West Liberty Hilltopper Basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

That does seem to be a difference between our former coach and Mike. Mike appears to like larger rosters while our former coach typically kept his roster in the 12-13 player range.

He was likely highly encouraged to sign as many players as possible -- with the notion being crystal clear players 13 and beyond are simply there to pay their own way, boost enrollment and get to say they play college basketball.

Follow the money. It's a common charade amongst schools that size.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Yeah that's going to be a big change here if we have more than 12 or 13 players. I remember laughing at Wheeling Jesuit years ago when they would show up with like 20 + players in the layup line.

Being most of them were paying their own way Wheeling would have probably preferred to have 40 in the layup line. It's just a money grab.

[TopperNation]

Being most of them were paying their own way Wheeling would have probably preferred to have 40 in the layup line. It's just a money grab.

Yeah, that explains a lot then. Kids paying to live out a collegiate dream.

[boatcapt]

Don't forget that Coker is a small private. Those places often use extended rosters to add more "paying customers" who dream of playing ball in college to the tuition ledger. Very few public schools do that. I would be shocked if Lamberti had a roster that big at WLU. That was likely more institutional in nature. Remember the days when Wheeling U would have a team picture that looked like it had a varsity and JV squad?

All true. But "paying customers" (ie non schollys players) effect the schools bottom line no matter weather the school is private or public. Don't think 8 "paying players" would be the difference in most schools closing or staying open, but in these days of declining enrollment, you take students wherever you can get them!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

All true. But "paying customers" (ie non schollys players) effect the schools bottom line no matter weather the school is private or public. Don't think 8 "paying players" would be the difference in most schools closing or staying open, but in these days of declining enrollment, you take students wherever you can get them!

Why do you think these schools have every sport under the sun? More heads. More beds. The vast majority of our "non-revenue sport" athletes are paying mostly their own way.

Add them all up and it becomes a nice chunk of tuition money.

D3 Football is the poster child. Some of those rosters have like 150 players. But, some kid with wealthy parents can say he played at Mt. Union (as the 149th player).

[boatcapt]

Why do you think these schools have every sport under the sun? More heads. More beds. The vast majority of our "non-revenue sport" athletes are paying mostly their own way.

Add them all up and it becomes a nice chunk of tuition money.

D3 Football is the poster child. Some of those rosters have like 150 players. But, some kid with wealthy parents can say he played at Mt. Union (as the 149th player).

Yup. I would add that pretty much all sports at the DII level are "non revenue producing!"

[Scrub]

Just for comparison, I looked up Sancomb's roster from this past year at Cal--a roster consisting of 14 players--and a randomly selected roster from his days at Wheeling U. I randomly picked 2013-14--a roster that consisted of 24 players.

Rest assured that Mike Lamberti isn't going to stuff 26 dudes in Hilltopper jerseys this year. It's part of the private school playbook. A move Sancomb--as just one example--obviously didn't take with him when he made the jump from a private to a public.

[boatcapt]

Just for comparison, I looked up Sancomb's roster from this past year at Cal--a roster consisting of 14 players--and a randomly selected roster from his days at Wheeling U. I randomly picked 2013-14--a roster that consisted of 24 players.

Rest assured that Mike Lamberti isn't going to stuff 26 dudes in Hilltopper jerseys this year. It's part of the private school playbook. A move Sancomb--as just one example--obviously didn't take with him when he made the jump from a private to a public.

But the portal is filled with 5-tool, WLU Style players just sitting at home waiting for a call. Seems like Mike could help a few out right? I mean, if there really is such an abundance of WLU Style players out there waiting and not receiving calls, maybe we could bring a number of them in on sort of no cost "demo contracts"...Maybe a couple pan out and become the stars that some think they should be!!

[Columbuseer]

Just for comparison, I looked up Sancomb's roster from this past year at Cal--a roster consisting of 14 players--and a randomly selected roster from his days at Wheeling U. I randomly picked 2013-14--a roster that consisted of 24 players.

Rest assured that Mike Lamberti isn't going to stuff 26 dudes in Hilltopper jerseys this year. It's part of the private school playbook. A move Sancomb--as just one example--obviously didn't take with him when he made the jump from a private to a public.

Thanks for the info. I appreciate the time you took to research to determine if facts supported your position.

