MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Jermaine Haley’s journey through college basketball has covered more than 4,500 miles, which has been everywhere in between Vancouver, Canada to New Mexico, and Odessa, Texas to Morgantown.
“I’ve seen a lot over the years,” the senior West Virginia guard said. “It may not have been the most traditional journey, but I think that makes you more well-rounded when it’s over.”
A coaching change at New Mexico State in 2017 was the factor in Haley transferring to Odessa College, where he caught the eyes of the WVU coaching staff.
He signed with the Mountaineers last season and developed into one of the team’s most consistent guards at the end of the season.
He averaged 7.1 points and 4.1 rebounds last season, but over the final 10 games of the season, Haley averaged 16.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
“Once he became more comfortable in what he could do, I think that’s when you saw his game improve,” WVU head coach Bob Huggins said. “He’s was one of our better guys in getting to the rim and he’s got some size, which helps.”
Haley’s college story will be complete after this season, but not until it comes with maybe another chapter different from the norm.
Standing at 6-foot-7, Haley is not your typical point guard and the Mountaineers are working more to take advantage of that this season by having Haley play multiple positions on the floor in different sets.
“I have to know a lot more than I did last year,” Haley said. “It really just kind of depends how the game is going and where the coaches need me the most, but it’s going to be a lot different than last season.”
One of the moves is having Haley — when he’s being guarded by a smaller guard — post up in the paint.
“We did that a little bit last year with him,” Huggins said. “His size obviously presents some mismatches to the defense.”
It is a different world in the paint as compared to life as a guard. For starters, the defender is behind you instead of in front.
“You’ve got elbows in your back and guys shove on you pretty hard,” Haley said. “It’s a lot more physical than just standing up top.”
How has Haley adjusted to the change?
“I give his post-up game a B,” said West Virginia center Logan Routt. “I give it a B, because he should actually do it more than he does. Not a lot of guards out there are going to be able to match up with his size. When he posts up a smaller guy, it usually leads to a basket.”
Haley’s noticed that, too.
“It’s an easy two points,” he said with a smile. “I won’t say posting up is my favorite thing to do, but yeah, when we’re able to do it, something good generally happens.”
As for other role changes, expect Haley to catch the ball more around the foul line, as well as playing more on the wing to help provide some depth behind Emmitt Matthews Jr.
“Jermaine isn’t just a point guard anymore,” West Virginia guard Chase Harler said. “He has to do a little bit of everything for us. He’ll have to help out on the boards and he can post up when there’s a smaller guy on him. He’ll be asked to do a lot more than we asked of him last year.”
TWEET @bigjax3211
