With the unforeseen suspension of Kerr Krissa, junior Kobe Johnson will be the starting point guard for the Mountaineers to begin the season.
Johnson, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound product of Canton, Ohio will be a different look for West Virginia than Kriisa, while the Mountaineers hope he will not miss a beat during Kriisa’s nine-game suspension.
“I’m excited about Kobe. Kobe, he’s you know, this is (his) third year in the program. He’s played in 61 games. He’s very capable and I have full confidence in Kobe leading the program,” West Virginia interim head coach Josh Eilert said Thursday.
In Johnson’s time with West Virginia, he has racked up 106 points, 52 rebounds, 27 assists, 15 steals and nine blocks over two seasons.
Eilert also perceives Johnson as being an upgrade on the defensive end, because of his strength and almost seven-foot wingspan.
“On the defensive end, it’s a step up and you can take Kobe and put him in a position to post him as well because you know, he’s a big strong guard,” Eilert said.
Johnson has also been working on improving his game and feels like he’s seeing results.
“I feel like I’m better everywhere, offensively, reading the game, being able to help my teammates, just everywhere,” Johnson said.
Johnson will now be thrust into the spotlight starting Monday night for WVU, who is trying to overcome all the adversity that faced since June.
“I got to take that on, next man up you know and prepare these guys you know and lead them,” Johnson said.
“Kerr (Krissa) is probably more of a guy that’s going to you know force the issue, where Kobe (Johnson) is going to take care of it and be very, very solid with it and get it where it needs to go. So, I don’t anticipate Kobe having the ball in his hands as much as Kerr, but he’s done an incredible job, like, elevating his game from last year to this,” Eliert said.
Johnson and the Mountaineers looking to start the season on the right track, will take on Missouri State, on Monday at 7 p.m. EST in the WVU Coliseum.
