Who said you can’t go back?
That’s exactly what both parties hope to accomplish with West Virginia coach Darian DeVries and transfer point guard Joseph Yesufu reuniting for next season.
It’s the final college season for the Washington State transfer and the duo hopes to rekindle some of the magic of the past.
That’s because Yesufu had the most productive season of his college career as a sophomore under DeVries, when he was named the Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 12.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1. 8 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He also shot 44 percent and a career-high 38 percent from three while playing 23 minutes per game. It was an outstanding campaign in all aspects.
This year came after a freshman season in which he was limited to just 13 games due to injury and stood out compared to the rest of his career.
Although Yesufu left Drake after his sophomore season, he would not have the same success during his two years at Kansas and one at Washington State.
He averaged 3.1 points per game in his 69 games as a Jayhawk, but played just 11 minutes per game. Meanwhile, Yesufu was limited to just six games in his only season at Washington State due to a hip injury, but averaged 6.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals. per game.
Now, with a year to go, Yesufu is back with the coach where it all started and it could be a mutually beneficial relationship for both parties.
DeVries gets an experienced guard who can play a one or two role. He’s played with it before, so he understands the expectations of the program and how he can be successful in the system. In fact, he can point to the best year of his college career as an example of his potential.
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The Illinois native also embraces his role on the defensive end of the floor and is a transition weapon that is essential to what DeVries wants to do.
The Mountaineers needed a veteran guard to help in the backcourt along with Oklahoma State transfer Javon Small, and Yesufu fits that profile as a player with proven scheme experience.
For Yesufu the interest is obvious. With one season left in his career, the veteran guard is looking to make the most of his last dance at the college level and will look to do so with a coach who has already gotten the best out of him throughout his career. Given that the roster is almost entirely new, there are opportunities available and Yesufu already had experience in the Big 12 Conference.
This makes for a strong fit across the board and gives the Mountaineers an athletic guard option who can finish off the dribble or hit hot shots to complement what’s already in place on the roster.
There is a strong sense of familiarity here on both sides and this makes the union a union that must allow each party to get what they want in the end.
