WVSPORTS.COM West Virginia men's hoops players press conference summary

[ZachAnderson1]

F Quinn Slazinski is up first.

-- He grew up in Texas, but originally from Detroit. In high school, he attended Huntington Prep so he's familiar with the state. He's familiar with this place and he's happy to be home. He played for Louisville, transferred to play for Rick Pitino at Iona. He gets treated like family here and it's easier to transition.

-- Pitino is a very wise coach, and he gives it to you straight. He never lied to you as a player and he was relentless according to Slazinski. He has his own way of coaching but he believes he became a better basketball player and Pitino helped him become a great man.

-- For the couple months that Quinn has been here he's been able to play free and relaxed. It's been a great change of scenery for him and he's excited for the season. It's easy to focus on basketball and it acts as a sanctuary for him. The turmoil that happened around WVU is motivation for him and the players and gives them a chance to work hard and focus. Their tough schedule gives them a chance to prove themselves this season.

-- It's worked out so perfectly for him and he's so happy to be at WVU and is just wanting ti play. He's thankful for every time he steps on the court.

-- Slazinski wants to get a medical redshirt for last season, after playing less than 30% of games and season ending on injury, so he can come back and play for West Virginia this season. He wants to work towards that. He says his foot feels good and he's ready to go for this year.

-- Quinn thinks he brings maturity to the game and the ability shoot the ball from the power forward position. He has an outside-in type of game, which WVU hasn't seen as much recently. It makes it easier for Slazinski to work off a PG like Kerr Kriisa, who he believes he's like a magician. The offense fits every single players' skills and it's a credit to the coaching staff and the offense fits them perfectly.

-- Age and experience are important for the success of the team. Guys that have won games and been in the locker room is what he thinks is the recipe for winning games and when everyone is on the same page. Huntington Prep brought him here and it worked out. It's been five years since he's been this happy with his situation of playing basketball. The locker room is full of high character people and they enjoy each other's company and they get along very well.

 

[ZachAnderson1]

F Josiah Harris is next.

-- In high school, he took a lot of dual-enrollment credit classes at his local community college and those transferred over to WVU to make him a senior as a freshman. He will get a bachelor's degree in communications, but now he's pursuing his master's in sport management and wants to get an MBA.

-- He thinks it's a testament to his parents and how they prepared him academically. He wanted to be a great role model for his siblings and when you're in sports, you can have a good education too. His parents taught him to take advantage of everything in he can in college.

-- Harris has grown in his strength and efficiency, and he's learned this year, He took time last year to learn the game and he's learned so much going into the season. He's rebounding, defending and having energy to make winning plays for the team. Seeing the floor last year made him hungry to go out and win some games. The offseason was wild but he wants to stay locked in.

-- Harris believes in Coach Eilert and he thinks he gives them a great chance to win games this season. The way Eilert talks to them and breaks it down and they're all buying in to what he is wanting to do this season.

-- His mom cried and was in shock that he completed this early graduation, and his whole family is proud of his accomplishments.