— By Taylor Kennedy
The West Virginia State Yellow Jackets are starting to gather quality wins at the right time. The Yellow Jackets have won nine straight games, the longest streak in the Mountain East Conference (MEC).
West Virginia State is seeing productivity this season from various players, including former Capital High School product Anthony Pittman.
Pittman has been piling up numbers during conference play. The former Cougar averages 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one block, and two steals per game.
Pittman helped lead the charge for WVSU Wednesday in a 95-84 victory against nationally-ranked Fairmont State, posting 33 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and four steals.
Former @CapitalHigh_MBB standout @Mr_Pittman16 filled up the stat sheet for @WVSU_MBB Wednesday night with 33 pts, 11 reb, 5 ast, 4 stls, and 3 blocks. He joins @BradHowe07 and @Hunterwvu88bgn to recap the Yellow Jackets big win. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/UKzOOUIMbW
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) January 27, 2022
“We locked in on the defensive end,” Pittman said on Wednesday night’s victory. “Coming in, we knew our offense would score the ball. Fairmont is a great team, and they are definitely at the top of the league. They are good-looking one way, then cutting.”
Pittman was tabbed as an All-MEC first-team selection last season. This year, he’s a key factor in the Yellow Jackets’ 14-5 record, including 9-3 in league play.
“The atmosphere makes up for it,” Pittman noted. “Not only does growing up and watching it a little bit here and there, but to get on the court and bring the fans into it makes it better than the view of the stands.”
During their nine-game winning streak, the Yellow Jackets have held their opponents to 74 points per game.
“Defense, to me, is all about a want to,” Pittman stated. “We got a group of guys that want to play defense and not play because you have to. We do not care whose night it is. It is the whole team bonding right now.”
Three of West Virginia State’s next eight opponents come from the top six of MEC standings.
Pittman does not want him and his team to be complacent these last few weeks.
“Right now, we are on a roll, but it is who keeps it and keeps buying in,” Pittman said. “There are only two seasons. You are playing two seasons. It matters when you get into the season, but it does not hit until the MEC tournament. That is how Coach Poore has looked at it and voiced it towards us.”
Pittman was a successful player at Capital. He earned first-team all-state and all-conference while donning the blue and silver. Pittman’s path getting to where he is today was currently windy.
“West Virginia State originally recruited me, but I was not buying in towards them,” Pittman says of his recruiting process. “I was actually in California playing football. I was going the JUCO route. I was out there for two-and-a-half weeks, and I wouldn’t say I liked the route I was going. I came back a week late, and [Coach Poore] said that they might not be able to bring me in. He pulled some strings, and I came back.
“I have loved the road we have been on, and I have loved every moment of it.”