Post by elp525 on Jun 6, 2011 5:17:25 GMT -5
06/05/2011
Chip Fontanazza
Morgantown
Back at the beginning of 2010 the Mountaineers had a big home victory against Ohio State and star point guard Evan Turner. WVU won the game 71-65. That’s one game that new West Virginia transfer Juwan Staten remembers vividly. The newest Mountaineer was committed to Dayton at the time and was in town with Oak Hill Academy for the annual PrimeTime Shootout. He says that moment has always stood out to him.
““Even though I had decided to go to Dayton I thought it was a great experience and I liked the atmosphere,” said Staten. “West Virginia definitely has great fans and a fan base that supports the team. It’s definitely a college town and that was something I liked. “
That was the talented guard’s first WVU experience and he plans to have more in the future. Staten transferred from Dayton because he felt he wasn't going to reach his full potential at that school. He originally committed to the Flyers during his sophomore year of high school and was originally going to transfer to Penn State until head coach Ed DeChellis left for Navy.
“I thought he was a coach that definitely knows a lot about the game and a coach that can help develop me for the next level, but once he decided to go to Navy I decided to open it back up,” explained Staten.
After Staten had a few conversations with WVU coaches Bob Huggins and Larry Harrison he knew his future would be in Morgantown.
“He definitely knows what it takes to make it to the next level,” said Staten. “He plays a nice style of basketball that played at Cincinnati, which is an up-tempo pace. While he was recruiting me he was letting me know that I was the kind of player he wants to bring to West Virginia.”
The reason for that is because Huggins wants to continue and use an up-tempo style of play. That’s something Staten feels very comfortable with. That’s also the style of play Huggins feels will bring a National Championship to Morgantown. Winning a championship was a big topic of conversation when Huggins talked to the sophomore point guard.
“That’s one of the things he let me know when I first talked to him,” said Staten. “He let me know that he wanted to win a National Championship and he was bringing in players he thought could help him win a National Championship. He told me I was a player that he could see helping them to a National Championship. I told him I definitely want to win a National Championship.”
Staten understands the team is going to go through a big transition this year because only three players from last year’s squad are returning and the West Virginia has no more player from the John Beilein era.
“He talked about how he felt the team would do and how he felt changing the program to a more up-tempo team that could potentially bring a National Championship title to West Virginia,” said an excited Staten. “He says he played more up-tempo when they went to the Final Four and he played up-tempo when he coached at Cincinnati. He feels that playing that way will be the way they can achieve a National Championship”
Stetan will be in Morgantown for good on the final weekend in June. He will have to sit out a season because of NCAA transfer rules and will have three years of eligibility. He says he can’t wait to get to know the players and help WVU get back to the Final Four.
“I want them to know that I’m going to be there for the team.”
Chip Fontanazza
Morgantown
Back at the beginning of 2010 the Mountaineers had a big home victory against Ohio State and star point guard Evan Turner. WVU won the game 71-65. That’s one game that new West Virginia transfer Juwan Staten remembers vividly. The newest Mountaineer was committed to Dayton at the time and was in town with Oak Hill Academy for the annual PrimeTime Shootout. He says that moment has always stood out to him.
““Even though I had decided to go to Dayton I thought it was a great experience and I liked the atmosphere,” said Staten. “West Virginia definitely has great fans and a fan base that supports the team. It’s definitely a college town and that was something I liked. “
That was the talented guard’s first WVU experience and he plans to have more in the future. Staten transferred from Dayton because he felt he wasn't going to reach his full potential at that school. He originally committed to the Flyers during his sophomore year of high school and was originally going to transfer to Penn State until head coach Ed DeChellis left for Navy.
“I thought he was a coach that definitely knows a lot about the game and a coach that can help develop me for the next level, but once he decided to go to Navy I decided to open it back up,” explained Staten.
After Staten had a few conversations with WVU coaches Bob Huggins and Larry Harrison he knew his future would be in Morgantown.
“He definitely knows what it takes to make it to the next level,” said Staten. “He plays a nice style of basketball that played at Cincinnati, which is an up-tempo pace. While he was recruiting me he was letting me know that I was the kind of player he wants to bring to West Virginia.”
The reason for that is because Huggins wants to continue and use an up-tempo style of play. That’s something Staten feels very comfortable with. That’s also the style of play Huggins feels will bring a National Championship to Morgantown. Winning a championship was a big topic of conversation when Huggins talked to the sophomore point guard.
“That’s one of the things he let me know when I first talked to him,” said Staten. “He let me know that he wanted to win a National Championship and he was bringing in players he thought could help him win a National Championship. He told me I was a player that he could see helping them to a National Championship. I told him I definitely want to win a National Championship.”
Staten understands the team is going to go through a big transition this year because only three players from last year’s squad are returning and the West Virginia has no more player from the John Beilein era.
“He talked about how he felt the team would do and how he felt changing the program to a more up-tempo team that could potentially bring a National Championship title to West Virginia,” said an excited Staten. “He says he played more up-tempo when they went to the Final Four and he played up-tempo when he coached at Cincinnati. He feels that playing that way will be the way they can achieve a National Championship”
Stetan will be in Morgantown for good on the final weekend in June. He will have to sit out a season because of NCAA transfer rules and will have three years of eligibility. He says he can’t wait to get to know the players and help WVU get back to the Final Four.
“I want them to know that I’m going to be there for the team.”
