T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY WEST VIRGINIA basketball player Chase Harler, who is a Wheeling CC grad, poses with Hayden Mueller, who is a sixth grader at St. Michael’s in Wheeling.

WHEELING — Chase Harler doesn’t shy away from hardwork or a challenge

Never has and never will.

It’s that mentality that helped land the Wheeling Central graduate a cherished scholarship offer from West Virginia University head coach Bob Huggins in August of 2014. His approach to the game caught the eye of Huggins then and it still is to this day as the Mountaineers begin their second full week of practice in preparation for next month’s opener.

“I take pride in never taking plays off,” Harler said after the Mountaineers’ Blue-Gold Scrimmage at WesBanco Arena last Thursday. “Coach Huggs preaches that and that’s my attitude. That’s going to be the way that I can help the team.”

Harler admitted that he’s needed every ounce of that attitude, too. You see as good as Harler was in high school for the Maroon Knights, which included scoring better than 2,000 points, he’s found out in just a few months of being in Morgantown that he’s going to have to continue to step it up a notch.

“The adjustment has been pretty hard,” Harler admitted. “The first week (of summer conditioning and workouts) was brutal. It’s still hard, but it’s really enjoyable, too.”

Part of what’s helped Harler’s adjustment has been his the openess at which he’s been received by his teammates. Regardless if it’s sports or a job, any newcomer is faced with some nerves and anxiousness. Harler was no different as it pertained to joining the Mountaineers.

“The guys have been great and very helpful,” Harler said. “It’s like a family. We have a lot of fun together.”

Before arriving in Morgantown, Harler knew many of his future teammates, but he only knew Cameron grad Logan Routt ‘well.’ So, Harler reached out to the WVU red-shirt freshman for some advice on what lied ahead.

“It’s awesome having another Ohio Valley guy on the team, so we have a special bond that the other guys don’t have,” Routt said. “We’re best of friends now. I tried to fill him in as much as I could. As soon as he stepped on campus, he was accepted with open arms. He was immediately part of the family.”

A big part of the adjustment was conquered on Thursday when he ran out of the tunnel, heard his name announced and scored his first points.

“It was always my dream to play for WVU and now I am living this dream, so I need to continue to work hard,” Harler admitted. “It was definitely one of the coolest moments when they announced my name and I ran out.”

Harler recently saw his name on the back of his Mountaineers jersey and knows his first real game is quickly approaching. But, he’s also keeping his emotions in check, knowing there is a lot of work to do before Nov. 11.

“I have to continue to get in the gym and work on my shooting,” Harler said. “Being consistent is the biggest thing. I have to be confident when I shoot the ball.”

WELCOME HOME … PART 2

Harler wasn’t the only Mountaineer enjoying a homecoming of sorts on Thursday. Cameron grad Logan Routt was also on hand as a member of the Mountaineers. He didn’t participate in the scrimmage because of a foot injury.

According to Routt, he should be cleared for the season opener against Mount St. Mary’s.

Routt understands and knows what his role will be when he returns.

“Coming in and playing as hard as I can by rebounding and playing good defense,” Routt said. “Whatever the team needs me to do to help win the game is what I’ll do.”

REMEMBERING EAST OHIO

Though Huggins is technically a Morgantown native since he was born there, he’s also an Ohioan. He graduated high school from Indian Valley South where he helped lead his father’s team to a state championship in 1972. Prior to transferring there, he played two years at Conotton Valley.

“I love the Ohio Valley,” Huggins said. “I moved to Midvale, which isn’t far, when I was 10 and then to Sherrodsville. I love the people.”

Huggins, who has his name still on the wall in the Rockets’ gymnasium, recalls when he and his Rocket teammates would scrimmage against Bridgeport. He even recalled running in the Shadyside Relays.

“Coach (Frank) Baxter and my dad were close, so we always went down to Bridgeport and scrimmaged,” Huggins said.

MORE TO COME?

The idea of taking the Mountaineers around the state has crossed Huggins’ mind numerous times for practices and showcase events, but NCAA rules rescrit that type of things. They were able to do it twice this season because of work being done at the Mountaineer Coliseum.

“I wish we could do these types of things more often,” Huggins said. “We’re West Virginia University, not just Morgantown University. We want to encompass the entire state.”