Mohamed Wague’s progress from soccer to hoops continues to grow at West Virginia

MORGANTOWN — The scouting report from Erik Martin came a year, or so, ago and it really wasn’t unique to any others from Martin when he was out on the road evaluating players.

Except this time the story was about Mohamed Wague, an athletic and agile 6-foot-10 forward, who was leading all junior colleges in offensive rebounds at Marcum (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) College at the time.

“He came back and said, ‘Huggs, you’ve got to go see him,’ ” Huggins begins the story. “I said, ‘How good is he?’ He said he didn’t know, but I had to go see him.”

WVU STATS

And that might be the thing with Wague, no one really knew how good he was or how good he could be.

Growing up in Bamako, Mali, Wague never really touched a basketball until five years ago, when he grew so much that he literally was too tall to play soccer.

He first came to the United States with the idea of developing his basketball skills. Wague helped Frederick Douglass Academy win the 2019 New York City public school championship, and then he spent a year at a prep school in Pennsylvania.

His game was further refined at Harcum. He led all junior colleges with 417 rebounds and was third in blocked shots.

“Every year was a step forward,” Wague said. “From high school to prep school to JUCO to here, every year I kept going up a little. I just kept working.”

As the Mountaineers (3-0) prepare to face Penn (1-3) at 7 p.m. Friday, Wague has already proved that he is more than a rebounder and shot blocker.

His offensive skills, too, have come into play.

“He’s by far our best finisher around the rim,” Huggins said. “It’s not even close.”

He’s shooting an amazing 14 of 16 from the field, good enough to average 10 points per game in his first season as a Division I player.

One of those missed shots was a missed lay-up after he stole the ball at midcourt and raced toward the rim against Pitt.

He had the same opportunity against Morehead State and finished it with a dunk.

“That was the first time I had that happen to me in losing the ball going to the basket,” Wague said. “It happens sometimes. You lose the ball out of nowhere.”

In just the short time it’s taken to get to know him, Wague’s teammates love his work ethic.

“Mo’s mobility is kind of second to none,” WVU forward Tre Mitchell said. “He’s running. He’s guarding the screens. He’s got a big step and no one is getting around that step.”

Huggins sees other things, details that may seem simple, but for a player with a limited basketball background, can make all the difference.

It was those details Huggins saw when he took Martin’s advice and made his way to Harcum to see Wague for himself.

“I was amazed with his agility initially,” Huggins said. “Then you see he can catch the ball. A lot of guys like that can’t catch. And then you see how he finishes around the goal.

“He’s got to get stronger, but that will come. I think his potential is great. It’s not good, it’s great. He’s just got to continue to work at things.”

Note

Manhattan transfer guard Jose Perez has enrolled at WVU for the spring semester, the school announced Thursday.

Perez averaged 18.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists last season, but entered the transfer portal on Oct. 25, after head coach Steve Masiello was fired.

Perez will be considered a walk-on this season, with his eligibility status for games and practices to be determined at a later date, the school said.

“Jose certainly gives us more fire power for our team,” Huggins said. “He’s a guy who can score the ball at different levels, he shoots the ball well, he drives it well and he scores it close. He’s another experienced guy who has played a lot of basketball. We think he will be a great fit.”

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