AP PHOTO West Virginia guard Chase Harler (14) shoots as he is defended by Iowa State guard Rasir Bolton (45) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday in Morgantown, W.Va.

MORGANTOWN — Chase Harler is proving that hard work and commitment will be rewarded.

I couldn’t tell you how many times I heard from different basketball fans and West Virginia diehards things like “that Chase Harler can’t play at WVU” or “Harler would be better off playing at a Division II school, so he should just transfer out of there.”

Unlike many college athletes, who are seemingly jumping into the transfer portal at a rate unlike ever seen before, Harler stuck it out. The true senior has had experiences and memories to last a lifetime. Sure. He’s not led the Mountaineers in scoring, not garnered all-conference accolades or even started many games. But, there is more to college sports than those things.

Harler has acquired a top-notch degree — for free — and gotten to experience the NCAA Tournament, played in some of the nation’s premier venues like Madison Square Garden, Allen Fieldhouse at Kansas, been to Germany to play at Ramstein Air Force Base, played in Puerto Rico, been to China and the list goes on and on.

Quite simply, I ask those people who hit me with those aforementioned questions, “would you like to do those things that Chase Harler has been able to do?” Many just say, ‘well …”

I get it. Harler isn’t the Mountaineers leading scorer. Actually, he’s averaging 5.3 points a game, has made only one start, but appeared in all 22 games. For his career, he’s scored 387 points.

Harler is a role player and all good teams have guys like him. He can guard. He can knock down an open shot. He’s hit numerous big 3-pointers this season. He was huge against Ohio State in a game in Cleveland and he scored a season-high 14 against Iowa State on Wednesday in just 18 minutes of action.

Harler and the Mountaineers — barring something totally unforeseen — are going to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in his career next month. They’re also a legitimate contender in the Big 12 and also listed as a team that could make some noise in the big dance. Again, Harler may not be flashy or post big numbers, but he’s contributing and he’s making memories that most of us can only dream of, which, by the way, is kind of what college is all about. Isn’t it?

Here is a listing of how area products in their sports:

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

CAITLYN KROLL, Ohio — Bridgeport product scored nine points and had three rebounds against Central Michigan. She played against Eastern Michigan.

ANGELA STAFFILENO, Duquesne — Brooke product played in a win over VCU..

LILLY RITZ, Wheeling — Cambridge alumnus was named MEC Player of the Week for last week and followed up this week with a 33 point and 21-rebound effort in a loss to Charleston. She had 16 points and 12 rebounds last weekend against Davis & Elkins.

KELSI CHAPMAN, Wheeling — Magnolia grad played in games against Davis & Elkins and Charleston.

EMILY HOLZOPFEL, Wheeling — Buckeye Local product scored four points in a win over D&E and was held to two points in a loss last Wednesday.

MORGAN BRUNNER, West Liberty — Linsly product scored 18 points and had four rebounds in a win over Wesleyan. She scored 12 points and had six rebounds against West Virginia State.

MONICA BRAGG, West Liberty — Madonna product averaged 1.5 points a game in a pair of wins for the Hilltoppers.

VIVIAN ALLISON, Mercyhurst — Linsly product scored two points in a win over Seton Hill.

TAYLOR DUPLAGA, Fairmont State — Wheeling Central alumnus had a career high 23 points in a win over Glenville on Wednesday.

LAUREN FLANNERY, Lake Erie — River graduate scored eight points in a loss to Kentucky Wesleyan.

ANNA DEFILIPPO, Cedarville — St. Clairsville product scored five points in a win over Trevecca and played in a win over Alderson-Broaddus.

ALLI DELANEY, Waynesburg — Union Local grad scored 22 points and had four rebounds in a win against Geneva on Wednesday. She had 16 points and four rebounds in a loss last weekend.

KALLEE DOWLER, Westminster (Mo) — Barnesville product had a big week. She scored 25 points and had five rebounds in a win last Saturday and came back with 11 points and four rebounds in a win over winless Principia.

RILEIGH SIMPSON, Muskingum — St. Clairsville grad didn’t play in games against Baldwin-Wallace or Mount Union.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

LOGAN ROUTT, West Virginia — The senior from Cameron played in both the Kansas State and Iowa State games, but didn’t score in either.

PRESTON BOSWELL, West Liberty — The former Magnolia standout had 7 points in a win last Saturday, but netted just one in a loss on Wednesday at West Virginia State.

PHIL BLEDSOE, Glenville — Wheeling Park graduate had 22 points and 12 rebounds in a win last Saturday. He scored 10 points and had four rebounds in a loss to Fairmont on Wednesday.

LUKAS ISALY, Marietta — Sophomore from River had 13 points in a loss to John Carroll and then on Wednesday recorded 18 points and five assists in a win over Capital.

TRENTON TIPTON, Wooster — Senior from Union Local scored 3 points in a loss last weekend and had two points in a win on Wednesday against Kenyon.

LUKE McDONOUGH, LaRoche — Bellaire product had nine points and 10 rebounds in a win last Saturday against D’Youville.

TREY SINGLETON, Muskingum — Sophomore from Meadowbrook hasn’t appeared in the last two Muskies games.

WRESTLING

TARIQ WILSON, N.C. State — Steubenville grad picked up another win by decision in the Wolfpack dual at Pitt last weekend.

TOMMY CURTIN, West Liberty — Linsly product finished fourth in the Mountain East Conference meet last weekend.

Staskey can be reached via email at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com or at twitter.com/TLSportsSeth