It looks as if West Virginia University men’s basketball interim head coach Josh Eilert has filled his roster for the upcoming season. He even added a new coach for good measure. Last week, Eilert brought in Eastern Michigan Transfer guard, Noah Farrakhan. Farrakhan spent two years in Michigan and averaged 12.1 ppg on 43% shooting from the field. He also averaged 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in just 31 games. August has been a good month for Eilert as a week prior to signing Farrakhan he inked Ofri Naveh. Naveh has the size to bang in the paint and the ball skills to play on the outside making him a multi-dimension hoopster. The best news is that he comes to Morgantown as a freshman which could lead to several seasons in a Mountaineer uniform. A day after signing Nareh, Eilert received some bad news. Omar Silverio’s appeal for a waiver to suit up for West Virginia this upcoming season was denied by the NCAA. Silverio played last year for Hofstra averaging 10.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. This is the second time in as many seasons that the Mountaineer basketball program has been told no by the NCAA. Last year, Jose Perez was viewed as a potential game changer but the NCAA gave him the big D. Not a divorce but a denial. It almost caused a divorce as Perez looked to go elsewhere but eventually decided to make Morgantown his home this upcoming season. Kerr Kriisa was a former head coach, Bob Huggins stepped down. Kriisa is a true point guard that started 34 of 35 games a year ago for Arizona. Kriisa began to step out on Eilert but eventually decided to stay. Quinn Slazinski signed in late July. Slaznski is a 6’9, 215 pound forward that grew up in Houston. He transfer portal expert having played at Iona and prior to that, Louisville. He averaged 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds last year.
Jeremiah Bembry is rumored to be the real deal. He was at Florida State but did not see any game action for the Seminoles. If he is as good as advertised, this squad would complete for titles and championships. Eilert nabbed a 30 year veteran as a senior advisor. James Dickey comes to the University with 30 years of Division I experience. Dickey has made stops at Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Arkansas and Central Arkansas as an assistant. He was also an assistant at Texas Tech before spending a decade as the head coach of the Red Raider program.
Eilert has done an excellent job of filling a roster late in the game by utilizing the transfer portal to near perfection. He has also surrounded himself with a mix of great basketball minds. The younger coaches are relatable to the players and the old guard has seen everything there is to see on the hardwood at least once. Now all that is left is to play the games.
The start of high school football is finally here. Lincoln opens this Friday when the host Braxton County. Liberty hits the road for a lock-up with Elkins. Bridgeport invades Buckhannon for a date with the Bucs. Robert C. Byrd has the longest trip of any county team, traveling to Keyser. South Harrison will host Wirt County rounding out the schedule.
This will do it for now. Until next week take care and God Bless!
