Chaos in Morgantown: Eight WVU Players Enter Transfer Portal Following Explosive Altercation with Coach Ross Hodge
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through college basketball circles, eight players from the West Virginia University men’s basketball team have officially entered the NCAA transfer portal following what insiders are calling a “violent and emotionally charged” altercation with newly appointed head coach Ross Hodge.
Sources close to the program reported that the incident occurred during a closed-door practice session last Friday. According to multiple eyewitnesses, tensions had been simmering for weeks as Hodge attempted to instill his trademark hard-nosed defensive style, clashing sharply with the looser, more freewheeling approach that many of the returning players had grown accustomed to under the previous coaching regime.
The confrontation reportedly began with a heated exchange between Coach Hodge and junior guard Keon Vickers, who objected to what he described as “demeaning” and “militaristic” coaching tactics. As Hodge demanded accountability and intensified drills, Vickers pushed back—verbally at first, before the situation escalated. Several teammates, including senior forward Malik Trent and sophomore wing Jaylen Redd, jumped in to defend Vickers. Shouting quickly gave way to shoving, and according to one source, assistant coaches had to physically separate the players from the coach.
In the aftermath, Hodge addressed the team with what one player called “a cold, unapologetic lecture,” reportedly telling them, “This is my program now. If you can’t handle that, get out.”
And get out they did.
By Monday morning, eight scholarship athletes—over half the active roster—had formally submitted their names to the transfer portal. Among them were projected starters and several promising underclassmen. While NCAA regulations prohibit coaches from discussing player transfers publicly until they are finalized, sources confirm that Hodge has not made attempts to reconcile with the departing players.
University officials have yet to issue an official statement, but the fallout has been immediate. Social media erupted overnight with fans, alumni, and analysts expressing disbelief and concern over the stability of the program. The sudden exodus leaves WVU with a decimated lineup just months ahead of the upcoming season, raising questions about the administration’s decision to hire Hodge—a former North Texas head coach known for his aggressive coaching demeanor—as the successor to Bob Huggins.
“WVU just became the wildest story in college basketball,” said recruiting analyst Jeff Brenner. “You don’t lose eight players in one weekend unless something has gone catastrophically wrong.”
Meanwhile, reports indicate that athletic director Wren Baker is “urgently reassessing the situation,” though no formal disciplinary action against Hodge has been confirmed.
For now, the WVU basketball program sits on the edge of a cliff—its future uncertain, its locker room fractured, and its new coach standing alone at the center of a storm he may not have the power to weather.
