Quinn Slazinski has seen all of it in faculty basketball, however might have discovered a house at WVU

MORGANTOWN — Quinn Slazinski’s life journey has been a narrative at all times on the transfer.

His hometown is listed as Houston, and he considers himself a “Texas child,” but elements of his childhood was spent shifting backwards and forwards between Houston and Detroit.

Because the thought goes, although, nation roads finally lead you to West Virginia, which is the place the 6-foot-9 ahead now finds himself as a part of a revamped WVU males’s hoops roster.

But that is the second time Slazinski has lived within the Mountain State, which has seemingly performed a significant position in his journey.

Previous to enrolling at Louisville as a freshman in 2019, he spent two years enjoying at Huntington Prep.

“They used to place 12 of us in a van and drive us as much as the (WVU) soccer video games again when Will Grier was the quarterback,” Slazinski mentioned. “This place at all times had an at-home vibe.”

His basketball profession to this point reads as each celebration and hardship.

At Louisville, he performed for a program that reached No. 1 within the AP ballot again in 2019.

After transferring to Iona, he performed two seasons beneath the tutelage of Corridor-of-Fame coach Rick Pitino.

But nothing simply fairly appeared to suit.

“New York was a bit too loopy,” he mentioned.

After which the phrases slip out of the ahead’s prepare of thought so naturally and straight ahead. No matter Slazinski has been trying to find, he simply might have discovered it in Morgantown.

“I’m blissful to be dwelling,” is the best way he describes his feeling towards WVU. “I really like the place already and I’ve solely been right here for about two months. Everybody treats you want household right here.”

What does Slazinski convey to the desk? Properly, that’s the factor, he’s by no means actually had a real probability to make an influence.

On a loaded Louisville crew as a freshman, his position was to easily match it, the position many freshmen discover themselves in early of their careers.

Then COVID-19 hit, which prompted a change of surroundings to Iona.

He performed only one full season there, beginning 23 instances for a crew that gained 25 video games and misplaced to Florida within the first spherical of the NIT.

A 12 months later, a foot damage by no means fairly healed and he finally had season-ending surgical procedure. He was having his greatest statistical season when it occurred, averaging 11.3 factors and 5.7 rebounds per sport. Slazinski is hoping to obtain a medical redshirt for that season so as to play one other one at WVU subsequent 12 months.

He briefly adopted Pitino to St. John’s earlier than deciding to switch to WVU.

It’s not misplaced on him that Pitino and St. John’s will go to the Coliseum on Dec. 1.

“If you recognize me, you recognize that I’m taking a look at that sport and I’m excited for that sport,” Slazinski mentioned. “I’m the last word competitor. I do know a few of the guys on that crew. I used to be roommates with a few them at Iona. Everybody in that locker room will know that I need to are available and kill them. They’re not going to let up, both. Yeah, I’ve had that sport circled for some time.”

Slazinski will play in that sport in a novel circumstance, having gone from a Corridor-of-Fame coach with 35 years of school teaching to Josh Eilert at WVU, who’s in his first season.

“There’s a distinction,” he mentioned. “(Pitino) bought his first job when my dad and mom weren’t even married but. Once you take a look at stuff like that, it’s going to be an amazing alternative for me to get a distinct take a look at teaching.”

So, simply who’s Slazinski? He’s a younger man who has continually performed with a chip on his shoulder.

He wasn’t a nationally-heralded recruit when he enrolled at Huntington Prep and is pleased with the best way he labored his manner into the beginning lineup there.

He’s been confronted with one problem after one other in faculty, too.

That will have performed a task in his choice to come back to WVU. Slazinski was signed by Eilert late, solely after the drama had unfolded with Bob Huggins’ resignation from the college in June.

“It’s type of loopy, as a result of I’ve been in some locker rooms the place stuff has occurred,” he mentioned. “It occurs at each faculty.

“I believe it’s shocking to folks how simple it’s to focus simply on basketball. Basketball has type of been a sanctuary for us since we had been children. If something went flawed, you’ll be able to bounce a basketball a few instances and all the things can be OK. I believe that’s no completely different right here. We’re all conscious of the turmoil. Actually that simply provides us additional motivation to attempt to combat, attempt to compete and win.”