Redshirt Freshman Big Abraham Oyeadier Returns to Bolster WVU Basketball Roster
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After months of speculation and quiet whispers around the WVU Coliseum, it’s official: redshirt freshman Abraham Oyeadier is returning to the West Virginia men’s basketball program. With his reentry, the Mountaineers now boast 11 scholarship players for the upcoming season — a critical development for a team in the midst of transition and recalibration under new leadership.
Oyeadier, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward-center from Houston, Texas, sat out last season due to a lower-body injury suffered in early preseason workouts. At the time, his redshirt status was seen as both a long-term investment and a frustrating loss — the Mountaineers lacked frontcourt depth throughout the 2024–25 campaign, and Oyeadier’s physicality and rim protection could have made a measurable difference.
Now healthy, focused, and 15 pounds leaner thanks to an offseason conditioning regimen, Oyeadier is set to rejoin full-contact practices this week. Team insiders have praised his commitment during rehab, noting a significant uptick in his lateral quickness and footwork — two areas that had previously limited his defensive versatility. With a reported 7-foot-4 wingspan and soft touch around the rim, Oyeadier is expected to provide much-needed interior support on both ends of the floor.
“I feel like I’ve got something to prove,” Oyeadier said in a statement released by the team. “Last year was tough. Watching from the bench, not being able to contribute — it pushed me. I’ve been working like I’m fighting for every minute.”
West Virginia head coach Ross Hodge entering his first full season at the helm, welcomed Oyeadier’s return with open arms. “Abe gives us size, length, toughness, and a guy who’s all about team,” Walker said. “He’s hungry. He’s bought in. And he’s going to be an impact guy in our rotation if he keeps doing what he’s been doing in workouts.”
Oyeadier’s return shifts the conversation around WVU’s frontcourt outlook. Alongside junior big man Elijah Carrington and sophomore forward Malik Boswell, Oyeadier adds another layer of rim protection and rebounding ability. Sources inside the program suggest Walker may experiment with twin-tower lineups during non-conference play, especially against larger opponents.
The Mountaineers, who finished 14–18 last season and missed the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive year, have undergone a near-complete overhaul. A combination of transfer portal additions and returning core players has reshaped the locker room, but the team remains short of the NCAA’s 13-scholarship maximum — something Walker has emphasized as part of his “build-not-buy” philosophy.
Still, the return of Oyeadier provides both depth and hope. In a league as grueling as the Big 12, where bruising post play is the norm, having an extra rim protector and screener can be the difference between stealing a win and falling short.
“Abe has the tools to be special,” said assistant coach Chris Hall. “He’s just scratching the surface.”
With Oyeadier back in the fold, West Virginia’s roster is starting to take real shape — a blend of youth, grit, and quiet potential. Whether the Mountaineers can climb out of the Big 12’s bottom tier remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Abraham Oyeadier is ready to make his long-awaited debut count.
