Addition of Amir Jenkins answers several questions for West Virginia hoops
West Virginia needed to find some help at the point guard position given the current state of the roster and that’s where Worcester (Ma.) point guard Amir Jenkins comes into play.
And it answered some questions in the process when it comes to this year’s roster and future ones.
That’s easier said than done at this stage of the game, but the Mountaineers pulled off a massive coup in first getting the commitment of Jenkins.
But then getting him to reclassify up a year to enroll immediately. Jenkins was a top 100 player in the 2026 class and was seemingly rising up the rankings after a productive summer circuit. That is a major addition at any point but especially at this stage of the off-season where options are limited at best.
Jenkins, 6-foot-2, 170-pounds, was solid not only on the Mountaineers basketball program but the push from the coaching staff for him to start his career early in Morgantown.
The addition of Jenkins is massive for the construction of the current West Virginia roster as it provides head coach Ross Hodge with another true point guard to join Jasper Floyd.
Yes, there were others on the roster that could potentially fill the role if need be, but this provides a direct second option and addresses one of the biggest remaining questions with the construction.
“I would describe myself as a pure point guard who can score, and I’m a winner,” Jenkins said.
That’s exactly what Hodge and the Mountaineers see as well as Jenkins impressed this past summer with his crafty handle and ability to consistently put pressure on defenses. At his size, Jenkins has good length and his ability to keep a live dribble makes for an intriguing option.
Now Jenkins is going to need to continue to add strength which isn’t different from the majority of freshmen but there is a role for him waiting if he’s ready to take it.
And clearly both parties believe that he is certainly equipped to do just that.
Not only did the commitment of Jenkins address a major need for the Mountaineers on the roster it also helped to show some of the recruiting chops that Hodge possesses.
West Virginia had to beat out a long list of options for Jenkins at a time where the transfer portal had been picked to the bone.
Among the schools that had offered Jenkins included Maryland, Xavier, Creighton, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Wake Forest, Arizona State, Boston College, South Florida, East Carolina, George Washington and a number of others. Many of those have come recently as programs were able to see more of what he brings to the table with his blend of skills.
Hodge has shown the ability to creatively build rosters and fill needs at all of his previous stops and the way things came together with Jenkins is just the latest example of that.
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