Morgantown, West Virginia – It’s a very, very good time to be a West Virginia Mountaineers fan! Bob Huggins and Neal Brown are two of the finest coaches in their respective sports and the sky’s the limit for both programs in the coming years.
There are many reasons to be excited about West Virginia sports, but none greater than all of the tremendous young talent that are current and future Mountaineers. Here’s our list of the ten most exciting young Mountaineers ranked:
10. Zach Frazier, Offensive Lineman, WVU Football – It’s hard to get excited about offensive linemen, but Fairmont, West Virginia native Zach Frazier is already one of the best in the Big 12 Conference and he’s only a sophomore.
Frazier played in all ten of the Mountaineers games last season and was named to Phil Steele’s All Big 12’s fourth team. Expect huge things from the West Virginia running game this season anchored by Frazier!
9. Seth Wilson, Guard, WVU Basketball – Although relatively under the radar out of high school, Wilson will become a real fan favorite for the Mountaineers very soon. He’s thick, built like a tank, and can shoot the lights out. It’s possible that he could redshirt for the upcoming season, but he may also be forced to play major minutes if/when Deuce McBride turns pro.
Bob Huggins on Wilson: “Seth is an outstanding shooter, who comes from a high school with great basketball tradition that has produced many high-level Division I players. He gives us great versatility and can play at point guard or move to the wing with his shooting ability. Seth will be a great asset to our backcourt.”
8. Wyatt Milum, Offensive Lineman, WVU Football – 6’6 300 pound Milum was a four star player out of Spring Valley High School in Spring Valley, West Virginia, was a high school All-American, as well the #1 ranked right tackle and top ten tackle overall in the nation. Milum has a huge future in Morgantown and will likely one day play in the NFL.
7. Kaden Prather, Wide Receiver, WVU Football – Prather is a 6’3 210 pound wide receiver who could see immediate playing time as a freshman this season. Prather, a four star recruit out of Germantown, Maryland, is a strong and physical wide receiver who Neal Brown has gushed during the summer.
6. Garrett Greene, Quarterback, WVU Football – In limited time last season, Greene was 3/4 with 24 passing yards. This season, Greene will likely see more action in obvious rushing situations and when starter Jarret Doege is struggling. Garrett Greene is a real leader and has all the tools to be a star for the Mountaineers if he’s called on this season.
5. Isaiah Cottrell, Forward, WVU Basketball – Although Cottrell suffered a devastating injury ten games into the season last year, he showed flashes of real brilliance and potential. Bob Huggins, who calls Cottrell his “most skilled big man on the team”, recently said he expects Cottrell to be “full go” for the start of the season.
4. Winston Wright, Jr., Wide Receiver, WVU Football – Wright, who has three full years of eligibility remaining, had 47 receptions for 553 yards and 2 touchdowns last season. Wright has the potential to reach the end zone every time he touches the ball.
3. Akheem Messidor, Defensive Lineman, WVU Football – Messidor absolutely dominated in his freshman season with the Mountaineers, accounting for 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks. Messidor was selected to the second team All-American team by The Athletic last season.
2. Nicco Marchiol, Quarterback, WVU Football – At just 17 years old, Marchiol has the potential to be the starting quarterback for the Mountaineers the day he steps on campus in Morgantown. He’s that good.
1. Jalen Bridges, Forward, WVU Basketball – As a redshirt freshman last season, Bridges averaged 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, but showed that he was capable of so much more. Bridges will be expected to take on a leadership role in the upcoming season and he’s absolutely ready for the challenge. There is no more exciting athlete at WVU right now than the West Virginia born and bred Jalen Bridges!
