Pitt's Dior Johnson returns to practice, expected to redshirt this season
Freshman guard Dior Johnson, the prize recruit in Pitt’s class of 2022, has returned to practice after being suspended since the start of the season. He is expected to use the 2022-23 season as a redshirt year, Pitt officials said in a statement released Wednesday.
Johnson, 18, was in line to join Pitt’s rotation at guard, but Pittsburgh police charged him with domestic violence before the start of the season. Police said a woman with whom Johnson had a relationship reported he slapped her in the face, punched her multiple times and pushed her head into a pillow Sept. 5.
Johnson plead guilty Dec. 9 to two misdemeanor counts of domestic violence and was ordered to serve one year of probation. He had been prohibited from being on campus or participating in basketball activities since he was charged, according to defense attorney Robert DelGreco Jr.
After a high school career in which he attended several institutions, Johnson was ranked 38th overall in his class and the No. 7 point guard, according to Rivals.com. He is Pitt’s highest-rated recruit since Steven Adams, who was rated the No. 3 center in 2012.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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