MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — After an injury-plagued season that saw Sagaba Konate play just eight games with West Virginia, the 6-foot-8 forward made his departure from the school official Tuesday.
Through a text message, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said it was his understanding that Konate would remain in the 2019 draft and forgo his senior season at WVU.
The move comes with little surprise. Huggins told The Dominion Post in April he believed Konate’s intentions were to remain in the draft.
“I think he’s gone,” Huggins said. “He hasn’t told me that 100 percent, but I think he’s gone.”
Konate faced a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to either withdraw or return to school. He first entered his name into the draft pool on April 21 and then hired BDA Sports Management to represent him.
The draft is set for June 20 at Brooklyn’s Barclay Center. The two-round draft will consist of 60 selections, with only first-round picks receiving guaranteed contracts.
He is rated the No. 88 draft prospect by ESPN and the No. 97 prospect by Sports Illustrated and Konate was not invited to the NBA Combine two weeks ago after participating in the G League Elite Camp.
Konate’s departure leaves the Mountaineers with three scholarship openings heading into the 2019-20 season.
Huggins has already signed two incoming freshmen and two junior-college transfers in his 2019 recruiting class.
Konate set the school’s career record for blocked shots last season against Pitt on Dec. 8.
That was the final game he played, as a knee injury forced him to miss the final 27 games of the season.
In 81 career games, Konate blocked 191 shots, scored 650 points and grabbed 443 rebounds. He played in two Sweet 16 games and two Big 12 tournament championship games in his three seasons at WVU.
TWITTER @bigjax3211
