NCAA Basketball: 5 players to watch if West Virginia has a mass roster exodus

SG Jose Perez

2022-23 season stats: N/A

You have to feel for Perez and what he’s gone through over the past few years. He lost his head coach at Marquette and a year ago, had to enter the transfer portal after Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello was fired late into the offseason. The NCAA declined his waiver to play last season when he committed to West Virginia and had to sit out.

But the last time Perez was on the court, he was a star. The former Preseason MAAC Player of the Year averaged 18.9 ppg and 4.5 apg on 40% shooting from the field. The 6’5 guard averaged 15 ppg in his first two years at Gardner-Webb, before producing just a few points a game in his lone year at Marquette.

So it creates a situation of whether or not Perez is a power conference player or not. Plus, he’s a career 40% shooter from the field and just 30% from three-point range. One thing he’s good at is getting to the free throw line, with a league-high 7.6 apg at Manhattan.

There are going to be teams that need a shot-maker off-the-ball. And Perez is an underrated passer as well. He’s originally from the Bronx and after landing top-50 prospect Simeon Wilcher, it’s hard to envision St. John’s being an option. But look for a power conference program to potentially target Perez if he lands in the portal.