Money in th’ Ebanks

With many more bad puns to follow, 6′9″ power forward Devin Ebanks has signed on with the Mountaineer basketball program for the upcoming season. Ebanks was the nation’s top remaining unsigned prospect, and the Long Island native will suit up in the gold and blue next fall.

Indiana University’s loss was WVU’s gain, as Ebanks had originally signed with the Hoosiers but was released after the Kelvin Samson incident in Bloomington.

Ebanks’ late signing probably puts WVU in the top ten recruiting classes nationally. Bob Huggins was able to pillage the NYC metro area, inking Ebanks along with shooting guard Darryl “Truck” Bryant and forward Kevin Jones. West Virginia ultimately landed Ebanks over the University of Texas, conference mate Rutgers, and national runner-up Memphis.

What we watch for next is if this at all affects Joe Alexander’s decision to enter the NBA draft. If he returns, he will have legitimate frontcourt threats with Ebanks and Jones. It would be hard to keep any of those three forwards off the court very much. Take into account that Jamie Smalligan is the only player leaving out of the frontcourt and it seems that either somebody will lose some playing time or else WVU will run with a much bigger lineup next season. Even without Alexander, WVU will be in terrific shape in the frontcourt for hopefully at least a couple seasons with Ebanks, Jones, a developing Wellington Smith and a now veteran Da’Sean Butler.