Hinds high on West Virginia

Jabarie Hinds likes what he saw of Morgantown during last week’s Triple S Harley-Davidson Jam Fest.

Hinds, a three-star prospect from Mount Vernon, N.Y., – from the same high school of WVU forward Kevin Jones – said he likes West Virginia. Rivals.com rates Hinds as the 108th-best prospect in the 2011 class.

"West Virginia is a basketball school to me. They have a good football team, too, but the basketball team is really good," Hinds said.

He said West Virginia is "really interested" along with Oklahoma State, Wake Forest, Villanova, UNLV and St. John’s. Hinds has already visited Oklahoma State, Wake Forest and Villanova.

"West Virginia is a very good school. I know a lot about (WVU head coach) Bob Huggins," Hinds said. "I’m just keeping my options open."

Hinds said he is looking for a school that has a good environment and academics. He also wants to go to a school that fits his style of play.

Hinds went to the LeBron James Skills Camp earlier this summer. He said his strengths are on defense and passing. He feels like he needs to improve his jump shot and floor vision.

Jones has given Hinds some advice, he said.

"He’s told me to keep working hard and make a good decision on the school I want to go to and just have fun," Hinds said.

Hinds said he followed nearly every game he could catch of West Virginia’s last season to see how Jones did.

"He’s a humble kid on the court," Hinds said of Jones. "He doesn’t really say much, he just plays hard and talks to his team and wins."