Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Life as a Mountaineer - Jermaine Haley
February 07, 2019 04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Whatever else Jermaine Haley does during his West Virginia University basketball career, he will always be remembered for the shot he made to beat Kansas.
Haley's driving basket with 8.5 seconds left gave WVU an unexpected 65-64 victory over the seventh-rated Jayhawks on Saturday, Jan. 19.
It was West Virginia's first Big 12 victory after beginning the season by dropping five straight conference games.
"I respect coach for letting us play out the last couple seconds of the game," Haley said. "We ran a play and we didn't get the look we wanted so the ball came back to me. I just took a chance, saw a gap and just attacked the hoop."
Once Haley's shot went down, and shots by Lagerald Vick and Dedric Lawson didn't go down, the WVU students attacked the floor to celebrate with Haley and his teammates.
"I just loved the atmosphere. I loved the togetherness. It feels like a family. They really bring people in and they just make us feel like we're at home," he said.
Home for Haley is Vancouver, British Columbia, but he's had several homes since coming to the States to play college basketball.
His first stop was at New Mexico State but his stay there was brief.
"The coach left. He got a new job at a rival school and he didn't take me with him so basically I had to make a career move," Haley said.
Then came the move to Odessa Junior College in Odessa, Texas, where he was discovered by West Virginia associate head coach Larry Harrison.
"I had a pretty good year there and really enjoyed it and then West Virginia came into the picture with Coach Harrison and Coach (Bob Huggins). I came on my visit and just fell in love with the place," Haley said.
Haley said he loves getting stops on defense.
"I take pride in keeping my man in front of me and helping my teammates on defense. Offense is always a lot better when you are getting stops," he said.
As for the Mountaineers' current struggles, Haley believes the team will eventually come around.
"We're a young group," he said. "I know we've been saying it for a long time and things are eventually going to have to start changing, but only time can tell and we've just got to continue to come in the gym and work hard."
Life as a Mountaineer is presented each week by Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration.
This week's episode was produced by Chris Ostien.
Haley's driving basket with 8.5 seconds left gave WVU an unexpected 65-64 victory over the seventh-rated Jayhawks on Saturday, Jan. 19.
It was West Virginia's first Big 12 victory after beginning the season by dropping five straight conference games.
"I respect coach for letting us play out the last couple seconds of the game," Haley said. "We ran a play and we didn't get the look we wanted so the ball came back to me. I just took a chance, saw a gap and just attacked the hoop."
Once Haley's shot went down, and shots by Lagerald Vick and Dedric Lawson didn't go down, the WVU students attacked the floor to celebrate with Haley and his teammates.
"I just loved the atmosphere. I loved the togetherness. It feels like a family. They really bring people in and they just make us feel like we're at home," he said.
Home for Haley is Vancouver, British Columbia, but he's had several homes since coming to the States to play college basketball.
His first stop was at New Mexico State but his stay there was brief.
"The coach left. He got a new job at a rival school and he didn't take me with him so basically I had to make a career move," Haley said.
Then came the move to Odessa Junior College in Odessa, Texas, where he was discovered by West Virginia associate head coach Larry Harrison.
"I had a pretty good year there and really enjoyed it and then West Virginia came into the picture with Coach Harrison and Coach (Bob Huggins). I came on my visit and just fell in love with the place," Haley said.
Haley said he loves getting stops on defense.
"I take pride in keeping my man in front of me and helping my teammates on defense. Offense is always a lot better when you are getting stops," he said.
As for the Mountaineers' current struggles, Haley believes the team will eventually come around.
"We're a young group," he said. "I know we've been saying it for a long time and things are eventually going to have to start changing, but only time can tell and we've just got to continue to come in the gym and work hard."
Life as a Mountaineer is presented each week by Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration.
This week's episode was produced by Chris Ostien.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballCollege Basketball Crown Recap
Thursday, April 16
Ross Hodge, Honor Huff & Brenen Lorient | Oklahoma Postgame
Sunday, April 05
Ross Hodge, Treysen Eaglestaff & Brenen Lorient | Creighton Postgame
Saturday, April 04
Ross Hodge & Honor Huff | Stanford Postgame
Thursday, April 02
