West Virginia Basketball: Jesse Edwards staying solidifies core for 2023-24
Jesse Edwards is set to return to West Virginia Basketball for the 2023-24 season. Who is left to watch out for when it comes to the Mountaineers roster?
In the first half of the offseason, West Virginia Basketball could’ve been considered one of the biggest winners in all of NCAA Basketball. They landed several high-value transfers, including Jesse Edwards of Syracuse and Kerr Kriisa of Arizona. At one point, they looked like a top-25 caliber roster for next season.
Unfortunately, Bob Huggins, who built a Hall of Fame resume over nearly 40 years, ended up in two offseason incidents that eventually cost him his job. That put the whole roster in potential jeopardy since players can enter the portal after a sudden coaching change. And that’s what happened since, with starting forward Tre Mitchell leaving for Kentucky, along with several backup players entering the portal.
The good news is that on paper, the top three offseason transfers have opted to remain with the Mountaineers. Kriisa announced his return last week, followed by Raequan Battle, who averaged over 17 ppg at Montana State last season. Having that trio back alone should make the competitive at the Big 12 level.
And now, Edwards is back too. After losing Mitchell, it was a must to not lose the former Syracuse star. He averaged 14.5 ppg and 10.3 rpg, along with nearly three blocks a game. The 6’11 center and All-ACC defender has the chance to be the best player on the roster for West Virginia Basketball next season.
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The question now is what the depth will look like. Joe Toussaint, James Okonkwo, and Mohamed Wague are still in the portal and looking at visiting other options. We’ll see what they do and what the Mountaineers do to try and replace them. Plus, what happens with former Manhattan guard Jose Perez is also something to watch in the next week or so.