MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Four-star freshman Derek Culver was reinstated to the West Virginia basketball team Tuesday, according to an announcement from coach Bob Huggins.
The 6-foot-10 forward from Youngstown, Ohio, had been suspended since Nov. 15 for a violation of team rules. Culver has not appeared in a regular-season game though he did play in the team’s Gold-Blue scrimmage in October, when he produced 10 points and six rebounds.
Since that point, Huggins said he was displeased with Culver’s inability to show up on time for practice and study halls. Culver was benched during the Mountaineers’ exhibition game against Penn State and the season-opening loss against Buffalo. The suspension official began when Culver did not accompany the team to the Myrtle Beach Invitational.
“Derek’s situation has been Derek has to do what he’s supposed to do,” Huggins said at the time. “That’s been his case for, pretty much, forever. You’ve got to do what you’re supposed to do. It’s not that hard to go to class. It’s not that hard to be on time. It’s not that hard to be on time for study hall. It’s disrespectful to people when they expect you and you don’t show up.”
Culver was suspended from his Warren G. Harding High School team for the second half of his senior season and then failed to qualify at WVU last season. He attended Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., where he averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Culver has not practiced or traveled with the team during the suspension, but continued to work out in the practice facility weight room.
His reinstatement coincides with the conclusion of final exams and Culver will begin practicing with the Mountaineers (6-4) in advance of Saturday’s game against Jacksonville State.