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Pitt senior Phillips-Nwankwo eyeing different path

FILE- In this Jan. 19, 2015, file photo, Duke's Amile Jefferson, left, battles Pittsburgh's Aron Phillips-Nwankwo for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C. Phillips-Nwankwo has last five years living a double life at Pittsburgh. On the basketball court the 6-foot-7 forward is an end of the bench academic walk-on whose biggest impact is made in practice. In the classroom he's a budding superstar who overcame the loss of his mother and a crisis of confidence to emerge with two degrees and an eye toward medical school. (AP Photo/Ellen Ozier, File)
FILE- In this Jan. 19, 2015, file photo, Duke's Amile Jefferson, left, battles Pittsburgh's Aron Phillips-Nwankwo for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C. Phillips-Nwankwo has last five years living a double life at Pittsburgh. On the basketball court the 6-foot-7 forward is an end of the bench academic walk-on whose biggest impact is made in practice. In the classroom he's a budding superstar who overcame the loss of his mother and a crisis of confidence to emerge with two degrees and an eye toward medical school. (AP Photo/Ellen Ozier, File) FILE- In this Jan. 19, 2015, file photo, Duke's Amile Jefferson, left, battles Pittsburgh's Aron Phillips-Nwankwo for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C. Phillips-Nwankwo has last five years living a double life at Pittsburgh. On the basketball court the 6-foot-7 forward is an end of the bench academic walk-on whose biggest impact is made in practice. In the classroom he's a budding superstar who overcame the loss of his mother and a crisis of confidence to emerge with two degrees and an eye toward medical school. (AP Photo/Ellen Ozier, File)

By Associated Press 1 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh senior forward Aron Phillips-Nwankwo has played less than 100 minutes in four seasons.

Still, the walk-on says he wouldn’t change a thing.

Phillips-Nwankwo will play his final regular season home game on Wednesday when the Panthers (19-11, 8-8 ACC) host Miami (18-11, 8-8). He will likely spend most of the game at the end of the bench watching as Pitt tries to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Phillips-Nwankwo is at peace with his decision to spend five years at Pitt rather than accept an academic scholarship to Johns Hopkins. He says he was still able to get a great education and prepare for medical school while seeing the country and playing the game he loves.

His goal is to become a concussion specialist. He will graduate with degrees in neuroscience and African Studies.

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Follow Will Graves on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WillGravesAP