Examining the 2023-24 West Virginia hoops roster

Next season, the West Virginia basketball roster will undergo significant changes with the departure of several players and the addition of new talent. WVSports.com provides an in-depth look at the upcoming roster and how each player fits into the team.

Players Departing from 2021-22: Guard Erik Stevenson (graduation), forward Emmitt Matthews (graduation), point guard Kedrian Johnson (graduation), forward Tre Mitchell (Kentucky), center Mohamed Wague (Alabama), point guard Joe Toussaint (Texas Tech), forward James Okonkwo (North Carolina), guard Jose Perez, center Jimmy Bell (Mississippi State), point guard Josiah Davis (Tennessee Tech) and forward Jamel King (Kennesaw State)

New Players for 2022-23: Point guard Kerr Kriisa (Arizona), center Jesse Edwards (Syracuse), guard RaeQuan Battle (Montana State), forward Akok Akok (Georgetown), forward Quinn Slazinski (St. John’s), guard Jeremiah Bembry (Florida State), guard Noah Farrakhan (Eastern Michigan) and forward Ofri Naveh (Israel).

–Only four players from last season’s roster will return, with a combined average of just 9.4 points per game. These four players are Seth Wilson, Kobe Johnson, Josiah Harris, and Patrick Suemnick.

–Considering the off-season issues that led to former head coach Bob Huggins resigning, the final roster is quite impressive, considering the coaching staff had to rebuild it twice.

–The biggest loss in terms of scoring is guard Erik Stevenson, who averaged 15.4 points per game last season. While difficult to replace, the program made active moves in the transfer portal to address this gap.

–The other three players who averaged double figures in scoring have also departed: forward Emmitt Matthews (10.2) and point guard Kedrian Johnson (11.7) graduated, while Tre Mitchell (11.7) transferred to Kentucky for his final season.

–The good news is that despite the significant roster turnover, the coaches effectively utilized the transfer portal to find experienced options and fill gaps. Despite the turnover, this could ultimately be a net positive for the roster in terms of overall experience.

–Losing guard Kedrian Johnson was a blow, given his significant development over the past few seasons and his most productive year in his final season. Additionally, backup Joe Toussaint transferred to Texas Tech. However, West Virginia prioritized the point guard position and secured the commitment of Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa. Kriisa, a natural point guard, averaged 9.9 points and 5.1 assists last season and led the Pac-12 in assists. The Mountaineers also added depth with Florida State point guard Jeremiah Bembry, a 6-foot-6 versatile player with four years of eligibility remaining.

–At the shooting guard position, Montana State guard RaeQuan Battle will fill the void left by Erik Stevenson. Battle, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged 17.7 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting efficiently from the field. West Virginia also has depth in Seth Wilson and Kobe Johnson.

–Another intriguing addition is Eastern Michigan transfer Noah Farrakhan, who had previously transferred once and would require a waiver to play this season. Despite his ineligibility this year, Farrakhan’s scoring ability and experience will make him a valuable practice player and set him up for a larger role in his second year.

–Josiah Harris returns and is expected to make significant progress in his second year. The addition of Israeli forward Ofri Naveh provides additional depth at the position. However, the dismissal of Jose Perez means that the Mountaineers will need to find a replacement for him.

–West Virginia addressed the vacancies at the power forward position by adding versatile players. Akok Akok, a big man who graduated from Georgetown, brings valuable skills to the program. Quinn Slazinski, a stretch four, showcases his shooting and rebounding abilities. The program also benefits from the return of Patrick Suemnick.

–Finally, West Virginia strengthened the center position with the addition of Syracuse’s Jesse Edwards. Edwards, a highly talented player with one year of eligibility remaining, averaged impressive numbers for the Orange. The Mountaineers also have Ali Ragab as a walk-on option for minutes if needed.

–My projected starting five: Kriisa, Wilson, Battle, Akok, and Edwards.