MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — South Charleston point guard Brandon Knapper, last season’s runner-up for state player of the year as a sophomore, committed to West Virginia on Saturday.
Though he’s a 2016 pledge currently—along with Wheeling Central shooting guard Chase Harler—Knapper plans to spend a season at prep school and reclassify for the class of 2017.
The 6-footer had been recruited by the Mountaineers’ staff since last summer, joining offers from Marshall and East Tennessee State. He said programs such as Missouri, N.C. State and Virginia have shown interest.
Last spring, as the point guard was leading South Charleston back to the Class AAA state tournament for a second straight season, coach Vic Herbert called Knapper a “D-I player waiting to happen.” Knapper’s 19 points and five assists per game helped the Black Eagles finish 24-2 and reach the state quarterfinals, where their run ended with an upset loss to Hurricane. He shot better than 47 percent from 3-point range.
“He is just something else,” said South Charleston coach Vic Herbert. “The sky is the limit for him. He’s a true gym rat—you can’t keep him out of there. He’s not only a really refined offensive player, but he’s a tremendous defender.”