By: Jonathan K. Martin | WV Sports Chat
The West Virginia Mountaineers will travel to Las Vegas for the 2026 College Basketball Crown, but they’ll do so without three members of the roster.
On Tuesday, the program released its travel roster for the eight-team postseason tournament, confirming the absences of freshman guard Amir Jenkins, freshman forward Evans Barning Jr., and walk-on guard MJ Feenane.
Jenkins is the only one of the trio who saw meaningful playing time this season. The 6-2 guard from Worcester, Mass., appeared in most games and contributed as a rotational piece despite battling significant injuries. Head coach Ross Hodge revealed last week that Jenkins played the entire 2025-26 season with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He then suffered a tear in his right shoulder during a game at TCU in late February.
Hodge praised the freshman’s toughness during a recent appearance on the 3 Guys Before the Game podcast, calling him a “throwback” player who never complained or used the injuries as an excuse. The injuries affected Jenkins’ shooting and free-throw performance, yet he continued to compete and even had shoulders popped back in during games. Surgery on the left shoulder is scheduled soon, with the right to follow. Hodge noted the long-term prognosis will depend on what surgeons find.
Barning Jr. and Feenane did not play this season, and no specific reasons were given for their exclusion from the travel party. Barning, a 6-8 forward who reclassified and signed with WVU, and Feenane, a walk-on guard, simply were not part of the active rotation under Hodge.
