BIG EAST RECRUITING REPORT: WEST VIRGINIA

August 19, 2006


Projected 2007-2008 Roster


Seniors: Darris Nichols (PG), Jamie Smalligan (BF/C)
Juniors: Joe Alexander (SF), Alex Ruoff (WF)
Sophomores: Joe Mazzula (PG), Cam Thoroughman (F), Wellington Smith (F), Desean Butler (WF), Devan Bawinkel (G), Jacob Green (BF), Jonnie West (G)
Freshmen: John Flowers (F)


Following a surprise run to the Elite 8, West Virginia hit the recruiting trail hard last year to fill in a roster that was loaded with upperclassmen. The final haul was a 7-member class that will look to keep the Mountaineers in the upper-half of the conference standings. Following last year's Sweet 16 appearance, coach John Beilein landed a strong early commitment from John Flowers and now heads into the recruiting stretch drive with one scholarship to give and some interesting prospects mulling over the offer.

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First, lets take a brief look at the player WVU has gotten so far: John Flowers. The Waldorf, MD prospect was a fast-rising player in the DC-area's powerful WCAC for Leonardtown School, averaging a double-double last season. He chose WVU over other early offers from Virginia Tech, DePaul, Maryland and St. Joseph's, while other schools where showing more and more interest.

Flowers is a true combo forward that can go inside against the smaller opponents or take to the perimeter against bigger players. John Beilein recruits players to his system and uses a very unique offense to create mismatches. Flowers ability to go inside and out with his length and athleticism should remind many observers of the style that Tyrone Sally brough to the Mountaineers just a couple years ago.

Now, with one scholarship open, John Beilein will continue to look for another player to fit into his system and excel. In one of the most amazing stories in basketball recruiting in recent time, the small West Virginia city Huntington has three of the top 15 players in the country originating from there: OJ Mayo, Bill Walker and Patrick Patterson. They are joined by Chris Early to comprise a group of four from a small city that will amaze anyone. However, the only one with West Virginia on his list is Patterson, and they are closer to his 12th team of interest than among his top 5. So, coach John Beilein will have to continue to sell the WVU program to recruits nationally.

As I said previously, Beilein likes to recruit players to his system. Maybe not a part of his original plan, but one that worked out pretty well, was finding a 6'10 big man that, although not much of a post defender or rebounder, created perimeter mismatches with his uncanny ability to shoot the 3-pt shot. Beilein hopes Butler transfer Jamie Smalligan can give the Mountaineers a little bit of that in the interim while he works on finding his next Kevin Pittsnogle. Minnesota native and sharp-shooting 6'10, 200 lb Jon Leuer looks to be the perfect fit. Leuer showed this summer he can be quite a weapon launching perimeter jump shots and also has the ability to knock down a jump hook inside. He is painfully thin and needs to fill out his frame to have much of an impact on the defensive end and on the boards, but the resemblence in game to Pittsnogle is quite clear. His big summer has attracted interest from Indiana, Iowa, Louisville and Minnesota, along with WVU, whom he will take his first official visit to in Septmeber. Another Big East school, Notre Dame, is also in the mix.

The regular Recruiting Buzz feature by the writers at Scout.com for FoxSports.com was updated yesterday and summarizes a couple Big East commitments (Trevor Mbakwe - Marquette and Carlton Scott - Notre Dame). Mike Sullivan also profiles the recruitment of Mike Scott who has Big East schools such as St. John's, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Seton Hall seriously involved and Pittsburgh has shown some interest as well. Scott originally signed last year with Temple and the Maryland native will spend a post-grad season at Hargrave Military Academy. Sullivan also gives an update on Jabari Edwards who has fielded calls from St. John's, Seton Hall and West Virginia.

Coming off a year in which they brought in seven freshmen and will also hit the floor with a transfer, it is tough to get a feel for the positions of need for WVU recruiting because they have a lot to sort through amoung the newcomers. Beilein definitely has a unique system which throws out some of the conventional wisdom when forming a list of needs for the Mountaineers. Obviously, looking at their roster, I would suggest big men, especially someone who can rebound, but, after a Sweet 16 and an Elite 8 in the last two years, I will sit back and let John Beilein show me what kind of player he needs for his system.

We will be watching closely...