Big 12 Basketball: Breaking down each program’s 2018 recruiting class

West Virginia Mountaineers

Class rankings: 3rd in the Big 12, 24th nationally

Commitments: Derek Culver (80), Jordan McCabe (111), Trey Doomes (167), Emmitt Matthews Jr. (175), Andrew Gordon (No. 5 JC transfer) and Jermaine Haley (No. 9 JC transfer)

The Mountaineers are last on this alphabetical list but have the most recruits of the Big 12. Even though there are six players, many of them will receive playing time in 2018-19, due to how Bob Huggins utilizes his “Press Virginia” defense. Nine different players played double-figure minutes last season and four of them won’t be around next season.

The Junior College transfers are the likeliest to play out the gate. Gordon is a 6’10 center who can play both frontcourt positions, as he’ll backup Lamont West and Sagaba Konate. Haley is a 6’7 combo guard that can play three different positions. He’s a darkhorse candidate for the starting point guard position, unless McCabe, a more natural ball handler gets the nod.

Doomes and Matthews Jr. are two more perimeter players who have talent but likely won’t be heard from much in the first season or two. And as for the highest-rated prospect Culver, he’ll have to compete with Gordon as a backup for West Virginia. As for who’ll get more minutes, it’ll likely be who’s the best individual defender of the two.

Next: 25 preseason candidates for 2019 Player of the Year

With the exception of Kansas, there are no top-50 recruits from the other Big 12 teams. There might not be a projected “one and done” player from this class expect Grimes from the Jayhawks, but a bunch of impact three/four-year players will be part of what’s been one of the best basketball conferences for the next few years. It’ll be interesting to see who breaks out of this group.