West Virginia Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2023-24

Power Forward

Starter – Akok Akok  (25 mpg)

Akok Akok looks to close out his college basketball career as an addition out of the portal with West Virginia. He’s spent the past three seasons in the Big East, 2022-23 as a member of the Georgetown Hoyas where he put up intriguing numbers in the painted area and beyond. His shooting percentage dropped from the perimeter, but he still managed to put up 6.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 2.0 bpg across 31 appearances, all starts, for the Hoyas this past season.

He finished third in blocks in the Big East (62) and 18th in rebounds (192) as a presence in the painted area. Akok will look to be a frontcourt presence alongside Jesse Edwards, another terror on the defensive end, with an opportunity to return some of the grit the Mountaineers are known for on the defensive side of the ball.

Bench – Quinn Slazinksi, Josiah Harris

Josiah Harris and Quinn Slazinski are two transfer portal additions who should battle it out for minutes at the backup power forward role. Harris joins the squad from the NEC after posting 9.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg and 1.3 bpg on 44.2 percent from the field. Slazinski joins from the MAAC’s Iona Gaels after appearing in just seven games in 2022-23 due to injury.

He was well on his way to solid production though with averages of 11.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 1.9 apg on 42.6 percent shooting from the field. Look for Slazinski and Harris to be consistent contributors in the frontcourt in 2023-24.