Who is Expected to Return to West Virginia in 2023-24?

West Virginia made its return to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year absence, but they didn't hang around very long, falling to the Maryland Terrapins in the first round, 67-65.

Now that the season is officially over, we take a quick look into the future at what this team *could* look like next year.

Leaving: Emmitt Matthews Jr., Erik Stevenson, and Kedrian Johnson.

Each of these three guys has exhausted their eligibility and will now turn to seek out opportunities in professional ball be it in the G-League or overseas somewhere.

Matthews played a big part in West Virginia's late-season turnaround by shooting out of his slump offensively and doing a fine job guarding the opposing team's best player just about every game. His leadership will be missed.

Kedrian's speed and on-ball defense are going to be difficult to replace, but his offense shouldn't be overlooked. He improved significantly on that end of the floor this year, especially in his ability to attack the basket and finish through contact.

Stevenson's shot-making is going to be sorely missed. When WVU's offense stalled out, they had to lean on Stevenson to bail them out. Now, they need someone to step up into that role and knock down tough shots consistently. Seth Wilson could be that guy.

Seniors with eligibility remaining: Jimmy Bell Jr., Tre Mitchell, Jose Perez, Joe Toussaint

Jimmy Bell played extremely well early on, but the wear and tear of the Big 12 took a toll on him. Although he may not fill up the stat sheet, he does give quality minutes but it comes in spurts. WVU needs another big to come into the fold next season to take some of that burden off of his shoulders, allowing him to play at a higher level when he's on the floor.

As crazy as it may sound, this was a development year for Tre Mitchell and Joe Toussaint. It was their first year in the system and they were each asked to do things they weren't asked to do at the previous schools. Next season, they will be a major determining factor in how the year goes. They will be the leaders.

And for Jose Perez, you're getting a kid who is chomping at the bit to get back out there and play competitive basketball. He can score it in all three levels and can make up for Keddy's offense in terms of attacking the rim. Sitting out and watching this season may have done him a lot of good.

Other returners: Kobe Johnson, Seth Wilson, Josiah Davis, Josiah Harris, Jamel King, Pat Suemnick, James Okonkwo, and Mohamed Wague.

Of this group, I would expect Seth Wilson to make the biggest jump in terms of offensive production. He's earned Huggins' trust and has proven that he can make shots and potentially be a go-to scorer. Both Josiahs will be more involved and are two guys that Huggins is very excited about.

Transfer portal: Who knows?

Any of the guys listed above could enter the portal this offseason if they are unhappy with their role or how they fit into the team moving forward. Huggins and his staff have already been actively reaching out to players in the portal with many of those guys coming in the frontcourt. They've reached out to a couple of guards, but it seems like they are looking to add another big man in one way or another.

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