Exhibition gives fans a good look at Ahmad

This year, though, there is an air of anticipation for the game will mark the first time the locals get a chance to see the Mountaineers’ highly-touted recruit, Esa Ahmad, a four-star prospect out Shaker Heights High in Cleveland, against someone wearing a different uniform.

It isn’t really Ahmad’s first competition against someone else. WVU scrimmaged Temple last week, a scrimmage won by the Mountaineers in which Ahmad led all scorers with 21 points as he played mostly small forward.

It was a moment he had waited quite a while for since showing up in Morgantown and beginning practice.

“We beat up on each other out here in practice, so playing against other guys felt pretty good,” Ahmad said. “It was easier in the scrimmage. Getting a chance to beat up on them was pretty good.”

Huggins and company had put a full-court press on Ahmad since he was a high school sophomore and that, in the end, was what won the two-time Ohio High School Player of the Year over.

“I came because WVU was close to my family,” Ahmad explained. “Coach Huggs, coach Everhart, they were always there. They were there from the 10th grade right through the 12th grade — every practice, every game.

“Me and Huggs always talked. He wanted me to play the 2 or 3, to use my versatility.”

And that was just fine with Ahmad, who right now is almost capable of playing almost anywhere on the court while standing 6-foot-8.

The only real question was his academics.

“It was big because of what I went through academically, just to get here. It’s a blessing,” Ahmad said.

“Actually, when they told me I was cleared to play, I was working on an online class. I was so relieved, I shut everything down and ran outside,” he said.

Qualifying academically to play in Morgantown was one thing. Qualifying physically was another, as they tried to ready Ahmad for the process of being able to bang in the Big 12.

He felt it was important that he came in early and got down to business right away.

“There’s so much to learn, so many plays and getting ready physically was the most challenging part. I came in at about 17 percent body fat but the last time they checked me I was at about 11 percent. No telling where I am now.”

How does one go from 17 percent body fat to 11 percent so quickly?

Start with a lot of running.

The rest was nutrition.

“I had to cut out drinking juices. I had to drink water. I had to cut out things. I had to cut out McDonald’s. That was big for me,” he said.

And tough.

“I was a big fan of McDonald’s,” Ahmad admitted.

With Ahmad the center of attention for the fans, the coaches will be focusing more on cutting down team turnovers, shooting better, making the press work as efficiently as it can without building up the fouls and getting ready for next Friday’s opening game.