MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — One month from now, West Virginia Men’s Basketball will officially be back on the floor.
The Mountaineers open the 2026-27 season November 2 against Niagara at the Coliseum, and while the season is still a month away, the new-look roster is already starting to take shape.
This is a team with plenty of new faces, but also plenty of talent. Read more: One month out: WVU Men’s Basketball has plenty of new pieces, but plenty of talent too.
And that might be the biggest reason to be excited about what Ross Hodge’s second season in Morgantown could look like.
The obvious name is freshman guard Miles Sadler.
Sadler is a five-star recruit, a top-five point guard and a top-20 overall recruit in the 2026 class. According to 247Sports, he is the highest-rated recruit to ever sign with West Virginia. The 6’0 guard comes to Morgantown after playing at Bella Vista Prep in Arizona, where he averaged 18.5 points, 5.7 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game.
For a program that has had its share of talented guards, having a player with that kind of pedigree gives Mountaineer fans a reason to pay attention.
But the question is not just how good Sadler can be.
It is how quickly he can mesh with everyone else.
A new group learning how to play together
Hodge said following the team’s first official day of practice in September that this roster has a “great blend of youthful excitement” and experienced players.
That combination could be important for a team that has undergone plenty of change.
The younger players have experienced players around them who can help them adjust, while the veterans are still learning how to play with a group that looks much different than last year’s team.
Hodge specifically pointed to Sadler’s ability to take coaching as one of the things that has stood out to him.
“He’s been gifted with a lot of talent,” Hodge said. “But his willingness to be coached and not walk around like he has all the answers is what allows those guys to get better quickly.”
That could be a big part of the early season.
West Virginia has plenty of players who can make plays, but finding the right combinations and figuring out who fits where will take time.
Joson Sanon is another name to watch after transferring from St. John’s, while players such as Utah transfer Seydou Traore, Butler transfer Finley Bizjack and Georgia Tech transfer Mouhamed Sylla could all take another step forward.
Hodge already sees Traore and Sanon as two players capable of being among the best defenders in the Big 12. He pointed specifically to Traore’s ability to defend former Mountaineer Honor Huff last season despite the size difference.
That defensive versatility could become one of the team’s biggest strengths.
West Virginia also has more size and athleticism around the rim. Hodge mentioned Amadou Seini, Aliou Dioum, and Sylla as players who can provide more vertical threats, while Brenen Lorient gives the team another high-level athlete on the wing.
Lorient’s return adds another piece
Then there is Lorient.
The Mountaineers getting him back is a major part of what makes this roster different.
Lorient and Boise State transfer Javan Buchanan have been able to fully participate in practice while their eligibility situations have played out. Hodge said that has allowed both players to stay integrated with the team rather than having to sit out of practices while waiting on the legal process.
With Lorient now cleared to compete, West Virginia has another experienced player who can impact the game on both ends of the floor.
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That matters even more for a team with so many new pieces.
There is also plenty of shooting on the roster, but finding the guy who becomes the team’s go-to shooter will be something to watch.
Losing Honor Huff leaves a major hole from behind the three-point line, and while West Virginia has several players who can knock down shots, someone will have to step into that role.
Hodge said the team has multiple ways to create offense, with Florida State transfer Martin Somerville and Bizjack capable of handling the ball and Lorient and Buchanan able to serve as secondary playmakers.
That versatility could allow West Virginia to play in different ways depending on the matchup.
Las Vegas will provide an early test
The first real measuring stick could come quickly.
West Virginia will head to Las Vegas for the Players Era 8, where it will open against Auburn on November 17. The winner will face either Kansas or UNLV the following day.
That gives the Mountaineers a chance to see where they stand against high-level competition before Big 12 play begins.
For a team still figuring out how all of its pieces fit together, that could be an important stretch.
Hodge has emphasized building habits and getting the team to a point where those habits hold up when the game speeds up.
And ultimately, that may be what determines how far this group can go.
There is no shortage of talent.
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There is a five-star freshman guard who is the highest-rated recruit in program history, experienced players returning and transfers who have the ability to make an immediate impact.
Now it is about turning all of those pieces into a team.
If West Virginia can buy into Hodge’s system, defend, force turnovers, and play together, there is a lot to like about what this group could become.
But with one month left, there are still plenty of questions to answer.
And that is what makes the wait for November 2 that much more interesting.
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