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Larry Harrison has West Virginia in mix for juco forward Carlos Curry

By Keenan Cummings

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia basketball program already has a pair of commitments in the 2021 recruiting class, but the work is not quite done yet.

A pair of Ohio guards in Kobe Johnson and Seth Wilson are already in the fold, but the coaching staff has been working on a number of other options in the frontcourt. One of those is Senatobia (Miss.) Northwest Mississippi Community College forward Carlos Curry.

Curry, at 6-foot-11 and 235 pounds, has been on WVU’s radar since he first decided to transfer from Mississippi and settled at the junior college ranks. Assistant coach Larry Harrison has been the primary point of contact between Curry and the Mountaineers, and the two have become close.

“Great dude, real great dude. I respect him a lot as a coach, but even more as a person. He’s a real great dude,” Curry said.

WVU certainly isn’t his only option at this stage, though, as St. John’s, Houston, Oregon State and a host of others have extended scholarship offers. College coaches have been impressed with his versatile skill set on both ends of the floor at his size.

The Mountaineers see Curry as a big man who has potential on the defensive end as a rim protector, as well as a versatile offensive game. He runs the floor well, can handle the ball and has shown the ability to step out and hit shots, which makes him an intriguing fit for the program.

Curry has yet to visit Morgantown in person, which he admits is a major holdup when it comes to his recruitment. He has been on a virtual visit to campus and was highly impressed with the school, as well as how he could fit with the coaching staff.

“I am really praying that I get to visit there. I’m loving everything about it, I just want to visit,” he said.

Curry doesn’t plan on making any decision when it comes to his recruitment until he is able to visit the schools on his list. After making an initial choice to sign with Mississippi and it not working out, having the ability to get to know the place he will spend the rest of his college career is paramount.

Because of the current dead period in place through the end of the year, Curry realizes a decision isn’t likely until sometime after his own season, which begins Jan. 22, is complete. He knows for sure if he can visit schools, WVU will be one that gets a trip.

“I definitely want to get up there and see how the games are. I want to see Morgantown,” he said.

He should have two years to play two remaining, but that could be a three to play three.

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