West Virginia forward Ofri Naveh (9) is defended by Texas forward Dillon Mitchell (23) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va.
Then-Drake head coach Darian DeVries questions a call during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against Loyola of Chicago, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Des Moines, Iowa.
West Virginia forward Ofri Naveh (9) is defended by Texas forward Dillon Mitchell (23) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va.
Kathleen Batten | The òòò½ÊÓƵsociated Press
Then-Drake head coach Darian DeVries questions a call during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against Loyola of Chicago, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Darian DeVries has only been the West Virginia menòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball coach for four months.
Heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s getting the wheels in motion for creating a team identity and foundation for the Mountaineers.
DeVries comes to West Virginia after spending the last six seasons at Drake, where he went 150-55 with the Bulldogs.
The 49-year-old coach likes what he has seen during summer workouts.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThe team is very excited and hungry,òòò½ÊÓƵ DeVries said. òòò½ÊÓƵœTheyòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve dedicated themselves, both individually and as a group, to try and do whatever they can to put ourselves in the best position to have success. Thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s what weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re doing this time of the year. All you can ask of them is come with a great attitude, then come and work hard.òòò½ÊÓƵ
That hungry approach the new-look Mountaineers possess has created a winning mentality through the first few workouts and practices. DeVries is starting to see an identity help everyone on the team grow.
òòò½ÊÓƵœEach one of the guys, individually, want to win, whether theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re seniors or incoming freshmen,òòò½ÊÓƵ DeVries said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThis group certainly is committed to doing everything they can to try putting themselves in a position to do that. I like the approach from them.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The Mountaineers lost a huge chunk of their scoring productivity from last season.
Ninety-seven percent of òòò½ÊÓƵUòòò½ÊÓƵ™s total points from last year òòò½ÊÓƵ” 2,171 out of 2,234 òòò½ÊÓƵ” is gone. All the 63 points scored by a returnee came from Ofri Naveh.
Naveh and Aden Tagaloa-Nelson are the lone returners from last yearòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Mountaineers.
There are eight newcomers on this yearòòò½ÊÓƵ™s roster, including DeVriesòòò½ÊÓƵ™ son Tucker. Tucker spent his first three seasons at Drake with his dad, averaging 18 points and six rebounds per game.
The Mountaineers transfer portal recruiting class ranks sixth nationally, according to .
òòò½ÊÓƵœI like the way they fit together,òòò½ÊÓƵ DeVries said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThe pieces of making a good team is having the players go well together. We have a good balance, with guys that can do different things that compliment each other.òòò½ÊÓƵ
òòò½ÊÓƵU will travel to Italy from Aug. 1-10 and play three games there.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI love the timing of it,òòò½ÊÓƵ DeVries said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThe new staff and team get to go spend 10, 11 days over in Italy and play three games. More importantly, we get to know each other a little bit better, not just basketball, but personally. We get to spend time together and bond. Those games allow us to get a little feel for playing with one another and playing against somebody else.òòò½ÊÓƵ
One of the eight transfers who has enrolled at òòò½ÊÓƵU is Oklahoma State transfer Javon Small.
Small averaged 15 points and four assists per game last season for the Cowboys.
òòò½ÊÓƵœPeople are going to love Javon Small,òòò½ÊÓƵ DeVries said. òòò½ÊÓƵœHe has such a good feel for the game. Heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s strong and physical and can score and pass well. Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve been really impressed with him and what heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s been able to do in practice so far. Heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s one of those guys that I think is going to have a chance to be one of the best players in the Big 12 Conference this year.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Joseph Yesufu is another transfer that came to Morgantown. Yesufu spent last season at Washington State. He does have experience playing for DeVries as he played two seasons at Drake. However, Yesufu has not been cleared to play after suffering a hip injury and playing just six games last season for the Cougars.
òòò½ÊÓƵœHeòòò½ÊÓƵ™s still probably a couple months away,òòò½ÊÓƵ DeVries said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWeòòò½ÊÓƵ™re hoping maybe towards the first of September, but weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll see where that leads as he continues to progress in his rehab. The good part for him is that he did play for me a couple of years ago, so he knows the system. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s not like he has to learn that as heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s coming back.òòò½ÊÓƵ
DeVries is wanting to continue a tradition of welcoming former òòò½ÊÓƵU players with open arms.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThereòòò½ÊÓƵ™s great tradition here, and a lot of good players,òòò½ÊÓƵ DeVries said. òòò½ÊÓƵœAnybody thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s ever put on this uniform has worn it with great pride. We certainly want them to continue feeling that way. Weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to try and represent them in the tradition that theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve built. We want to do it in the best way possible.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Former òòò½ÊÓƵU players welcomed DeVries in his first couple of weeks in Morgantown.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe as alumni are excited for the new chapter of òòò½ÊÓƵU basketball,òòò½ÊÓƵ read a statement by former players. òòò½ÊÓƵœWeòòò½ÊÓƵ™re sure the team that you produce on the court will reflect everything that has made West Virginia University basketball so special.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Taylor Kennedy covers sports. He can be reached at 304-348-7935 or tkennedy@hdmediallc.com. Follow on Twitter.
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