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WVU Gets Two Early Signees

Two days into the college basketball early signing period, West Virginia announced the signings of two recruits: Nathan Adrian of Morgantown and Brandon Watkins of Decatur, Ga.

The week-long November signing period continues through next Wednesday. West Virginia has two other highly rated commitments — center Devin Williams and forward Elijah Macon — who have yet to sign their letters of intent. Rivals ranks this class No. 24 nationally.

Adrian, a 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward, is a senior at Morgantown High and rated a three-star prospect by Rivals and Scout. Adrian averaged 19.4 points and 10.6 rebounds as a junior, posting 20 double-doubles in 25 games and earning Class AAA All-State honors. He made 32 3-pointers, blocked 32 shots and shot 51 percent from the floor.

“We obviously need more perimeter shooting,” said Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins. “Nate not only brings the ability to make perimeter shots but will add much-needed size to our perimeter. It’s great to be able to sign quality players from our state.”

Watkins, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward/center, is a senior at Grady High and also a three-star prospect according Rivals and Scout. He had offers from Memphis, Clemson, Georgia and South Carolina.

The nephew of Mountaineer Hall of Famer Warren Baker, Watkins is a physical big man who averaged 19 points and 14 rebounds per game as a junior, earning Georgia Class AAA All-State second-team honors. As a sophomore, he averaged 20.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 5.8 blocks per game. ESPN ranks him as the nation’s No. 12 center in the 2013 senior class.

“Brandon gives us much-needed size to our front court and gives us a shot blocker who has the ability to run the floor and enhance our transition game,” said Huggins. “Brandon also grew up a Mountaineer fan and that is uncle, Warren Baker, is one of the greatest Mountaineers of all-time.”

Now the wait continues for Williams, a four-star, 6-8 center currently playing his senior season in Montverde, Fla. He committed to WVU on Nov. 3 amid offers from the likes of Illinois, Pitt, Memphis, N.C. State and Tennessee

Macon, a 6-9 four-star prospect in 2012, is spending this year at Brewster Academy, a prep school in Wolfeboro, N.H.





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