Things are setting up to be a big weekend of recruiting for Darian DeVries and the WVU men’s basketball coaching staff. 

According to Dante J Furco of FOX Illinois, West Virginia will be hosting Illinois transfers Amani Hansberry and Sencire Harris on an official visit over the next couple of days. Obviously, the connection here is the relationship with associate head coach Chester Frazier, who recruited the two out of high school and coached them at Illinois.

Hansberry, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward from Baltimore, Maryland, appeared in 19 games as a true freshman this past season and averaged 2.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 7.4 minutes per game. Coming out of Mount Saint Joseph High School, Hansberry was considered a consensus four-star recruit and held offers from Boston College, LSU, Mississippi State, Miami, NC State, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and the past staff at West Virginia. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Harris was a part of the 2022 recruiting class and appeared in 33 games (7 starts) as a true freshman. He averaged 3.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game while shooting 43% from the field and 31% from three. This past season, head coach Brad Underwood decided to redshirt the 6-foot-4 guard. Coming out of St. Vincent-St.Mary High School in Akron – yes, LeBron James’ high school – Harris held offers from Illinois, Maryland, Xavier, and several others. He, too, was rated a four-star prospect. Harris will also have three years of eligibility left.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU held its first campus conversation Thursday in preparation for the implementation of the Campus Self Defense Act on July 1.

WVU Associate Vice President Travis Mollohan said during the online event the rule, approved last week by the WVU Board of Governors, will apply to all WVU campuses throughout the state. The rule directs the campus community to resources, describes exception areas where weapons or deadly objects are never allowed, and outlines potential actions that can be taken against those who violate the provisions.

“Our campus here in Morgantown, both the Downtown and Evansdale campuses,  applies to Beckley and Keyser campuses, as well as our Health Sciences campuses in Charleston, Martinsburg, and Bridgeport,” Mollohan said.

The financial impact on the university is expected to be about $1 million. The BOG has approved the sale of a little more than 4.5 acres near the University Police Department to meet some of that obligation.

“Being mobile (metal detectors), we can move them between facilities; that’s a cost-saving measure. Also, about $500,000 for the storage lockers that are in the process of being built and designed,” Mollohan said.

WVU Dean of Students Corey Farris said students living in dorms that wish to have concealed carry weapons will have access to secure storage lockers at either Brooke Tower or Summit Hall. Those students who wish to conceal carry will have to pay a fee to be determined for the use of the lockers.

“We will be sending notification emails to our students with housing contracts for next year with information on how they will log in and sign up for a locker,” Farris said.

WVU Deputy Legal Counsel Kevin Cimino said some venues or areas can become temporary exception areas after the measure goes into effect. The rules allow areas hosting a primary, secondary school, or private function to become exceptions for the period of the event when adequate notice is provided. Areas with enough security to ensure weapons and deadly objects “cannot be carried by the public into area” are also included.

“An example of something that fits that category is Fall Fest. It takes place on the field in front of The Towers; it’s not a stadium or arena, so it doesn’t specifically meet the exemption above, but the public entrances fit the definition because they are equipped with electronic equipment and armed personnel,” Cimino said.

Officials are also working on color-coded online maps that help people understand what is campus property, what is not, and where established exception areas are to include “sole occupancy” designations.

“We’ll have a link that will take you to the specific rooms that have been identified and are exempted from the act,” Cimino said. “We’re in the process of fine-tuning that right now, and it will be available in the near future.”

That law, approved by state lawmakers in the 2023 session and signed into law by Gov. Jim Justice, allows a person, with a valid license, to carry a gun concealed on college campuses with some exceptions.

West Virginia becomes one of 10 other states in the country to enact the policy.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., wants to become West Virginia’s next U.S. Senator.

Mooney is among major candidates vying to replace U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who announced last year he would not seek re-election.

Mooney, a five-term congressman, chatted Thursday with WSAZ NewsChannel 3′s Curtis Johnson in Charleston.

“I believe in fighting for your freedoms,” he told WSAZ. “They’re under attack. You know, in my 10 years in Congress, I’ve seen the Democrats try to tell you what you can think, what you can read, what kind of medicines you got to put in your body. I believe you have a freedom to choose that.”

“What would you do if elected?” Johnson asked. “What are your priorities?”

“Well, I want to continue to keep taxes low, cut regulation, cut spending,” he replied. “We need a balanced budget desperately in the U.S. Senate. We’re very far from that, and so we need senators with the courage to vote against out of control spending, and I offer that option.”

“When you look at the country overall, what needs to change?” Johnson inquired.

“Well, I think we need to restore our American values, our founding principles of hard work, personal responsibility, supporting patriotism, supporting your country, restoring our faith,” he replied. “I think it’s more like returning to our roots.”

Mooney continued that thought when Johnson asked for his perspective on the country’s biggest issues.

“The ability to decide your life for yourself versus having someone dictate to you and the freedoms that are involved with that,” he said. “I do think the pro-life issue is an important issue just the right to have life from the moment of conception to natural death.”

To that end, Mooney promised conservative judges — judicial confirmations, a role only given to the U.S. Senate.

“How would you keep West Virginia at the front of the decisions you make in Congress?” Johnson asked.

“West Virginia has beautiful natural resources, oil and gas and coal, and we have hard working taxpayers in the state,” he replied. “It’s a great place to come and open a business. So, first we allow all those fight for coal.

“So, that’s one big issue. We have manufacturing here, chemical and other manufacturing plants that provide good-paying jobs for people, and so I believe in that. We’ve got to support our police so we can keep crime down and make sure West Virginia continues to be a great place to raise your family,” he continued.

“What sets you apart as senator?” Johnson inquired.

“When you look at issue after issue, I’m the only conservative running,” he answered as he touted endorsements from U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Mike Lee.

“The establishment recruited my opponent,” he continued. “This is a clear choice between what type of U.S. senator you want. Not all Republicans are the same. That’s important to know. Republicans are different. Some are actual conservatives; some are liberal Republicans that go along with the Democrats. I’m the conservative in this race.”

Among major candidates, Mooney seeks the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in a race against West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice.

WSAZ has reached out to the Justice campaign for an interview. Our request was declined.

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