West Virginia Basketball: Breaking down the vital 2018 recruiting class

CG Jermaine Haley – Odessa Community College (JUCO)

The other incoming JUCO transfer, Jermaine Haley, will play a much different role with West Virginia. Rather than being a defensive stopper inside, Haley will look to add depth to the backcourt of the Mountaineers. At 6-foot-7, Haley brings outstanding size to the guard position and he is an effective scorer and playmaker. Ranked at No. 7 in the JUCO class by 247Sports, it is reasonable to expect Haley to provide valuable minutes in his two remaining years of eligibility.

Originally at New Mexico State, Haley started 16 games during the 2016-17 season in the WAC. During his one season with the Aggies, Haley averaged 3.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 21.2 minutes per game. Although he shot 53.1% inside the arc on that campaign, he was just 24.0% from 3-point land. This past year, though, Haley played at Odessa Community College, posting averages of 10.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.

Due to the losses of Carter and Miles to graduation, Haley could see an immediate role on the team. Considering a few other potential starters are also on this list, it is important to note that Haley will be one of the more experienced players on the roster in 2018-19. I understand that it will take some time for Haley to get acclimated with his new teammates and the playbook but he could be seen as a leader for some of the youngsters on the roster.