BY KENNAN CUMMINGS
West Virginia isn’t even sure what next year’s roster will entirely look like yet but the future is looking pretty impressive after the Mountaineers snagged another high level recruit.
Beckley Prep (W.Va.) big man James Okonkwo committed to West Virginia ending a rather quick recruiting process before it ever really had a chance to get off the ground.
Okonkwo, 6-foot-9, 230-pounds, is rated as the nation’s No. 87 prospect in the class of 2023 according to Rivals.com and selected the Mountaineers over early offers from Rutgers and Montana State as well as interest from a large number of other programs.
WVU offered in March and quickly developed into one of the front runners for the underclassman in large part due to his connection with head coach Bob Huggins and assistant Ron Everhart.
“Special thanks to Bob Huggins and Ron Everhart for wanting me at WVU and really making me feel comfortable,” he said.
Despite having well over a year left before he needed to get serious about recruiting, Okonkwo decided it was time to end his recruitment and commit to the Big 12 Conference program.
A native of England, Okonkwo spent last season at Beckley Prep and drew attention for his versatile skill set on the court.
At his height, Okonkwo has a 7-foot-2 wingspan and is a skilled big that can not only finish strong inside but also extend the defense with a smooth mid-range and perimeter jumper.
His length as well as his head-at-the-rim explosion makes him a massive pickup for the Mountaineers because he was destined to have many other offers as things opened back up.
Okonkwo has already visited Morgantown and there is a comfort level there as well, but adding him to the fold this early is a great start for what could be a very good 2023 recruiting class.
The skilled big man is the first top 100 prospect to commit to the Mountaineers since Oscar Tshiebwe and now the program has a strong base to build on moving forward.
There’s a lot of basketball to be played before Okonkwo steps foot in Morgantown but it’s never too early to get excited about the future of the program.
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