WEST VIRGINIA RECRUITING UPDATE

VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Jacob Green, BF (Washington, DC)

The news on Green's commitment can be found in this morning's notes section of the Charleston WVGazette: WVU Adds Another Recruit.

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), Jacob Green (BF)

Previous West Virginia Recruiting Reports: October 3 Report, October 1 Report, Sept 27 Report, August 22 Report, July 11 Report and 7/24 Round-Up.

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When your hot, you are hot! And, by golly Miss Molly, John Beilein is HOT! For the fourth time in a week, West Virginia adds a very solid recruit that should fit very well in the WVU program. Jacob Green joins Wellington Smith, Desean Butler and Devin Bawinkel in a very nice group of players that have pledged their allegience to WVU in the last week, joining earlier commitments from Cam Thoroughman and Joe Mazzula.

The Charleston Daily Mail had an article today (Beilein Working to Fill Holes)on the importance of the incoming WVU class for 2006-2007 and it has definitely been a very successful week for the West Virginia staff in filling the holes of impending graduations of five key members of the 2005-2006 team.

You may not find many of these incoming players rated among the top 100 high school seniors in this class, but that is not important. Coach Beilein found six players that should fit very well into the WVU system as they are all versatile players. Green is the latest and he adds some length and athleticism to the front court. His upside potential leaves you to believe his best basketball is definitely ahead of him. Several Big East teams were taking notice of him, but most were in kind of a wait and see mode with the 6'9 205 lb prospect. he was fielding offers from mostly the Atlantic 10 at this point, but he is the kind of player that will only get better and better playing in the system at WVU. He should be an ideal compliment to Butler transfer Jamie Smalligan in the post at WVU and gives WVU a player willing to run the floor, work on defense and the ability to block some shots.

The rest of the class is made up of players who are interchangeable at the 2, 3 and 4 positions. Mazzula and Bawinkel can easily play either guard position in the WVU system. Butler and Smith can man the wing or even the PF, like Tyrone Sally did last year and Thoroughman can be in the mix as well. Given a year or so to learn the system and become comfortable in the system and accepting their roles, this group has the ingredients to come together just like the team last year. None of the players are the type to come in and carry a large role early on, but they bring aspects to the WVU program that helped make last year's team so successful, they each can defend their position, handle the ball well for thier positions and are unselfish. Versatility and unselfish play is what Beilein's system is based on.

At this point, WVU has one scholarship open. With just Frank Young on the 2006-2007 roster as a senior, that would leave them with 2 projected scholarships for the 2007 season and it probably would be a wise move, unless something falls into their lap late in the process for 2006, to hold onto the scholarship and continue to build their recruiting profile for the future. If this year goes as expected, with all the national TV exposure in the Big East, they should have no trouble raising their recruiting level once again!