Gilbert is the definition of upside. He is explosive, ridiculously athletic for his size, can protect the rim, and has shown flashes of becoming a legitimate stretch forward. West Virginia fans are going to lose their minds once the dunk clips start circulating because the kid moves differently than most players his size. Calling him a “freak of nature” honestly might not even be overselling it.
Before his 2025-26 season at Concord was unfortunately cut short due to injury, Gilbert was putting together a breakout campaign. In just 14 games, he averaged 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting a ridiculous 48 percent from three point range. For a player with his frame and athletic profile, those shooting numbers immediately jump off the page.
The scary part? He is still developing.
Even during the 2024-25 season, Gilbert already showed he was one of the top freshmen in the entire Mountain East Conference. He averaged 9.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from three. Those are extremely impressive numbers for a young forward adjusting to the college game, especially considering the raw athletic tools he brings to the table.
This is exactly the kind of late roster addition that could end up becoming a massive steal if it works out.
Ross Hodge and his staff have absolutely attacked this offseason from every angle. They have prioritized length, athleticism, versatility, and upside across the board, and Gilbert would fit that blueprint perfectly. West Virginia has already assembled one of the most exciting offseason hauls in the country through both the transfer portal and high school recruiting. Our source indicates that Gilbert has already been on campus at West Virginia University for a visit and has visited several other schools, including Pitt, so they may have a bit of a battle on their hands if they want to make him a Mountaineer.
The transfer portal additions include former five star guard Joson Sanon from St. John’s, Finley Bizjack from Butler, Mouhamed Sylla from Georgia Tech, Seydou Traore from Utah, Martin Somerville from Florida State and Javan Buchanan from Boise State.
Then you add in an incoming freshman class that includes five star point guard Miles Sadler, four star big man Aliou Dioum, four star 7’1 center Amadou Seini and four star guard Keonte Greybear, and now potentially another high upside developmental piece in Gilbert, and suddenly this roster starts looking loaded with athleticism and long term potential.
There is still work to do before anything becomes official, but the fit makes a ton of sense. West Virginia needed another versatile forward who could provide depth, energy, rim protection, and athleticism while also offering developmental upside. Gilbert checks every single one of those boxes.
And if the shooting continues to develop? Watch out.
Because there are not many 6-foot-8 forwards walking around with this kind of explosiveness, shot blocking ability, and perimeter touch. That is why WVU appears interested, and honestly, it is easy to see why fans are already getting excited about the possibility.
8 Comments
Comments are closed.