WEST VIRGINIA RECRUITING UPDATE

VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Devan Bawinkel, G (Winnebago, IL)

Here is the story from Illinois Preps Bulls-Eye on Bawinkel's commitment: Bawinkel Commits to WVU.

Projected 2006-2007 Roster
Seniors: Frank Young (SF)
Juniors: Darris Nichols (PG), Rob Summers (C), Jamie Smalligan (BF/C)
Sophomores: Joe Alexander (SF), Alex Ruoff (WF)
Freshmen: Joe Mazzula (PG), Cam Thoroughman (F), Wellington Smith (F), Desean Butler (WF), Devan Bawinkel (G)

Previous West Virginia Recruiting Reports: October 1 Report, Sept 27 Report, August 22 Report, July 11 Report and 7/24 Round-Up.

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John Beilein and West Virginia is HOT right now! In less than a week, the Mountaineers have garnered three commitments that are going to look very good for their program, the third being Devan Bawinkel, and like Desean Butler, Bawinkel chose WVU over DePaul. The pair join Wellington Smith, and although you may not find any of them on top 100 lists on some of the national websites, that is ok, these guys offer Coach Beilein the flexibility and versatility that any team running a structured system like WVU needs. Plus, while WVU was making their run to the elite 8 last year, there were a lot of more highly rated players sitting home watching their group come VERY close to making the final four!

Bawinkel, Butler and Smith join earlier commitments Cam Thoroughman and Joe Mazzula as well as Butler transfer Jamie Smalligan to give the 2006-2007 projected WVU roster six new faces. It also leaves, by my account, two more slots open. Of course, WVU is probably waiting the decision of BF Casey Crawford and his decision could come soon as he has narrowed his choices to WVU, Texas A&M and Wichita St. At this point, we would expect WVU to take Crawford or wait it out until the spring or the class of 2007. With a good season expected in 2005-2006 and just one senior on the 2006-2007 projected roster, they could be very smart to have an extra scholarship available after this season, because another strong year should increase the WVU recruiting profile even more. See the linked article above by Illinois Prep Bulls-Eye for a complete description of Bawinkel's game and some 2007 recruiting names to remember for WVU!