WEST LIBERTY — When the West Liberty men’s basketball team took the ASRC court last weekend for the first time, it was like nothing had changed. COVID-19 robbed last season’s Hilltoppers of a full fan experience, but that is no longer the case. “It felt normal and it was the way it should be here,” said fifth-year coach Ben Howlett. “This is a basketball-crazy school and to come out on the court with the stands packed, it was like, ‘OK, it’s back.'”
“We have some of the best fans in all of Division-II basketball.”
-Coach Ben Howlett
Something else hasn’t changed on the hilltop: the expectations. Coming off a fourth consecutive Mountain East Conference regular-season championship, an Atlantic Region title and yet another D-II scoring title, West Liberty has more holes than usual to fill, but just don’t tell that to the fanbase.
“We talk about that when we recruit players — it’s super important they know the expectations at West Liberty,” Howlett said. “People here want to win basketball games, and they want to win big and score a lot of points.
“I think it’s great. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Last season ended in disappointing fashion though, as it does for all but one team each year. The Hilltoppers suffered a 98-77 loss at the hands of eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State, a team Howlett said is “the best in Division II, and it’s not even close.”
That defeat, as well as the departures of two-time player of the year Dalton Bolon and Luke Dyer, each of whom seemed to play about 15 years in the black and gold, left a bad taste in the mouths of the returnees.
“I think this team has a little chip on its shoulder, because we did lose Dalton and Luke, who started every game in their careers,” Howlett said. “People in general, I think, said West Liberty may drop off a tad.”
“It started in practice. It was a war every day in the fall because there were a lot of minutes to be had and a lot of competition” Howlett continued, “Because Dalton and Luke played 28-30 minutes a game and right now we are without Will Yoakum. There’s 80-90 minutes to be had.”
“We have six new players on the roster, which is 40 percent of our team.” Howlett emphasized.
This isn’t to say the cupboard is bare, because frankly at West Liberty, it never is.
It starts with junior guard Pat Robinson III (6-foot-3, 195 pounds), who was named MEC Player of the Week for his performance in two victories. A returning first team all-conference performer, the left-handed Robinson is averaging 24.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and is shooting an even .500 percent from the floor for West Liberty, which has opened the season with three straight Atlantic Region victories against Winston-Salem State, East Stroudsburg and Pitt-Johnstown.
“He’s off to a great start,” Howlett said. “He’s being more vocal, which is neat to see. He’s being a great leader for us and that is something this team needs, and believe it or not, there is room for Pat to even get better. He’s going to have a huge year for us.”
Robinson is joined in the backcourt by fellow junior and also a lefty, Malik McKinney (6-3, 180). Perhaps best known for his buzzer-beating 3-pointer against Glenville in last season’s MEC Tournament, he’s averaging 15.7 ppg., is shooting 58 percent from the floor and 67 percent from 3-point land, and already has 10 steals.
“In the fall I had him ranked as the No. 1 player for us,” Howlett said. “Malik has taken that next step.
“He is bought in and this system is perfect for him. He’s going to be really good for us.”
Sophomore Bryce Butler (6-5, 200) figures to be the Toppers’ rock this season. He’s versatile on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor and is already averaging a career-high 16.7 points and 7.7 rebounds.
“Bryce Butler is our glue guy,” Howlett said. “I can put him 1-5 and feel comfortable. He has improved his game and also is bigger and stronger. Defensively I can play him inside and out. We’re going to lean on him a lot this season.”
Junior Will Yoakum (6-5, 190), who two years ago was MEC Tournament Most Valuable Player but suffered a knee injury late last season, is back for another run. The Hilltoppers went on to advance to the Sweet 16, but are clearly a different team when he is on the floor.
“Will is ultra-talented and has had a lot of success here, averaging more than 18 points a game,” Howlett said. “He’s been all-conference a couple times and was Tournament MVP a couple years ago.
“Obviously he is a guy we’re going to rely on.”
Freshman Elijah Watson (6-7, 200) brings a physical presence inside, and will also take on an expanded role after appearing in 23 games — 18 starts — last season.
“He’s got experience now,” Howlett said. “He has already played in some big games for us. He needs to continue to develop over time for us.”
Then there’s freshman Zach Rasile (6-1, 175), who entered the program as the state of Ohio’s No. 2 all-time leading scorer (3,013 points) as well as having the No. 1 marks in 3-point shooting for a career (485) and in a single season (140).
