WVU basketball: Mountaineers called the “sleeper team in the Big 12”

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein has become one of the most trusted voices in the sport, and he believes West Virginia could be one of the biggest surprises in college basketball next season.

During a recent appearance, Rothstein labeled the Mountaineers as his “sleeper team in the Big 12 Conference,” pointing to the talent Ross Hodge has assembled heading into his second season in Morgantown. It’s the latest sign that expectations around the program are beginning to rise after Hodge’s impressive work on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal.

“For my Big 12 sleeper team, I’m going to Morgantown for West Virginia because I think Year 2 for Ross Hodge is going to be a really, really big season,” Rothstein said. “I love what this program has done from a perimeter perspective. Miles Sadler will be one of the better and more productive freshmen in the entire country. Joson Sanon on a wing, Finley Bizjack on a wing. Those are two transfers from the Big East who have logged meaningful minutes. Mo Sylla from Georgia Tech is a player. He was highly regarded out of high school and will be one of the top post players in the Big 12. There is enough on the roster in Year 2 for a sizable jump for Ross Hodge.”

It’s easy to see why Rothstein is so high on the Mountaineers. Hodge has put together one of the most talented rosters West Virginia has had in years, blending proven college production with elite young talent.

The biggest name among the newcomers is five-star point guard Miles Sadler, the highest-rated recruit to sign with West Virginia in the modern recruiting era according to 247Sports. The Canadian guard is viewed as one of the top point guards in the 2026 class after starring at Bella Vista Prep and helping lead the program to a Chipotle Nationals championship. He also represented Canada internationally and has drawn praise for his playmaking ability, competitiveness and leadership before ever stepping onto a college floor.

West Virginia also landed one of the top scoring guards available in the transfer portal with Joson Sanon. After spending last season at St. John’s, the 6-foot-5 wing averaged 7.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while making 14 starts for one of the nation’s top teams. He reached double figures 13 times and brings valuable experience from both the Big East and NCAA Tournament competition.

Another major addition is Butler transfer Finley Bizjack, who enters Morgantown after an outstanding junior season. Bizjack averaged 17.1 points per game, earned Third Team All-Big East honors, surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his collegiate career and posted multiple 30-point performances. The veteran guard has appeared in 98 career games, shooting 42.5 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from three-point range and better than 81 percent from the free throw line, giving West Virginia an experienced offensive weapon capable of carrying the scoring load on any given night.

Inside, Mouhamed “Mo” Sylla gives the Mountaineers an athletic presence with tremendous upside. Before an ankle injury cut his freshman season at Georgia Tech short, the former five-star prospect averaged 9.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while shooting nearly 58 percent from the floor. He recorded five double-doubles in just 16 games and became only the third ACC player in the last three decades to begin his career with three consecutive double-doubles.

While preseason predictions don’t guarantee anything, Rothstein’s comments reflect what many around college basketball are beginning to believe. Ross Hodge has quietly assembled a roster loaded with high-level talent, proven transfers and one of the nation’s premier recruiting classes. If the pieces come together as expected, West Virginia has a legitimate chance to exceed expectations and make significant noise in one of the toughest conferences in the country.

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