Pittsburgh Panthers News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

How Beebah Cummings Made a Strong First Impression at Pitt

Originally posted on Pittsburgh Sports Now
By George Michalowski | Last updated Oct 9, 2024 9:00 AM ET

Brandin “Beebah” Cummings is a name that Pitt fans, coaches, and players have been familiar with for years.

The younger brother of former Panther Nelly Cummings, and a WPIAL star in the Pittsburgh area, Brandin has shined in games of his own in the Petersen Events Center and has also been to countless Pitt contests over the past few years.

“Beebah, first of all, he’s been, basically, a part of our program for the last two years,” his new head coach Jeff Capel said. “Unbelievable kid, talented, competes his butt off. Unbelievably competitive. He’s a really cool kid from the standpoint of [he’s] very smart [and] unbelievably low maintenance.”

Cummings officially joined the Panthers this past offseason, spending the summer with the team and then starting official practices several weeks ago. Now, he is preparing for his freshman debut with the Panthers, under the same head coach and in the same building that his brother played in just two seasons ago.

“You get him on the court, and there is this different personality,” Capel continued. “Off the court, he is quiet, kind of to himself, doesn’t really say much. You get him in between those lines, and he transforms into this intense, competitive guy. Plays hard, he has fast twitch, he’s athletic, and he can score. He’s learning how to facilitate even more, learning how to pick his spots.”

Pitt basketball’s Brandin Cummings shared an emotional moment this summer, practicing with his older brother Nelly Cummings, who also played for Pitt.

Cummings committed to Pitt in early January 2023, when his brother’s team was 4-0 in ACC play and coming off of a big home win over Virginia. Now, as he enters his freshman season, he is trying to crack the lineup in a talented back court led by returning guards Jaland Lowe and Ishmael Leggett as well as transfer Damian Dunn. After hearing Capel speak on Tuesday at his season-opening press conference, it is safe to say Cummings made a solid first (well, first as an official member of the team) impression.

“One of the things that I love, from the first time that he got here, and we started doing stuff [with him] — I don’t know if he did it when they would play pickup — but when we started doing stuff five on five, no one told him this, I know a coach didn’t tell him this, but the very first thing, every day, he tried to guard Jaland,” Capel said about Cummings. “Every day, he would pick Jaland up full court. Anything five on five, if his team scored, it was a dead ball, he would pick him up full court, or pick Ish up, whoever he was guarding. That’s different, that’s unique for a freshman to want that right away.

I think number one, it shows the respect he has for Jaland and Ish, and understands how much those guys can help him. But the competitor in him wanted to test himself against two guys that are pretty good guards in this league and in college basketball. So we’re excited about his development, we’re excited to be a part of this journey with him, and I think he has a chance to become a really, really good player.”

Cummings and the Panthers will open their season against Radford on Nov. 4 at the Petersen Events Center.

This article first appeared on Pittsburgh Sports Now and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: