When Treysen Eaglestaff entered the transfer portal, he wasn’t just searching for a new jersey or a different locker room—he was searching for a place that felt like home, a program that understood who he was as both a player and a person. West Virginia University ended up being that place. The moment Eaglestaff stepped onto the Morgantown campus, something clicked. It wasn’t just the rolling Appalachian hills or the historic basketball culture—it was the people, the plan, and the belief they had in him.
Eaglestaff, a 6’6″ guard originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, had built a reputation as a high-IQ scorer with a relentless work ethic. At his previous school, he showed flashes of brilliance—stretching the floor with deep shooting range, attacking closeouts with surprising explosiveness, and playing with the kind of tenacity that earns minutes in March. But he felt underutilized, trapped in a system that didn’t quite match his instincts.
West Virginia head coach Chris Macon—a fictional but respected tactician with a strong track record of developing transfers—saw the potential immediately. Macon had been rebuilding the Mountaineers around versatility, toughness, and basketball IQ. Eaglestaff checked every box. Within minutes of their first meeting, the coach outlined a vision that featured Eaglestaff not as a role player, but as a cornerstone. A wing who could create, shoot, defend, and lead.
“It was never about promises,” Eaglestaff later said. “It was about belief—and clarity. Coach Macon had a plan for me, not just a pitch.”
Off the court, the fit was just as natural. The WVU community embraced Eaglestaff. He found a quiet rhythm in the town of Morgantown, where fans live and breathe basketball, but without the suffocating glare of larger markets. He could focus, breathe, and grind. Professors knew his name. Local baristas asked about upcoming games. It felt personal.
In preseason workouts, Eaglestaff’s impact became obvious. He transformed the team’s spacing with his shooting, and his willingness to defend on the perimeter raised the level of intensity during scrimmages. Teammates gravitated toward his calm, confident demeanor. “He brings this edge,” said senior forward Malik Dorsey. “He doesn’t talk a lot, but you feel his presence.”
By the time exhibition play rolled around, Eaglestaff was a starter, running the wing with authority, slipping into screens, knocking down threes, and making the extra pass. Scouts began to whisper. Analysts circled West Virginia as a sleeper pick in the Big 12.
For Treysen Eaglestaff, the transfer wasn’t just about playing time or stats—it was about finding a place that saw his full value. And in West Virginia, he found more than a basketball team. He found belonging.
