WVU Mountaineers Focus on Next Season, Retaining Key Players

0:00On March 14th, West Virginia Mountaineer's basketball is already shifting focus to next season, even before the current one wraps up. The coaching staff is checking which players have eligibility left, and prepping for the transfer portal, which opens on April 7th. A handful of young guys have three or four years remaining, including freshmen like Evans Barning Jr. and Sharp Shooter Jaden Forsyth, who saw. Limited action this year. Several sophomores with three years left stand out too. DJ Thomas averaged 6.2 points per game as the team's six leading score, while Amir Jenkins brought strong defense despite shooting. Struggles. Others like Neil, Howett, and Abraham Oyadiere had minimal minutes but plenty of runway ahead. Fans and coaches alike know retaining these pieces is crucial for building around the core. Walk-ons and lead ads like MJ Phoenix add depth without much on-court impact yet, but they could grow into roles with more time. On the shorter end, juniors with one year left include transfers Jackson Fields, who's out since mid-January, due to wrist issues, and might get a medical waiver, and Morse Ugusuk, who dipped in three points shooting this season.

1:08As the portal heats up, expect West Virginia to prioritize keeping these returners while hunting upgrades, setting the stage for a competitive 20. 25.26 run.