Devries makes BIG statement about Roster Overhaul

WVInsiders.com: WVU Basketball’s Transformative Offseason

West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries and his staff have been non-stop busy since landing in Morgantown. With just one player returning from last year’s roster, they’ve invested considerable time and effort into recruiting through the transfer portal, and their efforts are starting to pay off.

Transferred in so far-

So far, West Virginia has successfully landed seven:

G Javon Small (Oklahoma State)
G Sencire Harris (Illinois)
G Joseph Yesufu (Washington State)
F Tucker DeVries (Drake)
F Toby Okani (Illinois-Chicago)
F Amani Hansberry (Illinois)
C Eduardo Andre (Fresno State)

On3 Sports recently ranked WVU’s transfer portal class as the second-best in the country, a testament to the strategic and effective recruitment by DeVries and his staff.

Coach DeVries on the New Roster

Earlier this week, Coach DeVries discussed the new roster on The Field of 68 podcast with Jeff Goodman. “I love the makeup of our roster right now. I think they’re all very committed to winning. They’re hungry. They’re ready to go out and compete. I can’t wait for all of us to get started here in a few weeks as we start the summer workouts,” DeVries said.

He emphasized the importance of familiarity and relationships in building the team. “What helps is that maybe I didn’t know them personally but our assistants did in some way, shape, or form. They either coached them or had a relationship before. Maybe they recruited them at a previous school. We were pretty intentional about making sure we got the right guys and I feel really good about where our roster’s at right now.”

High Expectations and Potential Challenges

The high ranking of WVU’s transfer class brings both excitement and pressure. Despite the accolades, success is not easy at all. Last year, West Virginia boasted the top-rated transfer class but struggled through a challenging season, finishing with a 9-23 record. Everything from a court case, to players holding out in August, to Coaches resigning right before the year, to Jesse Edwards broken wrist the week several key players returned really halted the progress of last years team. It begs the question… does a top portal class matter? Highlighting the critical need for depth in the highly competitive Big 12 conference, and not just top-end talent.

Coach DeVries and his team are aware of these challenges. The goal is to blend the new talent with a few more seasoned players to build a cohesive and competitive squad for the 2024-25 season.

Moving Forward

The Mountaineers’ transformative offseason has set a foundation for potential success. With a roster full of promising transfers and a coaching staff dedicated to fostering team chemistry and resilience, West Virginia is poised to make a significant impact in the upcoming season.

For more updates and in-depth coverage of West Virginia basketball, stay tuned to WVInsiders.com.