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According to an overnight breaking story, James “Beetle” Bolden has left the West Virginia Mountaineers and will not return for his senior season. The news came right after the Mountaineers posted one of their most impressive victories of the season, a 90-75 win over the Iowa State Cyclones. According to a report from the MetroNews, Beetle has not been dismissed, but chose to leave the program on his own decision.
Late-breaking news here: #WVU guard Beetle Bolden has left the team. Not dismissed, per source. Was not with the team against Iowa State. Bob Huggins said Tuesday Bolden was set to graduate in May. Could be a grad transfer somewhere next season.
— Justin Jackson (@bigjax3211) March 7, 2019
According to head coach Bob Huggins, Bolden was set ot graduate in May which would allow him to transfer to another school under the NCAA’s graduate transfer protocol and be immediately eligible in 2019-2020.
This year hasn’t gone the way Beetle could have imagined, dealing with numerous injuries throughout the year including a current high ankle sprain, a left arm ailment he suffered during the Myrtle Beach Invitational, an injured elbow and torn ligaments in his shooting hand.
Bolden’s leave is not expected to be the last from a team that has suffered through the worst year of Bob Huggins’ career. Two scholarships are already open with the dismissal of senior Esa Ahmad and junior Wes Harris and now Bolden creates a third open scholarship. Two players, Oscar Tshiebwe and Miles McBride are already committed to the Mountaineers.