The West Virginia Mountaineers basketball program will welcome a number of talented transfers into the fold and WVSports.com looks at each of those.
What are the opportunities for each this coming season and how do they fit into the picture with the basketball program?
We examine each.
2023-24 statistics: 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists
DeVries was one of the premier transfer options available this off-season after back-to-back Player of the Year honors in the Missouri Valley Conference. DeVries was in the top 35 of the country in usage and delivered, shooting 50 percent from two, 36.2 percent from three and 82.2 percent from the foul line. Those are strong numbers and his offensive rating of 109.9, which is a measure of offensive efficiency, indicates that.
He will unquestionably be one of the primary options for West Virginia this coming season and will be a major factor on the offensive end. Expect him at the four and while it will be a step up in competition, DeVries is more than ready for it. DeVries will be a starter and a critical part of any success the Mountaineers will have in year one.
2023-24 statistics: 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 44-percent from the field and 37-percent from three
Small is a proven point guard that has already experienced success in the Big 12 Conference. He possesses great size and is an effective and efficient scorer at all three levels. The talented guard can score off the bounce in the mid-range but excels shooting off the catch. He is difficult to guard and understands how to take good shots which is critical to his overall shooting percentages.
Small is a strong passer and is effective in pick and roll situations either scoring or distributing the basketball. He is a guard that is going to immediately upgrade the West Virginia backcourt as a point guard that can not only get his teammates involved but can be a major scoring option as well. He also could potentially play the two as well depending on the lineup giving the Mountaineers even more options by taking him off the ball to maximize what is on the floor at any given time.
For as much as DeVries is a critical piece, Small is every bit the same. Make no mistake about it the success Small has will dictate the success of this team.
2023-24 statistics: 11.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals
Okani is a strong presence on the defensive end and at 6-foot-8 has the length and athleticism that makes him an intriguing fit. But he has continued to improve his jump shot to go along displaying the ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim and finish. He is most comfortable in that area right now with 52-percent of his field goals coming at the rim and he is effective off ball screens.
Okani has continued to develop his overall offensive profile although he still needs to improve in some areas such as shooting off the bounce. Given his size, Okani is a plus passer with a 12-percent assist rate and gives the Mountaineers a valuable piece that can fit into the program as a seasoned option that plays with energy and effort on both ends. His presence is going to allow West Virginia to play DeVries at the four and he will provide a veteran that has a track record of success.
2023-24 statistics: 20.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 42-percent from the floor and 31-percent from three.
West Virginia needed somebody on the roster that can score the ball and Stone definitely fits that mold. He can create off the dribble and is a natural scorer that can put the ball in the basket. The graduate transfer has good size and also can effectively shoot the basketball across to space the floor.
While that total was only at 31-percent from three this past year, Stone shot 52-percent in 13 games the season before with the Titans when he was used more in a secondary role which is what he will be asked to do in Morgantown. Still, he is a scoring option that not only can generate his own points off the bounce but can play off the tandem of point guard Javon Small and wing Tucker DeVries in order to hit shots and help provide even more space for those two to operate on the court.
Stone also is an effective rebounder which makes him a strong fit for what head coach Darian DeVries wants to do especially on the defensive end of the floor to get out in transition. He will settle in as a two but could move around.
2023-24 statistics: 7.3 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 60-percent from the floor
This is an experienced option at the college level with four years under his belt and perhaps most importantly he has made improvement in each of those seasons. Andre possesses excellent size at the position and is active when it comes to rebounding on both ends of the floor as well as blocking shots.
Andre is a traditional big in the sense that he scores near the rim and has a nice mix of post moves on top of some plus athleticism to get there and finish. He isn’t going to be a primary scoring option, but can score the ball at the rim.
Over the past two years, Andre has shot 59.3-percent from the field and the left-hander gets solid positioning using his strength to finish.
Andre also is going to be effective as a screener and his ability to rebound the ball on the defensive end is a fit for what DeVries wants in order to prevent second chance opportunities. The big has played at least 21-minutes per game in each of the past two years at Fresno, but now is going to have to prove how he can hold up in the Big 12 Conference against more difficult competition.
