Earlier this morning, WVU announced Devin Williams plans to enter the NBA draft. (Aside: “Ready or not” is an … interesting choice for the highlight reel’s soundtrack. More on that in a minute.)

“This is something I’ve thought about over and over, and I believe that this is the best decision for me and my family,” said Williams. “I can’t say enough about the three years I have had at West Virginia University. At the same time, I’m grateful to be in this position to be able to fulfill a lifelong dream.”

Lots of people are entering and will enter the NBA draft. Some are serious and some are silly about their intentions.

With that being said, every player who is eligible for the draft, including our walk-ons, will submit their names for the NBA Draft …

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) March 23, 2016

… in hopes of being invited to the combine in May.

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) March 23, 2016

Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that. The NCAA has a new rule that allows a player to enter his name up to three times for the draft, and a player can then work out for no more than one NBA team per year and participate in the draft combine. Even then, a player has 10 days after the combine to decide whether he’ll stay in the draft or return to school.

So on the surface, this seems like a route Devin is exploring and that he shouldn’t be faulted for that, though I wouldn’t fault you for saying, “This doesn’t make any sense. He said he was coming back to school.”

True, he did. Kind  of …

Bad moods and reviews in the WVU locker room, but Devin Williams said he'll return for his senior season.

— Mike Casazza (@mikecasazza) March 19, 2016

But then Williams hedged in the same setting — that being the emotional moments after a shocking season-ending loss when thoughts are not clear and the end is not something you want to rush to and embrace — and that was not a surprise.

All his words did was guarantee his future was the team’s biggest offseason question mark.

He first slipped the announcement into an answer to a question about preparation, saying he needed to do a better job next season making sure teammates were more ready to play than they were against SFA. A minute later, he was asked if that meant he’d be with WVU for the 2016-17 season. Williams, who in the preseason spoke openly about this possibly being his last season, answered yes.

Then the crowd of reporters around his locker was replaced by another, and the topic about his future was mentioned again. This time, Williams double-clutched. His head, he said, was “messed up” after the loss, and he didn’t feel it was time to think about leaving.

“I’m just sad,” he said. “For real, that’s my feeling. I’m sad. I’ve got a lot of mixed emotions right now. I don’t want to say anything that I’m not sure about.”

Look, dissect Devin’s decision all you want. There’s a lot of that coming the way of a player who I can’t find in any mock draft. But let’s be clear on this: He didn’t change his mind today after committing himself to his teammates and his coaches 11 days ago. That never happened.

Further, this question was around the team all season. Williams did talk in the preseason about accomplishing what he needed to accomplish as a junior and then turning pro. There were whispers WVU recruited and planned for his departure, understanding that while he could very well return, he also could leave just as easily. This isn’t any sort of a surprise for Bob Huggins.

And it seems like it’s Devin’s final call. The locker room reversal seemed like a player who realized he said something he didn’t intend to say and then corrected it without writing new and different postgame headlines (“WVU loses, Williams to go pro” would have made for a rather miserable aftermath for fans). The highlight package feels like a farewell. The quotes in the press release almost define finality.

“We support Devin in his decision to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a professional basketball player,” said coach Bob Huggins. “We wish him nothing but the best and appreciate his contributions and the impact that he has had on Mountaineer Basketball.”

…

“I would like to thank my teammates, coach Huggins and the coaching staff, Mr. Lyons, President Gee, all of the basketball support staff and the entire Mountaineer Nation for all their guidance and support during the last three years,” said Williams. “This has been a tremendous experience for me and I will always be a Mountaineer.”

As of this morning, I’ve heard Williams plans to sign with an agent but that it has not happened. I would probably consider that temporary. Now heads turn to Elijah Macon, Maciej Bender and Sagaba Konate to fill some very big shoes, because Huggins is going to plug someone in and expect to play the same way. Huggins won’t throw the ball inside to those players as often or as willingly as he did with Williams, but he’s not going to give them a hall pass, either, and he’ll expect offensive rebounds and post defense and more, sooner now rather than later.

Macon has the experience, and he’s flashed his talent as well as his shortcomings in two seasons. Bender is a skilled offensive center who needs some weight and muscle. Konate is a bit raw but also most like Williams of the three.

Surprise or not, and presuming this is permanent, it’s a massive loss for WVU, which could have been a preseason top-10 team and can now figure to be sharply overlooked again in the preseason (although with better incentive, because if Williams is gone, the Mountaineers lose a double-double, leading-scorer/best offensive talent Jaysean Paige and Jon Holton, who was a superb accomplice for Williams).

He was WVU’s backbone, more so than the press, I think, and a player opponents schemed around on a team that had no other such candidates. I’d argue that when Devin was going good, he covered up as many offensive problems with his rebounding and his ability to draw attention from the perimeter as did the press with the steals, the turnovers, the easy baskets and the extra possessions.

Williams didn’t shoot or score exceptionally well, but we’re talking about one of the country’s better rebounders and an overlooked defender near the basket at the bottom of the press. If you’re cobbling together characteristics for a Huggins player, you’re taking defense and rebounding before shooting and scoring.