New Mountaineer men’s basketball coach Darian DeVries continues to build his roster for the 2024-25 season. As part of that construction process, he recently gained a verbal commitment from Jonathan Powell, a 6-foot-6, 170-pound guard from Centerville High School, which is just south of Dayton, Ohio. On3.com was the first to report Powell’s commitment to WVU.
Rated as one of the top 150 prospects in the nation for the class of 2024 by most major recruiting services, Powell was initially offered by the likes of Xavier, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Michigan State and Indiana before committing to Xavier in May of 2023 and signing with the Musketeers last November. He recently asked to be released from his letter of commitment to X, though. A short time later he visited West Virginia and ultimately committed to the Mountaineers.
Powell was a very productive player throughout his high school career in western Ohio. He spent two years at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School in Dayton, where he averaged 13.1 points per game as a freshman and 16.8 points per game as a sophomore. He moved to Centerville High prior to his junior year, and in 29 games during the 2022-23 season, he averaged 16.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game while making 87 of 216 3-point tries (40.7%).
As a senior, Powell was named the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association player of the year for Division I (large schools). In leading the Elks to a 20-9 record in the 2023-24 campaign and a spot in the state championship game, where they fell to St. Ignatius, 66-56, Powell averaged 19.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. In that season, he made 195 of 430 field-goal attempts (45.3%), 91 of 236 3-point tries (38.6%) and 79 of 117 free throws (67.5%) He scored 20 or more points in 15 of Centerville’s 29 games and topped 30 points twice. Regarded as an elite outside shooter, he had at least one made 3-pointer in all but one game this past season and had four or more 12 times.
Powell is the ninth player to sign with or commit to DeVries’ Mountaineers. Ofri Naveh (6-6, 185 lbs., Soph.) is the lone scholarship holdover from last year’s squad. WVU has officially announced the signing of five transfers – Eduardo Andre (6-11, 250 lbs., Sr.), Tucker DeVries (6-7, 210 lbs., Sr.), Amani Hansberry (6-8, 240 lbs., Soph.), Sencire Harris (6-4, 170 lbs., Soph.) and Toby Okani (6-8, 210 lbs., Sr.) – and one incoming freshman – K.J. Tenner (6-0, 170 lbs., Fr.). In addition, Oklahoma State transfer Javon Small (6-3, 195 lbs., Sr.) reportedly committed to West Virginia last week, though WVU has not yet officially announced his signing.
DeVries is starting to put together the pieces for his Mountaineers with a mixture of both youngsters and college veterans. With nine scholarships accounted for so far, his 2024-25 club still has four more available.
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