With the season’s first month behind, the new transfers for the WVU men’s basketball team have settled in and stepped up for the Mountaineers.
Through their first seven games, the Mountaineers are 6-1. One of the main reasons for this early success is the impact of transfer Erik Stevenson along with other transfers head coach Bob Huggins acquired in the offseason.
Stevenson transferred to WVU after playing with South Carolina last year and his shooting ability has significantly helped the team.
He is currently averaging 14.1 points per game and shooting an impressive .483% from the three-point line.
With what seems like, at times, a limitless range from three and a passionate playing style, Stevenson has fit in perfectly for Bob Huggins.
Other key contributors on the offensive side of the ball are Joe Toussaint and Tre Mitchell.
Even though Toussaint hasn’t been in the starting lineup, his impact off the bench is nothing to look away from.
While averaging 23 minutes per game, he’s been the team’s third-highest scorer with 11.1 points per game and is shooting 42.9% from the field.
Mitchell adds a lot of length to the starting lineup and can score from just about anywhere. Whether making a three or using a fancy post move in the paint, Mitchell consistently puts up points for WVU.
Ever since transferring from Texas, he’s averaging 12.6 points per game which puts him at second best on the team, while shooting 56.1% from the field.
After leaving WVU for Washington, Emmitt Matthews Jr. is back in gold and blue. Fans now enjoy seeing his powerful dunks and high-energy play again.
Matthews Jr. leads the team in minutes played with 30.1, and in that time, he’s averaging 10.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 40% from three.
After the Mountaineer’s most recent win against Florida in the Phil Knight Legacy Tournament, they received multiple votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll.
If these transfers continue to impact the ball’s offensive side significantly, it should be in no time WVU becomes a top-25 team and a team to be feared in the Big 12.
Photo Credit: Aaron Parker, Blue Gold Sports