West Virginia in the Running to Land Star Transfer from Radford

Radford graduate transfer Carlik Jones is narrowing his list of possible destinations, according to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.

Final eight for Radford grad transfer Carlik Jones, sources told ESPN:

Louisville
West Virginia
Gonzaga
Maryland
Texas Tech
Michigan State
Marquette
Radford

Big South Player of the Year. No. 1 grad transfer in the country.

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 30, 2020

It was reported last week that Jones had been in contact with more than 15 schools, and it appears West Virginia has made the final cut.

Jones announced last Thursday that he was both entering his name into the NBA Advisory Committee and entering the transfer portal.

It’s in Gods Hands ❤️🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/0vVF2WeSEy

— Carlik Jones (@CarlikOfficial) March 26, 2020

Jones (6-foot-1, 18- lbs.) was a star at Radford this season, averaging 20 points, 5.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game. He scored 20 or more points 18 times this season, 30 or more three times.

As a redshirt freshman, Jones hit a buzzer-beater in the 2018 Big South Championship game to send Radford to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.

.@RadfordMBB's CARLIK JONES CALLED GAME pic.twitter.com/Ui3STiSoU6

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 4, 2018

Radford went 21-11 (15-3 in conference) this season. As a grad transfer, Jones will have one year of eligibility left after playing three years with the Highlanders.

If he becomes a Mountaineer, Jones would be the eighth guard on WVU’s roster. Given his experience and production, however, Jones could realistically plug right into Bob Huggins’s starting backcourt.

Huggins started Jordan McCabe and Jermaine Haley at the two guard spots in almost every game this season. McCabe took a step back from his freshman season and Haley graduated, leaving both starting spots potentially open.

WVU will already be adding one transfer guard, in Kedrian Johnson from junior college. Johnson averaged 25.5 points on 47.1% shooting this season. There is also Miles McBride, who was WVU’s leading scorer off the bench as a freshman. McBride averaged 9.5 points on 40.2% shooting this year.

The biggest upgrades Jones could potentially provide for WVU would be his three-point shooting and ball handling. Jones shot 47-115 (40.9%) from three this season, 18 more than any Mountaineer made. He also had 175 assists to just 75 turnovers, 117 more assists than any Mountaineer. WVU’s three main point guards this season, McBride, McCabe and Brandon Knapper, combined for 125 assists and 105 turnovers.

Other than Radford, every team in Jones’s top eight won at least 18 games this season, with Gonzaga (31-2), Louisville (24-7) and Maryland (24-7) having the best records.