Once Coach Howlett had 15 players in preseason and toyed with the idea of 3 platoons as a way of increasing pressure on the opponent. He ultimately decided against it and used the 3rd platoon only in late game mop-up duty. Once wlu identifies wlu style players, Wlu brings them in for open gym, which is their tryout. Afterwards, on many occasions, the recruit or the coaches decide it is not a fit and they both move on.

I do not see wlu going beyond 14 or 15 players. Imho that is the maximum that could get a fair amount of time during the unique wlu practice regimen, which relies on 5-on-5 games to 100.

[Columbuseer]

Sometimes the sequel improves upon the original.
6-2 Terrance Pankey Jr. Is returning to wlu as a rs sophomore. Previously, he redshirted as a freshman at wlu.
Last year he averaged 22.6 ppg, 8 rebounds and 4 assists at Butler County Community College.

imho, he has great potential.

[boatcapt]

Sometimes the sequel improves upon the original.
6-2 Terrance Pankey Jr. Is returning to wlu as a rs sophomore. Previously, he redshirted as a freshman at wlu.
Last year he averaged 22.6 ppg, 8 rebounds and 4 assists at Butler County Community College.

imho, he has great potential.

The Pankey pickup is definitely a good one. While he didn't play for WLU, as I recall he was assessed as a very good recruiting addition when he came out of HS. Lamberti was heavily involved in bring him to the Hilltop then and clearly, that paid dividends in bring him back after one season at Butler.

His stats at Butler were top notch pretty much across the board. Only nit to pick was his 3 point shooting percentage (33%) and FT shooting. If he can get those squared away, his future at WLU will be bright!

Definitely a + addition.

[Columbuseer]

Fyi
June 30 - kam tinsley posted on X that he has committed to iu indy. Wish him well. Suggest that he live in the weight room at indy. He entered the portal before the 30 day coaching change deadline.

[boatcapt]

Fyi
June 30 - kam tinsley posted on X that he has committed to iu indy. Wish him well. Suggest that he live in the weight room at indy. He entered the portal before the 30 day coaching change deadline.

So now we have ONE player who has game experience at WLU.

As I calculate, this is our roster as it stands right now:

Dante Spadafora, Returning WLU Starter, 6’0”, Senior, 31 starts, 9.8 PPG, .32 3pt%
Machi Chester, WLU Redshirt, 6’2”, Redshirt Freshman (Saw a recent article that said only Spadafora and Kent were returning...sooooo?)
Cooper Kent, WLU Redshirt, 6’2”, Redshirt Freshman

Terrance Pankey, WLU Returned Transfer, 6’1”, Redshirt Soph, Butler CC 22 starts, 22.6 PPG, .33 3pt%
Xavier Harris, Cooker, 6’2”, Junior, 14 starts, 6.5 PPG, .32 3pt%
Landon Butler, Cooker, 6’4”, Junior, 1 start, 7.8 PPG, .33 3pt%
Judd Coan, Coker, 6’8”, Senior, 28 starts, 12.4 PPG, .40 3pt%
Jamie Muldowney, Coker, 6’8, Junior, 1 start, 12.6 PPG, .39 3pt%
Charley Hill, Coker, 6’3”, Redshirt Freshman
Max Hurray. Coker, 6’2”, Soph, 1 start, 12.1 PPG, .38 3pt%

Aiden Davis, WLU Freshman Recruit, 5’11”
Cameron Williams, WLU Freshman Recruit, 6’3”
Myles Montgomery, WLU Freshman Recruit, 5’10”

Soooo…Unless I’ve missed someone, that is our 2025-26 roster. One returning starter…Two (or three) returning players…seven transfers…three freshmen recruits. Two seniors…three juniors…two sophomores…two (three?) R-FR…three true freshmen. Two 6’8” players…one 6’4”…two 6’3”…four 6’2”…one 6’1”…three 6’0” or less.

Big questions for the season:

1. Does this change in location cause the 19-win Cobras to play like 30-win Toppers? Does “wearing the brand” equal 11 more wins?
2. Are the seven inbound Topper transfers (6 from Coker and one JUCO returnee) better than our ten total departures (4 to UiIndy, 4 to graduation, 2 to portal/transfer)
3. Will our lack of size cause us problems?
4. Will we make the NCAA Tourney?

[Columbuseer]

We should be taller than last year.
One 6-7
three 6-8
One 6-9

All are good shooters.
It should not be more than a couple of months before roster is published.

[Columbuseer]

6-7 wlu transfer Jamie Muldowney is a member of the 4-person Ireland U23 FIBA 3X3 Team.
Congrats Jamie!

3x3 is a very physical game.