West Virginia interim basketball coach Josh Eilert announced Saturday the Mountaineers have parted ways with fifth-year guard Jose Perez before Perez ever played a game for the team.
“We wish Jose the best in his future endeavors,” Eilert said.
Earlier Saturday, Adam Zagoria reported Perez was no longer with WVU due to an academic situation.
Jose Perez has been told he’s no longer on the team at West Virginia due to an academic situation, per source https://t.co/FJaM7WKZuV
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 30, 2023
Back in July, Perez entered the NCAA Transfer Portal in the immediate aftermath of Bob Huggins’ departure and Eilert’s subsequent promotion to interim head coach. Less than three weeks after entering the portal, however, Perez announced his intention to stick with the Mountaineers.
A 6-foot-5 guard, Perez was ruled ineligible last season by the NCAA after transferring from Manhattan to Morgantown just before the start of last season when the Jaspers parted ways with ex-head coach Steve Masiello.
He practiced from mid-December on and traveled with the Mountaineers throughout league play.
During the 2021-22 season, the most recent one that Perez participated in, the Bronx, N.Y., native averaged 18.9 points, 4.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds.
Perez, who played two seasons at Gardner-Webb and then one at Marquette before joining the Jaspers, was the 2022 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year before moving on to WVU.
West Virginia continues to await the status of a waiver filed for RaeQuan Battle, who is seeking immediate eligibility after transferring from Montana State. With Battle, the Mountaineers would have 12 available players for the season ahead.