West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins made it a priority to find another point guard before next season.
West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins made it a priority to find another point guard before next season.
On Monday, he got one.
Gary Browne, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard from Arlington Country Day High School in Jacksonville, Fla., committed to the Mountaineers the same day he was offered a scholarship.
"I'm really, really excited," Browne said. "I'm really, really, really excited."
Browne transferred to Arlington Country Day from Puerto Rico this past season and made an immediate impact, according to coach Rex Morgan.
"It's a good situation both for West Virginia and Gary," Morgan said. "He transferred to us when we were averaging 22 turnovers a game. It went down to nine.
"He'll learn a lot from Coach Huggins. He's only 17 years old, but is a very good player. He has an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio of 6-to-1. And he's just going to get better."
Morgan said Browne had plenty of interest from schools like Central Florida, Miami, and Texas Tech, but the player put the other schools on hold because of his interest in the Mountaineers.
"I'm ready to rock," Browne said. "West Virginia is a great college, Coach Huggins and [assistant] Larry Harrison did a great job recruiting me."
West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins made it a priority to find another point guard before next season.
On Monday, he got one.
Gary Browne, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard from Arlington Country Day High School in Jacksonville, Fla., committed to the Mountaineers the same day he was offered a scholarship.
"I'm really, really excited," Browne said. "I'm really, really, really excited."
Browne transferred to Arlington Country Day from Puerto Rico this past season and made an immediate impact, according to coach Rex Morgan.
"It's a good situation both for West Virginia and Gary," Morgan said. "He transferred to us when we were averaging 22 turnovers a game. It went down to nine.
"He'll learn a lot from Coach Huggins. He's only 17 years old, but is a very good player. He has an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio of 6-to-1. And he's just going to get better."
Morgan said Browne had plenty of interest from schools like Central Florida, Miami, and Texas Tech, but the player put the other schools on hold because of his interest in the Mountaineers.
"I'm ready to rock," Browne said. "West Virginia is a great college, Coach Huggins and [assistant] Larry Harrison did a great job recruiting me."
Morgan said Browne averaged around 22 points in Puerto Rico before joining his nationally recognized team, which finished 23-2.
Arlington Country Day finished as the No. 16-ranked boys team in the country, according to USA Today, and was rated No. 17 by MaxPreps.com.
"He could've scored more for us, but he's real good about getting everyone involved," said the coach.
"I'm not selfish," Browne said. "I have no problem pushing the ball and love to play defense.
"I think the way I play defense is why West Virginia likes me. I'm strong, I have the ability to make a 3-pointer, I can make plays, and I can finish. You will see next year."
Browne was able to check out WVU in January when his team participated in the Prime Time Shootout, splitting a pair of games.
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvin...@wvgazette.com.
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