MORGANTOWN — West Virginia had some big offseason moves to make in terms of fixing the basketball roster and the first of those has occurred with a commitment from graduate transfer guard Erik Stevenson.
Stevenson, at 6-foot-4, has one year of eligibility remaining and spent this past season at South Carolina. He started all 31 games for the Gamecocks, emerging as a team leader while averaging 11.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He shot 37% from the floor, 33% from deep and 98% from the foul-line, serving as a tough-nosed veteran guard that has had success at the Power Five level.
Stevenson started his career at Wichita State, where he actually scored 22 points against the Mountaineers in a game during the 2019-20 season. After two seasons there, Stevenson then played at Washington for a year before suiting up for South Carolina this past campaign.
The Washington native played for Frank Martin, a former assistant of WVU coach Bob Huggins, and brings a veteran presence with success at the power five level to the backcourt. He possesses good size and his time spent at high majors should make the transition to the Big 12 much smoother.
Also, a strong defender, Stevenson fits the mold of what Huggins wants out of his guards in terms of that end of the floor as well as attacking the glass.
Among the schools that had made contact with Stevenson after entering the transfer portal were Auburn, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Clemson and Creighton, among others. That signifies the high interest level that programs had in adding the guard.
WVU was able to get an official visit during the March 25 weekend and that trip pushed the program to the top of his list. While he had considered a visit to Auburn, Stevenson made the call and gave Huggins his pledge to spend his final season hoping to rebuild the Mountaineers program.
This becomes the fifth commitment for West Virginia in the 2022 class joining River Grove (Ill.) Triton College forward Patrick Suemnick, Scott Depot Teays Valley Christian School guard Josiah Davis, Cleveland (Ohio) Richmond Heights forward Josiah Harris and Northern Oklahoma College center Fede Federiko. The Mountaineers still hold at least three open scholarships to fill for the time being.
Stevenson is the first transfer addition by WVU this offseason but the Mountaineers have been active in their pursuit of the portal. WVU is looking to turn things around after a 16-17 campaign with most of the roster from that team not returning next year.
Currently outside the five recruiting additions, the Mountaineers will return only senior guard Kedrian Johnson and four players that were true freshmen last season in forward James Okonkwo, guard Kobe Johnson, guard Seth Wilson and forward Jamel King.
The addition of Stevenson is a strong start for a program looking to turn things around in a hurry.
By KEENAN CUMMINGS
