Published: October 14, 2008 11:59 pm         

Huggins’ style fits Kilicki

MSU Academy standout verbally commits to WVU

When Mountain State Academy’s Deniz Kilicki arrived in the United States in August, he had never heard of West Virginia University.

“I had heard of North Carolina, but that was because of (Michael) Jordan,” Kilicki said Tuesday night. “That was about it. I had not heard of West Virginia.”

Roughly two months later, Kilicki, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound native of Turkey, not only knows about West Virginia, he has verbally committed to the Mountaineers.

“I liked the school, I like Morgantown and I like the crowd,” said Kilicki, who made up his mind after attending WVU’s Midnight Madness last Friday night at the WVU Coliseum. “And I really like coach (Bob) Huggins. He is a very good coach and I trust him so much. And I know this is where I can improve my basketball.”

“Deniz is an NBA player,” MSA coach Rob Fulford said. “Playing for coach Huggins will enhance his ability to be a better NBA player. Look at Joe Alexander. He went from averaging (nine points) and being on the verge of transferring (under former coach John Beilein) to being the eighth pick in the NBA draft. It’s the coach you play for who gets you to the NBA, not the name on the front of the jersey.

“The main reason he committed to West Virginia was because of Bob Huggins. He trusts his basketball career to Bob Huggins. The word trust came up a lot during the process.”

Kilicki was also a quick study.

He investigated many of the schools involved in the recruiting process — including UCLA, Kentucky, Texas and North Carolina State — when he came upon the name Joe Alexander.

“I found out a lot of information about Joe Alexander,” Kilicki said. “I saw his clips on the YouTube. He has got talent, he has moves and he jumps so high — he is a freak athlete. He improved himself so much in one-and-a-half years. People tell me that coach Huggins helped him improve. I would like to do the same thing as Joe Alexander. Because Bob Huggins is such a good trainer, such a good coach, that is why I want to go to West Virginia.”

Kilicki said he also valued the family atmosphere at West Virginia.

“That was important to me,” Kilicki said. “The place I go, I want it to be like family. Will the coach be like a father, will the players be like my brothers? I felt that when I went there. Will the (coaching staff) make me work hard and make me a better player?”

“No doubt he will work under coach Huggins,” Fulford said. “He has a proven track record with guys making it to the next level. Why? Because they work and they understand the game. It is a perfect fit for Deniz, in my opinion.”

Kilicki and MSA teammate Noah Cottrill give the Falcons two future WVU players.

— E-mail:

demorrison@register-herald.com