MORGANTOWN -
Nathan Adrian likes to represent his hometown. When some of
the nation's top prep players came to Morgantown for the Mountaineer Showcase,
he made sure his Mohigans did the local fans proud.
With a win over Withrow (Cincinnati, Ohio), Adrian showed
some of the skills that have put him in a position where he's ready to accept a
scholarship offer from WVU for the 2013 season.
He admits he wishes he had shot better, but in a game where
teammate Christian Allen had his way offensively, Adrian's scoring wasn't
needed so much.
"We have a lot of fun with this every year," says Adrian. "We look forward to
it because we don't get to play this good of teams throughout the year in the
state, so we take this as a big game."
The 6-foot-9 forward committed to the Mountaineers back in September, a year
early because he was quite certain of his decision.
As he looks at the team Bob Huggins is putting on the court this
season, he feels even more excited for what the future holds.
"I give most of the credit to Coach Huggins," says Adrian. "He's
doing a fantastic job with them. He takes whatever he can get and makes it into
a great team every year."
Right now, a lot of what he can get comes from Kevin Jones,
but then there's the whole list of freshmen that litter the roster who are the
real reason that Huggins' coaching this season is getting so much attention.
In 2013, these freshmen will be Adrian's veteran leaders.
The same group that right now takes its orders from Kevin Jones and Truck
Bryant will be dishing out advice from two seasons on the court.
What he knows of the Big East will be mostly based on the
experiences that Gary Browne, Jabarie Hinds and the other freshmen are
acquiring right now.
They will be the oldest players on the whole team. The same
student-athletes who have been thrown into the fire this year, asked to grow
quickly and on the run to make the Mountaineers a team that can compete with the
best in the conference.
Not only has Adrian been watching them, but he's also kept
an eye on Huntington Prep's Elijah Macon, who also played in the Mountaineer
Showcase. It's a bit surreal to see these players and know that not too long
from now, he'll be playing alongside them.
"It's getting there," says Adrian. "When I see them play, I
don't think that they're only two or three years older than me, but it's true,
so it's coming fast."
There's so much to do in a window of time that continues to
become smaller and smaller. One of Adrian's top priorities is to pack on some
pounds and add to what currently is a frame that can compete in high school,
but would be pushed around at the collegiate level.
"I'm gaining a little weight, but I've got to keep improving,"
he says. "I've got to get there in a couple years."
Adrian weighed 195 at the start of the season and is hoping
to be at 225 before arriving at WVU in just over a year. The plan is to develop
more of an inside presence, which he believes will be key to his success when
he begins playing for Coach Huggins.
Watching his future team get off to a 15-5 start and
climbing as high as second place in the Big East has been a treat for Adrian,
and knowing that his time as a piece of the puzzle approaches has him anxiously
awaiting the day that he officially becomes a Mountaineer.
"I'm very excited for it," he says. "I expect them and us to
do great things and I hope I'm a part of it."
For now, he will work. And he will keep on representing his
hometown for many years to come.
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