Juwan Staten is Lighting it up in France

Many former WVU basketball players have found great success playing overseas, including point guard Juwan Staten.

This year, Staten is playing for Saint Chamond in the France Pro-B League. Their season is just getting underway, and the team split their first two contests.

The former Mountaineer has already asserted himself as a leader on the team as the No. 2 scorer in the league, averaging 22 points-per-game while shooting 66.6% from the field. Toss in 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists, and it’s clear that Staten has provided Saint Chamond a key piece to a potential playoff run.

His stops since graduating from WVU include preseason play with the Golden State Warriors, NBA G-League, Finland, and Belgium.

Now he seems to have settled into a leading role in France with Saint Chamond and is already a fan favorite. 

“I’m in a league that fits my style of play,” Staten tells me of his early success with a new club, and partly attributes his steady improvement to “. . . my work ethic and approach to the game.”

Last season, Saint Chamond finished with a 14-20 record, and with the signing of Staten, the team hopes for a big turnaround.

“My goal is for the team to finish in the top 5 in the league,” says Staten.

What about personal goals? “To win Player of the Year, make 1st Team All-League and,” including what would make Bob Huggins smile, “the All-Defensive team.”

Besides the motivation of helping his teammates and coaches to succeed, Staten has another driving force in his corner. One of a higher calling. “My faith in God, because everything good comes from him.”

We’ll keep you posted on how Staten and the other WVUPros in basketball fare as their seasons’ progress.