2023-24 statistics: 6.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.8 assists and shot 35-percent from three
Yesufu is an experienced guard that has already played well in DeVries system when he was at Drake. The pairing is one that makes a lot of sense as he should be able to step in without any sort of adjustment and can provide help at the point guard spot next to what the program already has in the fold in Oklahoma State transfer Javon Small. The Mountaineers needed to find more help there and now have a pair of experienced options to go along with true freshman KJ Tenner at the one.
Yesufu played primarily point during his time with Drake but also has spent time at the two at Kansas, so he has the ability to move around if need be to get the best grouping on the floor. Yesufu is explosive with the ball and has been a solid spot up shooter throughout his career. He has hit 40-percent of his shots and 32-percent from three point-range during his time playing college basketball. The experienced guard also is very effective finishing in transition, which is a strong match for West Virginia.
Yesufu makes good decisions in ball screen situations and has displayed the ability to finish with plus athleticism for his size. He has played in a total of 119 games over the course of his career but started only 16 of those with 7 coming during his sophomore season at Drake and six last year at Washington State.
West Virginia needed to get a mature option in the backcourt and Yesufu is a strong match given the fact that he is a solid on-the-ball-defender and already understands the expectations set by DeVries. It doesn’t hurt matters that he played the best basketball of his career while with the Bulldogs.
2023-24 statistics: 2.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 45-percent from the floor.
Hansberry is a solidly built front court option and while his game isn’t necessarily above the rim, he is a crafty and skilled forward. He has plus mobility and vision which makes him a skilled passer, a good fit for what West Virginia wants out of their big men in Darian DeVries scheme.
While he saw limited action at Illinois given older, more experienced options in front of him, Hansberry did play hard when he was on the floor and was well-thought of in the program. He can rebound the ball and has the ability to finish with both hands at the rim. At West Virginia there will be more opportunities for him and while he is more in the build of a traditional four, he is likely to see minutes at the five, too.
2023-24 statistics: 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. He also shot 43-percent from the floor and 32-percent from three.
Known as defensive stopper, Harris fits the mold of what new head coach Darian DeVries wants given his plus size at 6-foot-4 and length. There were obvious ties given his connections to Chester Frazier as well, which will help with the transition to Morgantown as he begins the next chapter of his career.
Harris was able to see action in every game as a true freshman and even made seven starts but the biggest holdup for him was simply the need to fill out his frame and get stronger. That played a major role in his decision to redshirt this past season and now should be in a better position to handle that department.
During his time away from the floor, Harris bought into his improvement during the redshirt and his defense and toughness alone is going to help him find a role. The offensive side of his game needed to continue to improve along with his strength and that is something that was a focus as well. He will serve as a two guard.
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West Virginia residents may continue to see a rise in utility costs, according to a recent report by Move.org. The report ranks West Virginia as the state with the highest average utility bill, at $734 per month in 2025, surpassing the national average. Missouri and Alaska follow with $679 and $658, respectively. West Virginians are paying about $42 more per month compared to last year.
Delaney Eddy, state coordinator for West Virginia 211, a United Way helpline, noted the increased demand for utility assistance. “I can definitely tell you that the calls for utility assistance have definitely been high, that is one of our top needs that individuals call in for,” Eddy said. “We are seeing that individuals are needing assistance with that and have heard some individuals that have voiced that they have had an increase in their bills in the last couple of months for those utilities.”
The report also highlights that West Virginia residents face the highest water bill in the country, at $121 per month, well above the national average of $49. This increase may be due to a distribution improvement charge aimed at upgrading water quality.
Eddy encourages residents facing utility bill issues to reach out for help. “If people have questions about their utility bills and they have that termination notice, I would simply encourage them to dial 211 or they can text the zip code to 898211, speak with a call specialist and see what resources might be available to you,” Eddy said. “Also see if you might qualify for the dollar energy fund and we can provide that information to them and go from there to see about getting assistance on those bills.”
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John “Nolan” Hays
John “Nolan” Hays of Mineral Wells, West Virginia, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, at the age of 79.
Known as Nolan to his family and many of his friends, as John to most people he met while living in Mineral Wells or through business connections, none of these were as meaningful to him as his titles of Husband, Grandad, Father, Brother, Cousin, and Friend.
