MORGANTOWN — The WVU men’s basketball team got a critical part of its front court cleared by the NCAA on Monday, as transfer forwards Emmitt Matthews Jr. and Tre Mitchell got the O.K. to play this season.
Both players received waivers for immediate eligibility, which was needed, because both players had transferred for a second time.
The NCAA allows athletes a one-time transfer without penalty. Transferring a second time — unless an athlete has earned his degree — and receiving immediate eligibility can only come with a waiver from the NCAA.
Both Matthews and Mitchell had already used their free transfer.
Matthews spent three seasons at WVU until he transferred last season to play at Washington.
Mitchell played two seasons at UMass before transferring to Texas last season.
With both forwards in the mix, the Mountaineers now have a full 13 scholarship players eligible for next season.
Mitchell and Matthews will be counted on heavily for scoring and rebounding.
Mitchell averaged 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 24 games (17 starts) with the Longhorns last season. The 6-foot-9 Pittsburgh native shot 47.8% from the floor and added 15 3-pointers.
In his two seasons at UMass, Mitchell scored 792 points in 44 games and was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year in 2020.
He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Matthews played in 92 games with the Mountaineers and started 67 times.
He averaged 11.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season at Washington, while shooting 43.4% from the floor and making 40 3-pointers.
Next season is Matthews’ final season of college eligibility.
The only remaining question for the WVU roster is the status of incoming freshman guard Josiah Davis, who played last season at Teays Valley Christian in Scott Depot and was recently named MVP of the annual North-South Basketball Classic in South Charleston.
Davis has signed his letter-of-intent at WVU, but has yet to enroll.
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