Throughout June and heading into the all-important July recruiting period, Jeff Goodman and Jeff Borzello will take a look at the summer checklists for the top 50 programs in college basketball, as revealed in Goodman's preseason ballot published in late May. Goodman and Borzello will show you each roster the way the coaches are looking at it, projecting graduation/NBA casualties and areas of need ahead of 2016-17. Below is the summer guide for the West Virginia Mountaineers.
An index and schedule for the Summer Recruiting Bible series is located here.
Scholarship chart
Seniors (2): PF Jonathan Holton, G Jaysean Paige
Juniors (5): PF Devin Williams, PF Nathan Adrian, PF Brandon Watkins, G Tarik Phillip, G Teyvon Myers
Sophomores (3): G Jevon Carter, PF Elijah Macon, G Daxter Miles Jr.
Freshmen (3): F Esa Ahmad, PF Lamont West, PG James Bolden
Possible early entry losses after next season: Devin Williams
Available scholarships for 2016: Two (maybe three)
Committed prospects for 2016 and beyond: None
Biggest needs for 2016-17: Big man and a wing with size
Must-haves: None
Targets: PF Edrice "Bam" Adebayo (ESPN No. 8, Team Loaded), SF Maverick Rowan (No. 30, Ohio Basketball Club), PF Romello White (No. 64, Stackhouse Elite), SF Jarron Cumberland (No. 77, King James), PF Maciej Bender (West Virginia Wildcats), PF Chris Baldwin (Mass Rivals)
Summer scenario
The key for the Mountaineers is whether Williams returns for his senior season. If he does, West Virginia will add one big man and also a wing with some size, which coach Bob Huggins' team is lacking. Both Holton and Paige are replaceable, and West Virginia will go after a few ranked guys -- and also some under-the-radar players. Rowan is likely to reclassify to the Class of 2015. Adebayo will be a tough get for the Mountaineers, so expect them to go after bigs White, Bender and Baldwin, and to go hard after the wing Cumberland. But there won't be a ton of negative implications if it winds up being a two-man class.