The West Virginia Mountaineers basketball team put together a strong offseason on the recruiting trail, both in the transfer portal as well as at the high school level. And one addition that has been going under-the-radar is incoming freshman and West Virginia native Max Olejasz.
Olejasz joins the Mountaineers after finishing a strong career with Wheeling Central Catholic at the prep level, where he played a pivotal role for a championship-winning program – so he knows what it takes to be successful on the hardwood.
Freshamn forward Max Olejasz impresses Ross Hodge during summer workouts
But it also makes sense he has gone mostly undisclosed this far. He's a true freshman, which makes it exponentially harder to make an impact, and is expected to fill a role on the roster akin to a walk-on (though the days of a "walk-on" being a thing are past us). But on Thursday, head coach Ross Hodge had some lofty praise to offer praise for Olejasz after he has spent just one summer inside the program.
"Max has been awesome, he's been a great teammate," Hodge said. "He's not afraid, which think is always a really strong attribute to have as a young player. His heart's rooted in doing whatever he can to help us win."
Ross Hodge on the addition of Wheeling Central Catholic graduate Max Olejasz to the WVU roster:#wvprepbb pic.twitter.com/g50zISjPLt
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) July 30, 2026
He also shared a fun moment for Olejasz this summer which put him at the center of attention among the team, and that may offer a glimpse into what he could offer once he finally does make it onto the floor.
"His probably biggest moment of the summer was, when it's your birthday you get to take a half-court shot, and if you make it the team gets to go eat dinner wherever they want," Hodge said. "He was the only person that made his birthday shot this summer, so he was definitely a team favorite and a fan favorite for that one."
What does Max Olejasz spot in the lineup look like after Javan Buchanan news?
And who knows? While Olejasz isn't expected to play much of a role this year, we also discovered that Javan Buchanan, an expected starter or key rotational piece, had his eligibility waiver denied and will have to seek legal recourse to be able to play. And for those hoping for a Brenen Lorient return, such legal intervention will also be required.
And as a forward with a 6-foot-7 frame and a potential gaping hole at his position in the courts don't go in West Virginia's favor, it's possible his fearless attitude earns him a spot on the floor this season before things are said and done.
It's unlikely that he finds his way into the starting rotation, but if he gets minutes in early non-conference action and impresses, it's possible the Mountaineers could have a freshman phenom at hand.
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