West Virginia’s men’s basketball team finally put the jersey numbers out there for the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, and most of them were exactly what you’d expect. Then came freshman big man Aliou Dioum, who made the kind of choice that stops you for a second.
Dioum will wear No. 85, a number no player has ever worn at West Virginia. It’s not exactly a common look in college basketball, either, with numbers in the 60s through the 90s rarely showing up on the floor. There’s clearly a reason behind it, though what that reason is remains to be seen until there’s a chance to ask him before the season.
At 6-foot-10 and 200 pounds, Dioum is unusual in more ways than one. The best way to picture his game, according to the source, is as the “Energizer Bunny” of basketball - nonstop energy, constant movement, and the kind of effort that lifts everyone around him.
He brings bounce, athleticism, and enough perimeter touch to step out and knock down shots now and then. West Virginia beat out Arizona State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Missouri, Ole Miss, Syracuse, UNLV, Wake Forest, and others to land him.
Another notable number belongs to Traore, who will wear No. 0, the same number he used at Manhattan and Utah. That choice does not eliminate the possibility of Brenen Lorient coming back, though it does make the situation worth watching.
If the staff had believed Lorient was definitely headed for an extra year, the number would seem like one they might have kept available. For now, though, his return remains unsettled, depending on whether he pursues the additional year and gets it approved by the courts.
In Other News...
WVU Roster Shakeup Hints At Two Key Battles Still Unsettled
West Virginias latest roster update was mostly housekeeping on the surface, with a batch of jersey number changes and a pronunciation note tucked in among the names. But the additions also offered a little more clarity on how the Mountaineers are sorting out their depth chart heading into the season, especially with a freshman quarterback Brown joining the room as another young option and a Mississippi State transfer arriving with a chance to push for real snaps.
The most interesting part may be what the numbers suggest about the battles still hanging out there. Several newcomers are settling in, including a transfer defender who is back in his old jersey and brings an All-Sun Belt pedigree with him, while West Virginia continues to sort through who fits where on both sides of the ball. Even with the roster now updated, the picture is still incomplete, and a couple of key roles look like they will stay unsettled a while longer. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Is Suddenly In The Mix For Elite 2027 Names
West Virginias recruiting footprint is suddenly looking a lot more prominent in the 2027 class after CBS Sports director of basketball scouting Adam Finkelstein updated the national board this week. The reshuffle came after Marcus Spears Jr. moved into 2026, pushing Beckham Black to No. 1 and opening the door for a new order near the top, with Cayden Daughtry making the biggest leap after a strong EYBL run that put him firmly among the elite names in the cycle.
For the Mountaineers, the encouraging part is how many of those high-end prospects are already on the radar. WVU is involved with Daughtry, DeMarcus Henry and Adan Diggs, giving the staff a presence with three players in the top 10, while other targets like Paul Osaruyi and Malachi Jordan also remain in the mix as the board continues to shift. Henrys ties to the program add an obvious layer of intrigue, but the bigger question now is whether West Virginia can turn early visibility into real traction with the kind of national talent it has been chasing. [Read more 🡒]