When the head coach position for the WVU basketball program opened up earlier this year, fans were left with many questions. The top two being who will step up and lead the Mountaineers and what will their team look like?   

Ross Hodge was the answer to the first inquiry. He solved the second one on Friday when the team signed forward Evans Barning Jr.

With just one returner in redshirt freshman center Abraham Oyeadier, Hodge has filled the roster with four freshmen and nine transfers, two of which came with him from North Texas.

Predicting the Lineup

So what will the starting lineup shape up to be? This will include a common modern men’s basketball lineup consisting of four guards and a center.

The center position is an easy prediction, as senior center Harlan Obioha is a clear choice to hold down the front court. With a seven-foot, 280-pound frame, he is a force in the post through his physicality and efficiency at the rim.

Obioha averaged nine points with 6.2 rebounds per game last year at UNC Wilmington. He also tallied five double-doubles.

Aside from Obioha, Hodge has plenty of options.

Imagining the rest of the lineup consists of four guards, I predict the starting point guard to be senior Jasper Floyd.

Floyd is a player Hodge is familiar with, as he played for him at North Texas. He averaged nine points, four assists and three rebounds per game. With a team-high 48 steals last year, he was and still is a perfect fit for Hodge’s defensive approach.

While he knows how to find his teammates, tallying a 2.0 assist to turnover ratio last season, Floyd has shown up in big moments as a scorer. He averaged 15.7 points per game in the NIT last year, which included a game-winner over Arkansas State.

ARKANSAS STATE TIED IT BUT NORTH TEXAS WON IT. WHAT A FINISH IN DENTON! pic.twitter.com/v5KjEtbiTt

— NIT (@NITMBB) March 24, 2025

As for the two-guard, senior Honor Huff seems like the clear option. The three-point ace led the nation in threes last season with 131 and a 41.59 percentage from beyond the arc.

While a very good ball-handler, Huff’s greatest strength is his three-point shooting. Letting Floyd handle the ball and while designing plays for Huff to let it fly from three could provide a huge spark to the WVU offense.

Senior forward Treysen Eaglestaff would be a great option for the three spot. While he’s listed as a forward on the roster, his playing style is that of a guard.

Standing at 6-foot-6, 190 pounds, Eaglestaff moves very efficiently outside of the three-point line. He was used as a primary ball-handler at North Dakota with the ability to create his own shots, but he is also a very good catch-and-shoot three-point scorer.

Finally, my selection for the four spot in the starting lineup goes to fifth-year guard Chance Moore.

Moore is the type of player who screams Power 4 talent. He is explosive, strong and very efficient from the floor. He averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last year at St. Bonaventure.

His ability to attack the rim and rebound proficiency make him an ideal candidate for the four. Standing at 6-foot-6, 210 pounds, Moore’s physicality will help him match up against forwards and play help-side in the post.

There is plenty of time for speculation ahead of WVU’s exhibition game against Wheeling on Oct. 26. The team’s first regular season game is against Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 4.

Find more coverage of the WVU Basketball team at WV Sports Now.