MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The NBA feedback wasn’t encouraging enough, nor was the outcome of Juwan Staten’s junior season satisfying enough. Those factors led West Virginia’s point guard to decide he had not had enough of college basketball.
Staten was a guest Monday night on the MetroNews “Statewide Sportsline,” his first interview since announcing he would not apply for the NBA draft. Along with elaborating on his decision to return to WVU for a senior year, Staten discussed last week’s stunning revelation that high-scoring teammate Eron Harris won’t be coming back:
On Harris opting to transfer:
“I was very surprised. That wasn’t anything that I could have saw happening during the season. I mean, he was having a great season. He didn’t mention it, he didn’t act like it, his attitude didn’t change. That was something that was a surprise to all of us. I don’t really know what triggered that.”
On what Staten heard about his NBA draft prospects this year:
“I always dreamed about going to the NBA, but it wasn’t really in the way it was happening this year. It wasn’t through being a second-round pick or maybe going undrafted. It was hearing my name called and being assured that I was going to be a first-round or maybe even a lottery pick.”
Staten’s sense that he has unfinished business in college:
“We didn’t finish the season the way we wanted to. We definitely wanted to make it to the NCAA tournament. I haven’t been to the tournament since I’ve been in college so that’s something that kind of bothers me.”
On what former AAU teammate Elijah Macon will add next season:
“He’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever played with. He’s versatile—he can go outside and hit some jump shots, he an take his man off the dribble, and he can play with his back to the basket.”
Staten’s impressions after a season practicing with Jonathan Holton:
“Jon is just a ball of energy. He’s pretty much a glue guy, basically going to be the face of our defense. He controls the paint—anything that comes in there he’s either altering the shot or blocking it. He can score on offense with his back to the basket, and he’s a great 3-point shooter. He’s everywhere. He’s always on the glass or involved in every play.”
A guess at next year’s starting five:
“I’d definitely slide Elijah and Jon in there because they give us lot on both ends of the floor. We’re noticeably better with them in, especially on the defensive end. We’ll be more athletic and able to run. And then I’d probably slide Remi (Dibo) in there too, just because he’s a great player when he’s surrounded by great players. He gets to do what he does. It kind of allows him to be a specialist.”