Artis gets deal from Knicks

Former Pitt standout Jamel Artis agreed to a deal with the New York Knicks, according to his father.

The contract comes one day after Artis agreed to play in the NBA’s summer league with the Miami Heat. Artis’ agent told ESPN that he has signed a partially guaranteed contact, which means in addition to a spot on the club’s summer league roster, he will join the team for training camp in the fall and from there, he will have a chance to earn a roster spot for the 2017-18 season.

As a senior last season, Artis averaged a career-high 18.2 points and 3.3 assists per game after making the move from forward to point guard for a Panthers team in desperate need of a primary ballhandler. He also shot 39.2 percent from 3-point range, displaying a deft outside shooting touch for a player his size.

Those statistical marks — which included a 43-point outburst Jan. 11 at Louisville, the second-highest singlegame point total in Pitt history — helped him earn allACC honorable mention accolades.

In the lead-up to the draft, Artis (6 feet 7) participated in the NBA draft combine and the Portsmouth Invitational, the latter of which is an annual tournament for the top seniors in college basketball. Projected as an off-ball guard or forward at the next level, Artis worked out for nearly one-third of the NBA’s teams the past two months, a group that includes the Lakers, Hornets, Pistons, Wizards, 76ers, Kings and Mavericks.

— By Craig Meyer