Flowers enjoys time back in Morgantown

That’s how it was with John Flowers, the one-time West Virginia basketball player from Bob Huggins’ 2010 Mountaineer Final Four team, only he really never could fully grasp where he was headed.

Flowers should have had a hint coming out of high school, lined up to go to West Virginia to play for ... no, not Huggins but John Beilein. Then one day the news came to Flowers that Beilein had gone to Michigan, and that Huggins was coming to West Virginia.

Flowers didn’t know where he would end up.

“It was a good thing my mother was here to guide me through that stuff,” Flowers said the other day as he took part not only in Huggins’ Fantasy Camp, but was involved in creating his second alumni reunion basketball game at Morgantown High on July 30.

“She was an All-American basketball player. She loved Huggs when he came to the house.”

He was sold on WVU from the start.

“When I came on my visit there was so much love from the fans ... the fans and the team. There was so much camaraderie.” Flowers said.

That makes it sound like it was a done deal, but he didn’t hear from Huggins right away and had thoughts of maybe following Beilein to Michigan.

Then Huggins made contact.

“When he called, he said he wanted me. He said it isn’t going to be easy. I don’t know what Beilein promised you. You are going to have to earn a spot. I told him that was what I was looking for,” Flowers said.

So Flowers wound up at WVU, had a love affair throughout with the city, the team, the coach — and knew more than likely he was going to have to make his living playing basketball internationally.

What he didn’t know was just how international it would be. Today, Flowers has become something of a citizen of the world.

“My first year was in Japan. That was the first time I was out of the country. That really helped me out. It prepared me for any other country,” he said.

And there have been an host of other countries in which he has played and traveled.

“It’s a great experience, learning the different languages and different cultures and seeing all of Europe and the world,” Flowers said. “I played against Da’Sean (Butler) this year. Killed him. They won one; we won one.

“I saw Da’Sean and Alex (Ruoff) play in France this year. We had a couple of beers after.”

And Flowers follows the Mountaineers from afar.

“I watch a few games, but of course I have to stay up to 3, 4 or 5 in the morning to see them,” he said.

Of course, running around Europe in today’s world isn’t the safest of endeavors.

“It’s not so bad,” Flowers said. “You can’t live worrying about what is going to happen. When it’s time to go, it’s time to go. That’s what Huggins said on a bumpy plane ride one time. I almost passed out on that ride.”

But the best part is getting back to the USA and getting to Morgantown.

That’s why Flowers likes getting the former players together for an annual game.

“I like to learn a lot about the past experiences of the former players, how it was when they played, guys like Herbie Brooks and all,” he said.

So far, Flowers has a lot of the players who took part in the first game while adding Patrick Beilein, Marcus Goree and Mike Gansey.

“We are looking for (Kevin) Pittsnogle. If anyone has seen him, send him to me. I’d love to bring him back,” Flowers said.

Meanwhile, Flowers worked the Fantasy Camp at the new basketball facility this weekend.

“I wish we would have had it. I probably would have slept here. I would have kept my check and not paid rent,” he said.