West Virginia Basketball 2025–2026 Season Preview: Projected starting lineup, impact players and rotation

West Virginia enters the 2025-26 college basketball season under a new system — its third consecutive coaching change in as many seasons — and with a hope to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023.

New coach Ross Hodge picked eight players from the transfer portal and recruited two high school standouts during the offseason to form a competitive team for the 2025-26 campaign.

Here's a closer look at West Virginia's roster this season.

West Virginia basketball preview for 2025-26

Treysen Eaglestaff (Image Source: IMAGN)

Starting lineup

Guard: Honor Huff

Honor Huff played for three seasons with VMI and Chattanooga and averaged 14.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The 5-10 guard will bring in his playmaking skills and 3-point shooting prowess for the Mountaineers.

Huff made 3.4 3-pointers for the Mocs last season en route to a 41.6% shooting from long range and 42.4% overall.

Guard: Chance Moore

Chance Moore had a great 2024-25 season for St. Bonaventure, producing career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and field goal percentage. The 6-6 incoming senior posted 13.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.3 spg and made 46.3% of his field goal attempts.

Moore, however, needs to improve on his 3-point and free-throw shooting to be a dual-threat for West Virginia this season.

Wing: Treysen Eaglestaff

Treysen Eaglestaff had a standout 2024-25 season for North Dakota, posting 18.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.8 minutes per game.

The 6-6 guard/forward shot 41.6% from the field and 35.9% from 3-point range last season. But he made 4.0 free throws for the Fighting Hawks, making him one of the top premier scorers in the nation.

Eaglestaff is expected to be the team's top offensive option this coming season and form a triumvirate with Chance Moore and Honor Huff in the backcourt.

Forward: Brenen Lorient

Brenen Lorient played his best season with the North Texas Mean Green, tallying 11.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.4 apg and 1.1 bpg, despite playing off the bench. The 6-9 Ocala, Florida, native had his best shooting clip, making 56.9% of his shots from the field, and was a decent free-throw shooter at 72.1%.

Lorient brings in the frontline talent West Virginia needs this season, as they'll be facing stiff competition from tall and well-experienced forwards in the Big 12 Conference.

Center: Harlan Obioha

Harlan Obioha is coming off a good season at UNC Wilmington, where he averaged 9.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 1.2 bpg in 20.1 minutes per outing.

The 7-foot center dominated the post, shooting 63.9% from the field. He was a decent free-throw shooter at 62.4%

Obioha will bring his ability to finish from the shaded area, as he's expected to receive quick inside passes from Honor Huff and Treysen Eaglestaff when they're trapped by opposing defenses.

Rotation players

West Virginia will likely use guard Jasper Floyd as its sixth man. Last season, Floyd averaged 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game for North Texas.

Troy transfer forward Jackson Fields and former South Carolina guard Morris Ogusuk will provide extra bodies for West Virginia as relievers to spell out the starters in need of rest.

Finally, four-star freshmen small forward Jayden Forsythe and three-star power forward DeAndre Thomas bring in their athleticism and excitement to play in higher-level basketball.

Impact players

Treysen Eaglestaff will be the primary offensive weapon for Ross Hodge's West Virginia team. The 6-6 wing hopes to carry his scoring wizardry to the Mountaineers, who started from scratch after Darian DeVries departed to become the new coach of Indiana.

Eaglestaff will have solid backups in Honor Huff, Chance Moore and Brenen Lorient. Huff will provide the playmaking and shooting West Virginia needed to spread the offense, while Moore and Lorient are expected to produce inside the paint.

Freshman Jayden Forsythe and senior center Harlan Obioha will be given opportunities to help the Mountaineers excel in the Big 12 Conference and possibly gain their first NCAA Tournament berth in two years.