People think you either love a place or hate it. Truth is….sometimes you do both.
I love West Virginia University. I met lifelong friends there. Built relationships that still exist today. Had some of the best moments of my life there. I still support the program. I still go to games. I still know coaches, people in the athletic department, and people around the university. Basketball-wise, I had real success there, too. I scored over 1,000 points in two seasons. Last player to average 20 a game there. Still holds the school steals record. For a period of time, I was one of the most electric players to wear the uniform. But if I’m being honest… part of me still hurts over how it ended. That part never fully leaves. People see stats and headlines. They don’t always understand how complicated emotions become when your dream ends abruptly in a place you still care about.
Even now, when I walk into the Coliseum, it can feel heavy. Dark almost. Certain memories hit me instantly. Sometimes, even hearing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” brings back emotions I can’t fully explain. That song means celebration for most WVU fans. For me, sometimes it reminds me of unfinished business. When Coach John Beilein was there, I honestly couldn’t root for WVU. The bitterness was too fresh. It felt personal. Like I had been erased from part of the story. Once he left, though, my relationship with WVU slowly changed again. I became a fan. Started appreciating the university separate from the pain. Because despite everything… WVU is still part of me.
What bothered me most wasn’t just how my career ended. It felt like everything I accomplished got overshadowed by the dismissal. Sometimes people remember the controversy before the basketball. And that’s hard when you know how much you gave to a program. Time helps. Growth helps. I’m older now. I understand life better. I understand mistakes, politics, emotions, and timing better, too. I don’t carry hatred for WVU.I carry complicated emotions.
Because the same place that gave me some of my greatest memories also gave me one of my deepest disappointments. And maybe that’s why it still means something to me after all these years.