West Closing in on Decision

It all started when he was young. Jarrod West, whose father was a standout point guard for West Virginia University, didn’t need to be pushed toward the game. The game just needed to be shown to him. “I was always around the game when I was young,” said West. “Whether he was taking me with him when he played pick up ball or just working out. I always loved it. Loved being in the gym. He never had to force me...but he just showed the game to me and I fell in love with it.” Even though basketball has been something the father and son have mutual appreciation for, it hasn’t always made things easy.

West plays for Notre Dame High School in Clarksburg, WV. The head coach at Notre Dame High School is his father, Jarrod West Sr. “It’s been a pretty great experience, but it’s been complicated over time,” said West. “I’ve matured a lot, so it’s not as bad as it used to be when I was a freshman. We bumped heads a lot. I left practice crying a lot. But he’s mentored me and has made me who I am in basketball and in life.”

Jarrod West Quick Hitters: 
Height: 5’10.5 
Weight: 180 
Vertical: 33in with a step, 30in straight up 
GPA: 4.5 
Strengths: “Defense, ball handling, shooting, and leadership.” 
Weaknesses: “Need to improve on finishing through contact against length/size. Free throw shooting isn’t bad, but isn’t where it needs to be for a point guard.” 
Game summation: “High basketball IQ, very passionate and intense, and love to compete.”

West takes a lot of pride in what he’s accomplished on the hardwood as a high school player in West Virginia, he does love playing with the guys on the Big Shots Elite 17U team. When asked what it’s like playing with Chase Johnson, Elijah Cuffee, Luke Frampton and all of those guys, West was ecstatic. “It’s awesome! It’s great playing with so many guys who understand the game. Great competitors. It’s just so much fun playing with those guys.” I told Jarrod what Luke Frampton said about him in the article released earlier this week and I asked him to give me his thoughts on Frampton. “I love Luke. I love playing with Luke. Playing in college with Luke would be great. We got a great chemistry together. He will be successful wherever he goes. He won’t back down from a challenge either. I’ve seen him go against guys 6’10 and not back down. He actually wins a lot of those matchups. He’s an awesome competitor,” West said. When asked if he and Frampton have talked about possibly playing together at the next level, West said, “Yeah, we have. We’ve had some conversations.”

Besides Marshall, West currently holds offers from East Carolina, James Madison, Liberty, Longwood, and Winthrop. He said he has visited all of those schools except Winthrop. He is also receiving interest from Ball State, La Salle, Virginia Tech, and Wichita State. When asked what aspects he’s looking at the most in the schools who have offered him, West said, “Relationship with the coaches is most important. Facilities, location, conference, and stuff like that too. I’m looking for the right fit and opportunity and relationship with the coach.”

When asked who Jarrod talks to the most from the Marshall staff, he was quick to answer. “Coach (Mark) Cline. Love him. Great guy. I heard he was a monster when he played back in the day. Always kept it real with me from the start. He goes to almost all of my games whether it be AAU or high school. I always see him there.” West said he also talks to the head coach of the Thundering Herd, Dan D’antoni. “He’s a good guy. A coach who knows what he wants out of his program and what he wants from his players. The program is on the rise.” I also asked Jarrod about what he thought of the possibility of playing point guard for a program who has a guy like Chris Duhon on staff: “I think that’s great. I figure I’d be working with him the most and he’s been to a lot of my games too. He’s actually given me a few pointers during some of my games. Like a little hand motion or something while I’m playing.”

“I really love their (Marshall) system and what they want in a point guard there," West added. Asked if he had a time table to announce his decision: “Within the next month or month and a half, but definitely before the basketball season starts.”

Writer’s take: I think Jarrod really likes the idea of playing for Marshall. Marshall seems to be in a pretty good position with everything that is important to him. The Marshall coaches have done a good job of building a relationship with him and they’ve sold him on their system. If Jarrod had to give me his top three, I think Marshall would be in it. But he’s keeping everything close to the vest, like a college recruit should do. I think Marshall’s strongest competition for his services will be Liberty because he also plays a lot with Elijah Cuffee, who is committed to Liberty. Then there’s always the possibility of the schools who haven’t offered but have shown interest to finally give him that offer and sway him their way. Within the next month or so, Marshall should have their answer. Either Marshall is going to get an intense, passionate, high IQ, high character point guard from Clarksburg, WV, or they’re going to have to find a backup plan. Because they currently have not extended an offer to another guard. Jarrod is their prime target.