JUCO guard nabs WVU offer, sets official

West Virginia has been on the hunt for guards to fill the holes on the current roster and the Mountaineers might have found their answer after extending a scholarship offer and setting up an official visit with a junior college prospect earlier this week.

Independence C.C. (Kan.) guard Tarik Phillip was visited by West Virginia coaches Bob Huggins and Larry Harrison this past Wednesday and quickly received an offer from the Mountaineers Thursday night, according to assistant coach Grant McMillan.

"They just talked about the team they have coming back, the caliber of talent they have coming back and they think it's a preseason top 25 ranked team. Obviously with the guy that's declared for the draft and the kid that's left they have a hole to fill and he would come in and fill that hole," he said.

Phillip will get his first taste of Morgantown when he takes his official visit during the weekend of April 11 although the Brooklyn, N.Y. native is familiar with the school due to his conversations and relationships with former West Virginia players from the New York area.

"He's a kid that can take coaching. The conference that West Virginia plays in is the best look he's gotten so far and I don't think it will be his last offer, but the fact that coach Huggins and them came down here made a huge impression on him," he said.

McMillan said that Phillip can best be described as a typical Huggins type player that is hard-nosed and relentless to the basketball, summing him up as a "pit-bull" on the court.

This past season, he didn't play until after Christmas break and won Jayhawk East Player of the Year, freshman of the Year and was named first team all-region averaging around 18 points and 5 steals per game. In fact, prior to him achieving eligibility Independence sat at three games under .500 and once he was inserted into the lineup lost only two more games all season.

"One game this year he had 11 steals. He's as tough as nails and is your typical kid from New York. If you lock everyone in a room he's going to be the one that comes out," McMillan said.

Phillip has the ability to play either the one or two in college, although his coach believes he will likely be best suited to handle the point due to his stature and his pass-first mentality.

Earlier in the process Phillip had the opportunity to sign with several smaller programs during the initial period but decided to wait and that patience has been rewarded with several high-profile programs starting to show interest outside the Mountaineers. Phillip originally signed with South Carolina out of prep school but failed to qualify, sending him on the route to his current destination.

However, at this point it appears the Mountaineers and assistant coach Larry Harrison have made quite the impression on Phillips after speaking with him for the last three weeks and change.

"He was thrilled to have them come down here. It was flattering for him and coach Huggins has recruited a kid from here before when he was at Cincinnati, Ruben Patterson," McMillan said. "Tarik is a good guard, he's a really good player."

Phillip is on track to graduate and will have three years of eligibility remaining if he does so, McMillan said.

"He's a late bloomer. He was good in high school but he got really good in prep school," he said.