West Virginia was one of the most surprising teams in the Big 12 a year ago, evidenced by head coach Bob Huggins winning Coach of the Year honors for the conference.
Tasked with continuing their positive momentum into next season, Huggins will need to find a replacement for last season’s most valuable player, Juwan Staten.
Key Losses: Juwan Staten (graduation),
Possible Losses: No announcements made
Key Returners: Devin Williams, Jevon Carter, Jonathon Holton
Key Newcomers: Esa Ahmad (four-star, power forward)
Breakdown: Few other teams in the Big 12 will be losing a more important piece this off-season than WVU is losing in Staten. He was their heart, soul, and most of all, their most talented offensive weapon. While replacing him will likely be an arduous task, that doesn’t mean that the Mountaineers are without good basketball players for next season. First, Devin Williams has a chance to be one of the best players in the conference next season. Before matching up with Kentucky’s ridiculous frontline, Williams was dominating, averaging 18.3 points per game in the previous four contests. Carter, just a freshman, struggled with his offense for much of the season, but should get plenty of opportunities to lead WVU’s perimeter. The wildcard here is Ahmad, a bouncy 6-foot-7 forward out of Ohio. On the inside, he’s a tenacious rebounder and always someone that the defense has to find and block out, due to his uncanny ability to tip in misses. His second jump is so quick, that even if he misses the first try, he’ll always have a chance to correct his mistake and score. What separates him from much of Bob Huggins’ roster, is his ability to step outside and be comfortable knocking down threes. I see Ahmad as an immediate impact player for the Mountaineers next season.
