MORGANTOWN — WVU point guard Brandon Knapper has been sidelined from basketball competition this summer by a pulmonary episode that led to a blood clot, sources told MetroNews.
The prognosis remains upbeat for the redshirt freshman to be cleared in advance of preseason practice, when Knapper projects to be a valuable piece of the “Press Virginia” backcourt. He remains engaged with weightlifting and conditioning aspects of the team’s offseason program while awaiting clearance to resume scrimmaging.
While coach Bob Huggins declined to comment on Knapper’s status, citing HIPAA privacy laws, a source close to the program said Knapper “is working his tail off” and expects to play this season.
The 6-foot home-grown prospect was a three-time Class AAA all-state player at South Charleston High School who scored 28 points per game as a senior. After spending a year at Hargrave Military Academy, averaging 18 points and 3.1 assists, he sustained an offseason meniscus injury and redshirted at WVU last year.
He began practicing midseason, and during WVU’s run to the Sweet 16, he told MetroNews about the valuable experience gained from scrimmaging against two-time national defensive player of the year Jevon Carter.
The clotting issue reportedly surfaced after the season and is being treated with medication.
“It all looks really positive for him, like everything’s going to be OK,” a source said.
Knapper potentially gives the Mountaineers a three-headed point guard rotation with true freshman Jordan McCabe and JUCO transfer Jermaine Haley. That should facilitate the team’s top 3-point shooter, junior Beetle Bolden, playing more minutes off the ball.
