The radio play-by-play broadcast of tonight’s Pitt-Syracuse men’s basketball game will feature a special guest commentator: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. The broadcast, airing live on Audacy’s 93.7 The Fan, will have Gov. Shapiro joining longtime announcer Bill Hillgrove and analyst Curtis Aiken, who is in his 15th season as the radio analyst for Pitt men’s basketball.
As first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Shapiro and Aiken share a longstanding connection. Aiken previously served on Shapiro’s administration transition leadership board in November 2022 when the Governor succeeded Tom Wolf in office. A few months later, in January 2023, Shapiro appointed Aiken to the Board of Trustees for the University of Pittsburgh, further strengthening their professional ties.
Governor Shapiro’s political career in Pennsylvania began in 2016 when he was elected Attorney General. He was re-elected in 2020 before successfully running for Governor in 2022. Now 51, Shapiro was once a team captain for Akiba Hebrew Academy’s basketball team in Merion Station, Pa. He later graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in political science and earned his juris doctorate from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Although Shapiro does not have a direct academic connection to the University of Pittsburgh, his daughter, Sophia, graduated from the university in April 2024.
Beyond state politics, Governor Shapiro was a top contender to be former Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in the most recent election. While he was not selected—Governor Tim Walz ultimately secured the nomination—Shapiro played a key role as a top surrogate for Harris throughout her campaign.
Tonight’s game tips off at 7 p.m. and can be heard locally on 93.7 The Fan or watched live on the ACC Network.
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