MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — For a second consecutive year, West Virginia forward Sagaba Konate has been invited to the NBA Combine and Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins believes it’s a signal that Konate has played his last collegiate game.
“I think he’s gone,” Huggins said Tuesday in an interview with The Dominion Post. “He hasn’t told me that 100 percent, but I think he’s gone.”
The NBA Combine, where prospects are measured and put through a number of drills and scrimmage games in front of NBA scouts and general managers, is scheduled for May 15-19 in Chicago.
The NBA Draft is set for June 20 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Konate first declared for the draft on April 21 and recently signed with BDA Sports Management.
While those moves did not officially close the door on Konate’s college career, WVU coaches have suspected that Konate’s intention was to move on to a professional career.
On April 24, WVU assistant coach Erik Martin tweeted a photo of himself and Konate, in which Martin said, “Goodbye my friend. I wish you the best of luck, and God’s blessings as you move on to the next phase of your life. If you ever need me you got my number. You will always be family. I love you man.”
Konate would leave West Virginia as the school’s all-time shot blocker with 191.
In 81 career games, Konate scored 650 career points and shot 50.9 percent from the field.
He declared for the draft after last season and participated in the combine, but ultimately decided to return for his junior season.
Konate had knee surgery after the combine and wasn’t at 100 percent entering his junior season.
He played in just eight games and missed the team’s final 27 games of the season. He averaged 13.6 points and 8.0 rebounds and shot 9 of 23 from 3-point range in those eight games.
With Konate’s departure, the Mountaineers have three open scholarships remaining.
WVU has already signed four recruits in its 2019 recruiting class.
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