New-look mountaineers ring in the preseason with an exhibition on Friday evening

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Mountaineer men's basketball fans will get their first chance to see a coach Darian DeVries' new-look team on Friday night when they play the University of Charleston in an exhibition game at the WVU Coliseum.

DeVries' WVU roster features 14 new players and holdovers Ofri Naveh and football players Aden Tagaloa Nelsonboth guards.

Two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Tucker DeVriesTransferred to Oklahoma State Javon Small and high-profile Detroit Mercy guard Jayden Stone Headline of a large transfer portal group that includes transfers from Illinois Amani Hansberry And Sencire HarrisWashington State Transfer Joseph YesufuTransfer to Fresno State Eduardo AndréTransfer Illinois-Chicago Toby OkaniTransfer to the University of Laval Haris Elezovic and Rockhurst transfer Jake Auer.

Ohio Mr. Basketball Jonathan Powell and Tennessee Mr. Basketball KJ Tenner are part of a freshman class that includes the guard DylanJay and late addition Abraham Oyeadier from Accra, Ghana.

West Virginia's 16-player roster consists of five fifth-year seniors, three seniors, four sophomores and four freshmen.

“Those first game butterflies that I know, we’re going to get them out for sure,” DeVries said earlier today. “I know our guys are very excited to come to the Coliseum and get the chance to play in front of our fans and against someone else. It’s time for us to go out and play.”

It will be the first time most of these players will hear the Mountaineer firing the musket and running onto the carpet during the pregame introduction.

“I’m happy to see it, to be honest,” DeVries said. “I went through this yesterday because this is one of the things we haven't really talked about much: 'Okay, we have a game tomorrow, what does that look like?' We don’t have many players we can ask, so Ofri (Naveh) has to tell us where to go.”

Deputy head coach Chester Frazier has practiced games here and is familiar with firing the musket.

“Yeah, he said he crouched a little when he first heard the thing go off,” laughed DeVries. “I'll try to be as attentive as possible.”

The Mountaineers were recently picked 13th^Th ahead of Utah, Colorado and Oklahoma State in this year's Big 12 preseason poll.

Blue Ribbon Magazine predicts an 11^Th He finishes ahead of Utah, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Colorado and TCU and gives the Mountaineers' backcourt a B grade, frontcourt a B grade, depth/bench a B- grade and intangibles a C grade.

Last year's team under interim coach Josh Eilert finished the season 9-23 overall and 4-14 in Big 12 play.


“(Friday) will give us an opportunity to see where we are from an execution standpoint on both ends of the floor,” DeVries explained. “We’re not going to show much, but we’re going to play free and open, so we’re definitely looking forward to being out there.”


The Golden Eagles are coached by former Mountaineer player James Long, whose coaching staff includes former WVU assistant coach Payton Sturm and student manager Cal Davis.


Long's roster includes former Baylor player Zach Loveday, a 7-footer from Gallipolis, Ohio; Marshall transfer CJ Meredith, a 6-foot-2 senior from Huntington; Coastal Carolina transfer Trevor Barrett, a 6-foot-2 redshirt freshman from Cary, North Carolina; and junior Belmont Abbey transfer Jalen Rivens from Charlotte, North Carolina.


The UC team also includes West Virginians Eli Robertson of Elkview, Ben Coleman of Teays Valley, Cameron Marks of Parkersburg, Tate Adkins of Huntington and Charlestonians Michael Lowe and Jayallen Turner.


“Our style of play is what we want to establish tomorrow,” emphasized DeVries. “When you play fast in transition, play strong defensively and don't have a scouting report that goes over every set and every game, you have to be really good at the things you're working on. These fundamentals must be solid, and they will be challenged in situations where we don't know what to expect.


Friday night's exhibition game begins at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+ with Nick Farrell and Warren Baker answering the call.


Mountaineer Sports Network radio coverage with Tony Caridi and new analyst Brad Howe will begin at 6 p.m. on stations across West Virginia online via WVUsports.com and the Varsity Network and WVU Gameday apps.


Tickets are available through the Mountaineer Ticket Office and can be purchased by logging onto WVUGAME.com.