To say that West Virginia coach Mike Carey and his staff are getting it done in recruiting is a huge understatement, especially with today's news that the Mountaineers have added two players ranked in the top 60 of the ESPNU HoopGurlz 100.
Carey and Co., hosted No. 28 Bria Holmes of Hamden, Conn., and No. 60 Darius Faulk of New York, N.Y., this past weekend on official visits and the pair seem to have hit it off. The two not only chose the Mountaineers on the same day, according to Holmes' mother, Carol Keel, the guard duo plan on being roommates as freshmen.
Landing a pair of perimeter players with the ability of these two is reason enough to celebrate. But West Virginia already had a nice class in the works heading into the weekend with commitments from No. 87 Jennie Simms of Accokeek, Md., and 3-star prospect Lanay Montgomery of Germantown, Md.
Analyzing recruiting classes is about quality, quantity and diversity of positions acquired against the team's needs. The first two commits, Simms and Montgomery, bolster the Mountaineer frontcourt with a 6-foot forward known for her toughness and a 6-5 post with all the physical tools and tremendous upside.
The additions of Holmes, a 6-1 prospect who is explosive and capable of playing either wing position, and Faulk, a 5-10 combo guard who can run a team and be a premier defensive stopper in the Big East, are about as perfect of an encore as you will find in recruiting.
Sharing a conference with a Connecticut program that regularly acquires five-star prospects, getting elite talent that also fits the style of your play is the key to competing. This recruiting haul does just that. It has the toughness to follow in the footsteps of the group, led by now-departed Sarah Miles and Liz Repella, that helped West Virginia to a No. 3 seed in last year's NCAA tournament.
West Virginia has just one senior on its roster for the upcoming season and a freshman class that ESPN HoopGurlz ranked as the No. 22 signing class for 2011. The 2011 and 2012 classes, combined, provide talent and depth at every position. On top of that, the 2012 recruits will have the benefit of junior posts Asya Bussie and Ayana Dunning for one season to show them the way and collectively could very well provide the biggest frontcourt in the conference.
With updated recruiting class rankings less than a week away, don't be surprised if this Mountaineers group earns top 10 status.
For West Virginia's complete 2012 recruiting class click here.
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Chris Hansen is the national director of prospects for ESPN HoopGurlz and covers girls' basketball and women's college basketball prospects nationally for ESPN.com. A graduate of the University of Washington with a communications degree, he has been involved in the women's basketball community since 1998 as a high school and club coach, trainer, evaluator and reporter. He is a member of the McDonald's All-American team selection committee. Hansen can be reached at chris.hansen@espn.com.