To say it hasn’t been the smoothest of freshman seasons for Isaiah Cottrell can be an correct description.
The 6-foot-10, 245-pounder, spent final season on the sidelines after lacking all however 10 video games on account of a torn left Achilles tendon. Cottrell stunned many by returning in loads of time for the season however has endured what could possibly be finest described as an uneven yr.
The Las Vegas native has began 27 of the 29 video games however has performed solely round 16 minutes per contest. His averages of 4.1 factors and a couple of.4 rebounds together with hitting solely 34-percent from the sphere and 26-percent from thee.
It’s clear that his finest basketball is probably going forward of him in Morgantown.
That’s as a result of by his personal admission Cottrell goes to want to get harder to bang with the caliber of bigs that he’ll encounter on a nightly foundation within the Large 12. Whereas he’s added round 25-pounds since arriving on campus, there must be a want to try this as properly.
It’s one thing he’s discovered first-hand after not having the chance to compete towards Large 12 groups in his first season after he was sidelined with the harm.
“Simply mentally doing it. Simply the desire to do it and go on the market and do it,” he stated.
On the bodily facet of issues, Cottrell believes that he has absolutely recovered and is leaping greater than he was earlier than final December.
“Every thing is nice, I don’t even give it some thought now,” he stated.
However as a way to take these subsequent steps Cottrell goes to need to make leaps in areas reminiscent of protection, rebounding and having the ability to successfully put the ball within the basket. Cottrell scored a career-high 13 factors towards Kansas State and it was the primary time all season that he reached double figures.
It was a step in the suitable path confidence clever, as Cottrell merely hasn’t hit pictures however seeing the ball undergo the online will help change that. He additionally has been in a position to battle extra on the glass of late which is an encouraging signal.
“I clearly wish to get out of it. It’s robust, it’s exhausting,” he stated.
Head coach Bob Huggins believes that the longer term for Cottrell is brilliant, as he may probably deliver issues to the desk that West Virginia hasn’t had on the place in fairly a while.
However potential is one factor, making it occur is one other.
“He’s a man that may step out and make a 3, he can cross it, he’s a man that may play contained in the three and make pictures and he’s beginning to rating in shut,” Huggins stated. “He had no likelihood to attain it shut earlier than and he’s labored at it and he’s listened and he’s tried and he’s an awesome child. He desires to be participant. I believe the toughness half will come; it’ll come.”
Cottrell is way from a completed product right now and Huggins hopes that he’s solely getting began.
“His mobility he’ll give huge folks matches as a result of he has the dimensions and he’ll have the power then and has nice ft. The sky is the restrict for that man, he simply has to proceed to work and get within the weight room and do the suitable factor,” Huggins stated. “He’s a gifted child.”