West Virginia men's basketball has produced a number of high-level players over the years who have made an impressive mark on the program. One of those men is Joe Alexander, who made a quick impact in Morgantown while playing for the Mountaineers from 2005-2008.
Alexander garnered numerous accolades on the court during his time at WVU, but his impact on people extended beyond the court. He was always obsessed not only with the goal of reaching the NBA, but also fell in love with the process of improving behind the scenes. Which, more times than not, will lead to success in any field if you're willing to put the time and effort into your craft.
Alexander was a first-team All-Big East selection in college, was an NBA lottery pick, and most recently a 3-time Israeli Cup champion while playing internationally. Alexander appeared on the Nerdz Enigma podcast with HailWV Contributor Josh Petry, where he credited his upbringing overseas, with his dad traveling for Nestle, as something that shaped him as an athlete.
But growing up overseas also kept Alexander out of the loop with basketball in the States. When ESPN voted him one of the best coming out of the West Region in the NCAA Tournament alongside a name like Kevin Love, he didn't even recognize quite what an honor it was to be named alongside Love.
"I didn't even know who Kevin Love was; I had never heard of him," Alexander said.
In 2008, Alexander took a gamble on himself by signing with an agent before the NBA Draft, thereby forgoing his last year of eligibility. Initially, Bob Huggins and Jerry West advised him to wait and stay in school. Then, Alexander would undergo a workout that propelled him up the charts from a late first-round pick to the lottery. Jerry West changed his tune and told Alexander that it was time to go.
After a professional career that spanned over a decade from the NBA to overseas basketball, Alexander has now turned his focus to helping young athletes reach the next level. Alexander loved the science behind the grind of becoming a better basketball player, and now wants to pass that knowledge and mindset along to the youth of today.
"5 years from now, I want some kid to say, 'Yeah, I made the NBA because of what Joe taught me,'" Alexander said.