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2008 Recruiting Class Gives Hope

By Staff | May 20, 2008

With the inclusion of 6’9” New York native Devin Ebanks to the West Virginia University men’s basketball lineup, the whole world should be tuning in to ESPN next season to see one of the best recruiting classes in the country.

WVU should almost undoubtedly start the season in the top 25, a feat that not many of us are used to. Whether we’ll stay in the “national picture,” as coach Bob Huggins so eloquently put it in a recent press release, is another question.

That’s why I’m proud to title this new chapter in WVU basketball “A New Hope.” And I say that not because hope is necessary when having acquired an electric playmaker and scorer like Ebanks, but because it sounds uplifting and denotes change.

Gone are the days of relying on the chance factor of outside shooting and the sometimes tricky backdoor pass to excite the crowded Coliseum. Athleticism and energy will replace these staples and everyone who enters our facility will leave with tears in their eyes, as if they have witnessed a veritable Renaissance of the sport.

Kevin Jones, a 6’7” four-star prospect, joins the lineup as well, and he’s actually buddies with the famous Ebanks, which most likely played a major part in why this whole relationship started in the first place. 

Unlike Ebanks, Jones lacks several flashy Youtube videos showcasing his talent, but his skill is much more subtle and giving, kind of like a Da’Sean Butler or a bigger Mike Gansey.  He’ll be an indispensable team player, and he’ll stay for at least three years, or he may opt to stay for the long haul.

Darryl “Truck” Bryant shows flashes of brilliance as a 6’1’’ point guard. Also from New York (see a trend here?), Bryant has more than just a cool nickname going for him. He’s bulky for a point guard, which will give him plenty of floor time subbing for recent breakout sensation Joe Mazzulla. Just don’t expect Mazulla to get tired, seeing as the kid can run laps around most guards in the NCAA.

In the end, the anticipation is too much. This recruiting class is by far the best WVU has ever seen (besides Jerry West), and it’s only Huggins’ first true recruiting class.

With the return of John Flowers and Wellington Smith, we’ll have one of the deepest benches in the Big East. If injuries don’t plague us in the early going, there’s going to be a lot of buzz surrounding Morgantown next winter. Relax and think of the future.

Contact Patrick at pdolan@graffitiwv.com