Cover Illustration by Jim McCloskey
Morgantown, West Virginia – West Virginia Mountaineers men’s basketball has had many talented, outstanding players come through their program over the years, but to create a Mount Rushmore, the list had to be narrowed down to just four players.
These are the four players chosen as the most important players in the history of the program. All-time great lists of any kind should be debated, but one that features players from very different eras should provoke disagreement in particular. There will be glaring omissions and you are welcome to make your feelings known in the comments.
F Jerry West (1960) – 29.3 PPG, 16.5 RPG, 4.3 APG – The greatest basketball player in WVU history. Career leader in points with 2,309 (and accomplished without a 3 point line). Also, the all-time WVU leader in field goals made and most 20 point and 30 point games.
PG Jevon Carter (2018) – 17.3 PPG, 6.6 APG, 4.6 RPG, 3.0 SPG – Career steal leader (330), single-season steal leader (112), single-season assist leader (246), 4-time Big 12 All Defensive Team.
F Da’Sean Butler (2010) – 17.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.1 APG – 3rd all-time leading scorer in WVU history, most games started in a season with 38 and most minutes played in a season with 1,360.
F Kevin Pittsnogle (2006) – 19.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.2 APG – 2nd most 3PT field goals made in WVU history, 2nd all-time 3PT percentage (41.1%), 8th all-time in scoring with 1,708 points.
All-Time Greats That Didn’t Quite Make the List
G/F Rod “Hot Rod” Hundley (1956) – 26.6 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 3.4 APG – “Hot Rod” is 2nd all-time in points scored (2,180) and owns the record for single-game points for WVU with 54.
F Kevin Jones (2012) – 19.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 1.2 APG – Led 2010 team to the Final Four, most offensive rebounds in a season with 141, 1,822 points which is 5th all-time in WVU history.
G Will Robinson (1972) – 29.4 PPG, 2.5 APG, 4.0 RPG – A third-team All-American in 1972, Robinson averaged an all-time season high in points per game with 29.4.
G Greg Jones (1983) – 22.3 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.5 RPG – 6th all-time in career scoring (1,797), 10th all-time in FGs made, 7th all-time in career assists (122).
C Mark Workman (1952) – 23.1 PPG, 17.5 RPG, 1.3 APG – 1,553 career points, single-game record of field goals made with 22, 5th all-time with career scoring average (20.4 PPG).
G/F Rod Thorn (1962) – 23.7 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 4.1 APG – 7th all-time in scoring (1,785 points), 11th all-time in assists (304) and 7th all-time in rebounds with 912.
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— The Voice of Morgantown (@voicemorgantown) January 15, 2022
