By: Braxton Fuller | WV Sports Chat
As the season winds down for Ross Hodge and the Mountaineers, it’s almost time to start focusing on the offseason. West Virginia is expected to lose at least seven players to graduation, and possibly more with the transfer portal. Of the few that will have eligibility remaining, Amir Jenkins and DJ Thomas are the only two that have seen significant minutes. This means Coach Hodge will be looking to replace the majority of his production.
Assuming they all stay committed, Ross Hodge has already brought in an elite recruiting class for next season. It all starts with five-star (or high four-star depending on the site) point guard Miles Sadler. His high school teammate, center Aliou Dioum, will be joining him in Morgantown, along with four-star guard Kingston Whitty. However, I am not so sure that the recruiting process is over.
Here’s a list of high school recruits that hold offers from WVU that haven’t committed yet:
Kobe Edwards – four-Star guard from Wilson, NC.
Jayden Johnson – a 6-foot-5 shooting guard that’s rated as a three-star from Louisville, Kentucky.
Ashton Meeks – three-star combo guard from Hyattsville, Maryland.
Bruce Branch III – a five-star small forward who’s rated as the sixth best player in the class. He’s from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Christopher Washington Jr – four-star small forward from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Fred Smith Jr – another four-star small forward from Memphis, Tennessee.
MJ Madison – three-star small forward from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Josiah Sanders – three-star small forward from Millington, Tennessee.
Sam Fleming – three-star power forward from Wilbraham, Massachusetts.
Bruce Branch III is likely a long shot and it looks like he’s leaning towards BYU or USC. Christopher Washington Jr is leaning towards staying home and going to Tennessee, along with Fred Smith Jr who’s projected to sign with Memphis. With Amir Jenkins hopefully returning and Miles Sadler coming in, the Mountaineers will have two solid point guards on the roster. That could potentially push Kobe Edwards out of the picture. So, who are the names to watch?
The answers are Jayden Johnson and Sam Fleming. Johnson will provide great size from the shooting guard position (which is nice considering Sadler is only 5-foot-10) and has solid talent as well. Sam Fleming is a bit more of a project with great athleticism, who doesn’t hold many offers. However, that offer list is starting to grow.
Hodge will also add several players via the transfer portal. To balance out the age of the team, I expect he will add some upper-classmen to help provide leadership for such a young incoming group. Forward Jackson Fields is also applying for a medical redshirt. This means he could also return for the 2026-27 season.
Keep it here at WV Sports Chat for continued updates.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
