Two Big 12 programs, West Virginia and Houston, are heavily involved in the recruitment of Top 10 five-star prospect Paul Osoruyi, one of the most intriguing big men in the upcoming recruiting class. As his recruitment continues to develop, Osoruyi recently shared his thoughts on both programs and why they stand out in his process.
Osoruyi, a versatile frontcourt prospect with elite size and athleticism, has drawn significant interest from major programs across the country. However, both West Virginia and Houston have positioned themselves as serious contenders as the recruitment progresses.
When discussing West Virginia, Osoruyi spoke highly of new Mountaineers head coach Ross Hodge and the direction of the program moving forward. He also pointed to relationships with potential future teammates as something that makes the program particularly appealing.
“Coach Ross (Hodge), he’s a good coach,” Osoruyi said. “I was watching their game the other day against BYU. That wasn’t a really good game, but I think my teammates (Miles Sadler and Aliou Dioum) are going to change that dynamic next year.”
The connection with Miles Sadler, in particular, appears to be a major factor. Osoruyi noted that the two have known each other for years and already have strong chemistry on the court.
“It’d be really fun to play with Miles,” Osoruyi said. “We’ve been playing together since he was a freshman, and I was in eighth grade. We have just built a great relationship on and off the court. I know his game, and he knows mine. I know when he wants to get a bucket, and he knows when I want a bucket. He’s a true leader, a true point guard.”
While West Virginia offers familiarity and relationships, Houston also continues to make a strong impression on the five-star prospect. Osoruyi acknowledged that communication has occasionally slowed due to the Cougars’ deep postseason run, but the program remains active in his recruitment.
“They’ve been on and off with their communication because all the coaches are getting caught up with their seasons and their tournaments,” Osoruyi said. “But they’ve been in to see me, and they are in contact with my family. They still do hit me up.”
Houston’s track record of developing versatile frontcourt players also stands out to Osoruyi as he evaluates his options.
“They’re a great program, and I won’t lie, I think it fits my game,” he said. “They recruit a lot of bigs, versatile bigs like Chris Cenac and Jarace Walker. So those are the kind of bigs who fit my profile. They’re a really good program.”
With two Big 12 programs firmly in the mix, Osoruyi’s recruitment will be one to watch as the process continues to unfold.
