WVU Basketball: Bob Huggins’ Budding Star

The WVU men’s basketball team is in the Sweet Sixteen thanks to contributions from a handful of players. One particular sophomore  is quietly elevating his game, and the timing couldn’t be better for the Mountaineers.

Since returning to the starting lineup in the Big 12 Tournament, Esa Ahmad is averaging 12.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3 assists per contest (four games; Kansas State, Iowa State, Bucknell, Notre Dame). His averages on the season aren’t bad (11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists), but he’s elevated his play since returning and given the ‘Eers a much-needed boost. He’s shooting exactly 50 percent from the field (15-for-30) and has gone 11-for-13 from the free throw line in the tournament. He’s grabbed eight offensive rebounds during this span, too.

This version of Ahmad is exactly who Huggins recruited to West Virginia. As a 4-star recruit (247sports), Ahmad was a top-5 player from Ohio with 21 scholarship offers. Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State, Oregon – these were all schools vying for Ahmad’s talents; he chose the ‘Eers.

Ahmad was a two-time Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com Player of the Year, thanks to some incredible box scores. As a junior, he averaged 26.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals per game. His averages dipped as a senior, but he still scored 23.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.6 steals per game. He led Shaker Heights to a Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division and a regional final appearance his senior year.

More from WVU Basketball

• Every West Virginia potential March Madness venue in 2023 NCAA Tournament
• West Virginia March Madness Schedule: When do the Mountaineers play next? (Updated March 12)
• West Virginia vs. Kansas prediction and odds for Saturday, February 25 (Take Mountaineers as underdogs)
• Previewing WVU basketball against Oklahoma State
• WVU vs Iowa State player of the game: Taz Sherman

During his freshman campaign at WVU, Ahmad started in all 34 games. He only averaged 4.9 points in his 18 minutes per game, but it was obvious he had potential to grow. In the ‘Eers round of 64 loss to Stephen F. Austin, Ahmad played his best offensive game of the season. He shot 3-of-4 from the field and was a perfect 2-for-2 from deep. He only pulled down three rebounds, but rejected two shots and dished an assist. It wasn’t an overpowering performance by any stretch, but it gave the Mountaineers a glimmer of hope after what was a terrible first round tournament loss.

A match-up with the No. 1 seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament seems like a perfect time for Ahmad to “arrive.” You know what I mean when I say that. A player “arrives” when they have that break-out game, that signature play that makes you say, “This kid is for real.” It could happen against Gonzaga. (I hope it happens against Gonzaga). We’ll find out Thursday at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA, for the 7:39 p.m. tip-off. The game will be televised on TBS.