“He took that next step,” Howlett said. “He came in here labeled as a 3-point shooter last year, but he’s a lot more than that. Zach plays extremely hard and is going to be great in our press this year.”
The plan last season was to use a redshirt on freshman Ben Sarson (6-6, 205), but that changed along the way. He ended up appearing in 16 games.
“We threw him into the NCAA Tournament last year,” Howlett recalled. “Ben has completely changed — from his body to his mindset. We’re going to rely on him on the offensive and defense sides on the perimeter.”
Last but certainly not least, is senior Marlon Moore Jr. (6-5, 205), a pogo stick of energy that has been a fixture on the hilltop. He’s averaging 9.3 points and 6.7 rebounds early on this season.
“Marlon Moore is everybody’s favorite,” Howlett said. “He’s the ultimate team guy and brings a ton of energy. He’s a high-level rebounder who was a member of the All-Region Tournament team.”
There are several newcomers in the fold, both the true freshman variety and those that arrived via transfer. Howlett is excited about this group, as well.
Christian Montague (6-1, 180) is an interesting story. A former All-GMAC performer at Walsh University, Montague comes to WLU as a grad transfer but has three years of basketball eligibility remaining.
“He is probably our best on-ball defender. We took UPJ’s point guard out with him (Wednesday night),” Howlett said. “I trust him with the ball in his hands. He is on our quote-unquote “second unit,” but he will get the majority of our point guard minutes.
Senior Viktor Kovacevic (6-8, 215), a native of Belgrade, Serbia, who comes to WLU by way of D-II Quincy, is what Howlett looks for in a big man.
“He’s ultra-skilled and is the ideal big guy for West Liberty,” Howlett said. “He can pass, dribble, is a great shooter and his IQ is off the charts. When he first got here he said, ‘I want to lead the team in assists.’ When your big guy says that, you’ve got something special.”
Howlett doesn’t know when, but he’s expecting big things from Garrett Denbow (6-5, 200), a University of Charleston transfer that sat out last season.
“He’s an elite-level shooter who will develop in time,”
Howlett said of Garrett Denbow
There are four freshmen on the roster, two of whom the coaching staff is planning to redshirt. One of them, Austin Webb (6-3, 175), who was class valedictorian in high school, is in the starting lineup.
“We don’t start a lot of freshmen … maybe three or four in 15 years,” Howlett said. “He’s going to be a really good player for us. He’s also got the ability to shoot at an elite level.”
“The Barnesville Bomber,” as Howlett referred to freshman Luke Powell (6-2, 175), will have a role on this team. He averaged 33 points and 11 rebounds a game during his senior season with the Shamrocks.
“This kid can really shoot it,” Howlett said. “He’s showing day-in and day-out in practice that he can contribute.”
Dante Spadafora (6-0, 160), a school-boy standout from Pittsburgh that led Our Lady of Sacred Heart to an unbeaten state championship season, is going to be a good one when it’s his time.
“He’s scrappy and tough — a typical Pittsburgh kid,” the coach said. “He’s going to redshirt, but is going to have a really good four years at West Liberty.”
Aiden Satterfield (6-7, 185), a star from Charleston Catholic, will also redshirt. Howlett says he also has a bright future.
“He’s the typical freshman right now, making a lot of freshman mistakes,” Howlett said. “But he’s doing all the right things — watching film, lifting weights six days a week. He’s going to be good for us.”
Howlett, who doesn’t get excited about personal milestones, recently picked up career victory No. 100. He’d rather talk about things like the Toppers starting 3-0 in the region, which he hopes will pay dividends in March.
“When we did the schedule, I wanted to play the best team’s we could,” Howlett said. “This is the best schedule we’ve ever had at West Liberty. We talked about it going in that if we can somehow, some way go 3-0 out of the gate, it will put us in a good position.”
The Hilltoppers, who open MEC play Saturday at home (4 p.m.) against Alderson Broaddus, will get their usual challenges from the likes of Charleston and Fairmont State. But Howlett said teams better watch out for the likes of West Virginia State and Glenville State.
“State is ultra-talented and has everybody back,” Howlett said. “And Glenville is really trying to play a lot like us, I think, and you could see at the end of the year they were getting the hang of it. I’ve told these guys, everywhere we go they are going to have their biggest crowds and the other team is going to give us its best shot.”
Howlett is once again assisted by Dr. Aaron Huffman and Mike Lamberti, as well as student assistant Connor Harr.
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