Graham’s exit,  Pitt is losing another high profile…

In the wake of head football coach Todd Graham’s exit,  Pitt is losing another high profile member of its athletics program.

According to Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports, Panther forward Khem Birch has decided on an early exit from the Pitt Basketball team.

“I’m leaving,” Birch told CBSSports.com on Friday night. “I’m headed to Toronto now. I enjoyed my time at Pittsburgh, I love Coach (Jamie) Dixon, had no problems with the staff and the players. It just wasn’t the right fit for me.”

Head coach Jamie Dixon acknowledged Birch’s departure in a terse statement issued Friday night. “Khem has decided to leave the team for personal reasons,” he said. “We thank Khem for his contribution to our program over the last semester and wish him great success in the future.”

The confirmation comes after a day of speculation. Yesterday, Goodman tweeted “Khem Birch contemplating leaving Pittsburgh, per sources. No final decisions made quite yet.”

Initially, the University and Dixon declined to comment on Birch’s status.

Birch, a McDonald’s All-American in his freshman season at Pitt, has been on the rise in recent weeks. This season, the 6-foot-9 shot-blocking machine averaged 15 minutes, 4.4 points five rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He had a career high 11 rebounds against Robert Morris Nov. 27.

It’s poor timing for the Panthers – who are in the midst of a seven-game wining streak – to lose Birch. However, if there is a team who can maneuver its front court to handle a loss like Birch, it’s the Panthers. Pitt has Dante Taylor and sophomore Talib Zanna in the post, along with Nasir Robinson at Power Forward.

Without Birch, freshman Malcolm Gilbert will probably see increased playing time. Next year, highly touted prospect Steven Adams from New Zealand will be thrown into the mix.

The Panthers’ next game is set for Dec. 17 against South Carolina State.