A mini-resurgence by Alex Ruoff has him closer to WVU’s 3-point record, but also his exit. The Mountaineers, in their second season with Bob Huggins, are somewhat fortunate to lose just one player, but what a loss it will be because Ruoff is a far more complete player now than many people ever predicted. And what a chore for incoming freshman Dalton Pepper, who is the lone guard in the recruiting class (so far?) and accepts he compares at least favorably to Ruoff.

“We’re about the same height and right now he’s probably stronger than me. He’s a really good player with good skills and he’s a good player to be compared to. He’s a good shooter, but I’m probably just a little more athletic than him and maybe a little better at ball-handling.”

High, though humble praise and there exists curiosity wherever you go. Naturally, people wonder if he can hit right away in college and in a Big East backcourt, where he may be needed, especially when the status of Joe Mazzulla is still uncertain. This is nothing new and Pepper’s heard this in Philadelphia, where he’s done his thing in the ‘burbs while the inner city looks on and wonders if it’s legit.

You looked at the Pennsbury boys’ basketball player’s gaudy stats. The first thing you said was, ‘He wouldn’t get that in the Pub.’ You also believed that he would get exposed in the Philadelphia Catholic League.

But you were intrigued, and you headed to a local showcase to see the swingman compete against Philly’s best players.

It’s not pretty. The dudes from the Public League get used. At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Pepper is too big, too fast and too good to contain.

Suddenly, you became a believer.

“He can step outside. He can handle the ball,” said Bartram coach James Brown, whose squad lost to Pennsbury in the Kobe Bryant Classic on Jan. 25. “He can shoot from the outside. He can take it baseline. He can shoot off the dribble.