Konate to return for junior season at WVU

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Center Sagaba Konate has elected to withdraw his name from the 2018 NBA Draft and return to West Virginia for his junior season.

"I am glad that I was able to gain feedback and to get experience from being invited to the NBA Draft Combine," Konate said. "It was a great experience, and I'm ready to get back to work with my teammates at West Virginia."

Konate was coming off an impressive sophomore campaign where he increased his totals across the board to 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.

The Mali native worked out at the NBA Combine in Chicago and impressed with some areas of his game but the consensus from those that cover the draft was that he still needs to improve with consistency with his shooting as well as his ability to play in space on the defensive end to fit the NBA game.

Konate previously had informed multiple reporters on his intentions to return for this coming fall earlier in the morning.

"We are pleased that Sags will be back in a Mountaineer uniform," coach Bob Huggins said. "As with Esa, JC (Jevon Carter) and others in past, Sags went through the process in a systematic and professional manner. The experience and feedback from the NBA Draft Combine will help him in the future."

Just the latest domino to fall in favor of the Mountaineers this off-season, Konate will provide the experienced post-presence that head coach Bob Huggins needed. He is slated to join redshirt junior Logan Routt, freshman Derek Culver and redshirt sophomore Andrew Gordon as part of a retooled group of big men in 2018.

WVSports.com will have more on this development.

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