Born at home in Gilmer County, West Virginia, on July 31, 1946, to his loving parents, John Newton Hays and Floda “Irene” (Groves) Hays, Nolan had a happy childhood on his family farm where he learned by his parents’ example what was important in life, played with his dogs and work horses (Pat and Mike), and school friends, many of whom he remained close to throughout his long life. He often said that he couldn’t have had better parents, better friends, or a better childhood.
Nolan was the only child of his parents’ marriage and had four older sisters-Viona, Jean, Betty Joe, and Marge. He maintained close and loving relationships with each of them and with their families. Nolan’s friends from his time in Glenville and Mineral Wells also became like family to him, and he loved each of them deeply.
Nolan attended Glenville High School, where he graduated in 1964 as a varsity letterman in football, baseball, and basketball. His friends recall that he was an excellent athlete and a wonderful friend.
From Glenville High, he went on to study at Glenville State College, where he met his extraordinary wife, Patricia Ann Greer.
Nolan made what he would call the best decision of his life when he married his wife, Patricia, on May 4, 1968. Their marriage has been a beautiful example of true love to the family, and their devotion to one another was unparalleled. Nolan and Patricia cared tirelessly for each other and remained devoted through each of life’s triumphs and trials for the entirety of their 57 years of marriage.
Soon after marrying, Nolan enlisted in the United States Army Reserves. He remained proud of his service to his country.
Nolan and Patricia had two sons early in their marriage, Joe and Shawn, of whom he was immensely proud. He was a loving, proud, and devoted father who was actively involved in every aspect of his sons’ lives, providing them with yearly family trips, coaching their sports teams, and being a vocal spectator at their events. Some of his most cherished memories were golfing with his sons, and he often said that a game of golf with them was the best gift he could receive. Joe and Shawn loved, respected, and admired their father deeply and felt that they were the luckiest kids in the world to have him as a father.
Nolan was an equally devoted grandfather to his four adoring granddaughters-Morgan, Caroline, Samantha, and Aniston-who esteem him as the best Grandad who ever walked the earth. He will be remembered by his granddaughters as the smell of cigar smoke, a sunny day on a golf course; as someone who would have died for them, who loved his family fiercely; as the best-dressed man in the room, a master of dry humor, a talented golfer, a gifted storyteller, and one of their best friends.
Nolan had a long and fulfilling career in banking and business. Throughout his career, he worked at various banks and savings & loan establishments; he retired from Williamstown National Bank, where he was senior vice president and served on the board of directors. He was known to give people a chance, to give them the gift of their first home or their own business, when no one else would.
Aside from family and friends, Nolan’s greatest passion was golf. He spent countless hours golfing with friends and even played the legendary course at St. Andrews in Scotland, where he traveled with his wife Patricia and friends. Nolan also loved the beach, where he spent much of his time. He loved to travel, and saw much of the world.
At home, he could be found on the front porch on nice days (when not on the golf course), smoking a cigar and talking to the neighbors who passed by. On game days, he could be found watching the Mountaineers play in his chair on the back porch.
Nolan was amazingly generous, unfailingly brave, and so very kind. He exhorted those he loved to be the very best they could be, and he had the kind of voice that people want to listen to.
Nolan was preceded in death by his parents, John and Irene Hays; his sisters-Viona, Jean, Betty Joe, and Marge; and his brother, Charles Newton, who died in childhood before Nolan was born.
Nolan’s memory is cherished by his peerlessly devoted wife of 57 years, Patricia Ann Hays; his two loving sons, John Joseph Hays and wife Kris (of Clarksburg, West Virginia) and Shawn Patrick Hays and wife Liza Taylor (of Whittier, California); his four adoring granddaughters-Morgan Virginia Hays Riddle, Caroline Olivia Hays, Samantha Jo Hays, and Aniston Patricia Hays Riddle (great-granddaughter); innumerable friends, cherished golfing buddies, and beloved family members; and his pet cat, whom he lovingly called “Pup.”
Nolan was a great man, and his family will carry on his memory and legacy with honor, gratitude, and love.
A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at 3:00 pm at the Leavitt Funeral Home, Parkersburg with Reverend Chuck Furbee officiating.
Visitation will be Tuesday 1-3pm at the funeral home.
Donations may be made in his memory to House to Homes, 827 7th Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.LeavittFuneralHome.com.
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