Warren Harding's Derek Culver commits to West Virginia men's basketball

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Warren Harding's Derek Culver reaches out for a pass guarded by Garfield Heights' Willie jackson in the second half of their Division I Cleveland State Regional semifinal on March 9, 2016, at CSU's Wolstein Center. Culver scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the matchup of two Division I college recruits.

(John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - West Virginia men's basketball coach Bob Huggins added another sizable presence Tuesday when Warren Harding's Derek Culver announced his commitment to the Mountaineers.

Culver made his decision known during a ceremony at Warren Harding, reported the Youngstown Vindicator.

The 6-foot-8 Culver is rated four stars by 247Sports.com, which ranks him as Ohio's top player in the 2017 high school class and No. 54 in the nation. He will join a West Virginia team that already includes 6-8 Shaker Heights graduate Esa Ahmad.

Culver and Ahmad last met on the court during Shaker Heights' 2015 district championship win against Harding. Then a sophomore, Culver edged Ahmad in scoring 29-26.

That night, Shaker Heights coach Danny Young said of Ahmad, "I'm not ready to give you up to Huggins yet."

Soon, the West Virginia coach will have both of them.

The Mountaineers finished 26-9 and second in the Big 12. They lost to Stephen F. Austin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Culver led Harding last season to a 23-4 record and a regional semifinal appearance against Garfield Heights. Culver said after the 49-43 loss that he was surprised by his play. He put up 16 points and 12 rebounds while battling Missouri commit Willie Jackson.

"I didn't know I would play this well," Culver said in March. "That's the last thing I cared about."

West Virginia gets a player motivated for his senior season at Harding. His offer list included Clemson, Indiana, Kent State and Memphis, according to 247Sports.

Ohio State did not offer a scholarship to Culver, perhaps because of its incoming depth in the post. Former Northeast Ohio standouts Micah Potter and Derek Funderburk are bound for Columbus after leaving the state last year for prep schools. Mentor's Potter, a 6-10 center, transferred last year to Montverde Academy in Florida, while the 6-9 Funderburk departed from St. Edward for Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia.

The Buckeyes also have a pledge from 6-9 Kaleb Wesson, who led Westerville South to last season's Division I state championship as a junior. Ohio State remains in pursuit of the state's third-ranked player, Kyle Young of Massillon Jackson.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

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