Full Breakdown
West Virginia University Basketball Programs Undergo Major Roster Overhaul via 2026 Transfer Portal
4/28/2026, 3:30:20 AM
Core Roster Overhaul
During the 2026 NCAA transfer portal (April 7–21), West Virginia University (WVU) men’s and women’s basketball teams added multiple transfers while losing several players. The men’s roster received four confirmed transfers; the women’s roster added six transfers and other signees, raising its scholarship count to 11 of 15.
Background & Context
The portal enables student-athletes to seek new programs. WVU coaches used it to fill gaps from graduating seniors and departures. The men’s side is “rebuilding the majority of the roster,” and women’s coach Mark Kellogg aims to repeat last season’s success despite typically fielding fewer than 15 players.
Timeline of Key Moves
April 6 – women’s portal opens; Jordan Thomas plans to enter. April 7 – portal opens for all. April 10 – guard Javan Buchanan (Boise State) joins the men’s team. April 12 – guard Finley Bizjack (Butler) joins. April 13 – center Khyala Ngodu (UCF) signs with the women’s team. April 20 – forward Skylar Forbes (Marquette) commits to the women’s team. April 21 – portal closes; the women’s squad removes Carter McCray and Riley Makalusky, adds guards Kennedy Harris (George Mason) and Nylah Wilson (Pitt), and signs forward Zahirah Walton (George Mason), forward Hawa Doumbouya (VCU), guard Marya Hudgins (BYU), center Mouhamed Sylla (Georgia Tech) and forward Martin Somerville (Florida State).
Data & Statistics
Incoming men’s transfers bring scoring averages of 12.6 pts (Buchanan), 17.1 pts (Bizjack), 9.6 pts (Sylla) and 8.0 pts (Somerville), with Sylla also posting 7.2 reb and 1.2 blk on 57.9 % shooting. Women’s additions include 37 % three-point shooting guard Marya Hudgins, 6-ft-7 forward Hawa Doumbouya (two years eligibility), 15.5 pts per game forward Skylar Forbes, and 18.1 pts, 6.1 reb, 2.1 ast per game forward Zahirah Walton. The women’s roster also gains guards Kennedy Harris and Nylah Wilson, and center Khyala Ngodu. Departures: five women’s seniors exhausted eligibility (Sydney Woodley, Sydney Shaw, Jordan Harrison, Kierra Wheeler, Celia Riviere) and transfers out include Jordan Thomas, Loghan Johnson (unconfirmed), Carter McCray and Riley Makalusky.
Official Statements & Responses
WVU athletics encouraged fans to “sign up for WVU intel,” offering a $1 trial week and a complimentary year of The Athletic, emphasizing the need to stay updated as the roster evolves. Coach Mark Kellogg reiterated a goal to repeat the previous season’s success.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
EerSports could not verify senior guard Loghan Johnson’s portal entry, and the status of Jordan Thomas remained pending at the portal’s opening. No official confirmation of these moves existed at the time of reporting.
Why It Matters
The influx of experienced transfers adds depth and fills positional needs for both squads, affecting their competitive profile in the Big 12. The women’s program, operating with a reduced roster, gains size and scoring through Doumbouya and Forbes, while the men’s side adds scoring guards to replace departing talent.
What’s Next
Fall camp begins shortly, during which coaches will finalize scholarship allocations and integrate new transfers. The final 15-player women’s roster and the men’s lineup will be set ahead of the 2026-27 season, shaping WVU’s prospects in conference play.
