With all of the basketball changes in Morgantown in recent years this program is just looking for stability. Bob Huggins was dismissed, Josh Eilert was an ineffective interim, and Darian DeVries bolted after just one season. Ross Hodge is looking to bring that stability, with 21 wins and a postseason title last year, as his Mountaineers prevailed in the College Basketball Crown to finish the season.
The bad news about building on that success is that last year’s team was very senior-laden and experienced and there truly isn’t a lot of talent returning. The only real player we saw on the court who’s back again this season is Amir Jenkins, a freshman guard who put up just over 3 points a game, with Honor Huff, Brenen Lorient, and Chance Moore among the big departures.
Two 4-star recruits boost the future, including point guard Miles Sadler, considered a Top 20 prospect in this class. Hodge and his staff also busied themselves on the transfer portal, with six notable additions from across the country. The backcourt gets some fantastic potential in Joson Sanon from St. John’s and a great scorer from Butler in Finley Bizjack. Former Boise State forward Javan Buchanan brings a boost to the frontcourt but he’s not alone in that regard.
Mouhamed Sylla stands alone as the most important new weapon in Morgantown and it’s not hard to see the reasoning. A 6-10 center from Senegal, he’s fresh off his first season of college ball down at Georgia Tech, a year where he put up 9.6 points and 7.2 rebounds across 16 games. An ankle injury sidelined him for most of ACC play, but he’s a former Top 50 recruit who’s continuing to grow into a real threat.
In an offseason where everyone was scrambling for size and strength, West Virginia certainly grabbed one of the more notable up and comers. Sylla truly hasn’t been on the court very much but his raw potential that he’s shown should excite the Mountaineers. If he can stay healthy and take that next big step as a sophomore then he could potentially develop into a notable big in the Big 12.
Sylla alone isn’t going to turn West Virginia into an NCAA Tournament team or conference contender but he’s the most sizeable addition. You’ll likely find him ranked higher than the other new Mountaineers based on that potential. He’s not going to be the top scorer or playmaker but West Virginia could have something developing if Sylla can take that step forward as a rim protector and weapon on offense.
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