The Mountains of West Virginia give birth to beautiful scenery, strong people, and great guards.
Jerry West. Hal Greer. Jason Williams. OJ Mayo.
Those names were to be those that Noah Cottrill would join as 'folk heroes' of West Virginia basketball.
Cottrill was going to be the latest in quite a pedigree of great guards the mountains had given basketball.
However, Noah got in Noah's way. Now, like the biblical Noah, Cottrill has hopefully built a strong enough arc to weather his storm.
Cottrill first gained attention for his exploits on the basketball court at Poca High School. His talent was obviously at another level, and it was felt that like so many other prep stars, he needed to test his meddle against top-flight opposition. Cottrill transferred to former national high school power, Mountain State Academy in West Virginia. While there, Noah proved that he was the real deal and was among the nation's elite prospects while there. Cottrill, also committed to WVU during this time. Coach Bob Huggins swiped him up as a sophomore.
Cottrill would transfer once more, to end his high school career at Logan High School, and led them to a WV State Championship.
However, hidden behind all the highlight-making plays and dazzling displays of a basketball acumen, was an addiction.
Like so many in our area, prescription medicine abuse was a vise that the young sensation fell into. Some might even say in our area, you are almost born into it. It has become as second nature as putting on a pair of pants to some. It's bad.
Noah, was one of those. Going to Morgantown, one of the most notorious campuses in America for partying, and Noah had already given himself no chance. When you have that particular sickness, you have no business being around something so enabling. Cottrill, proved that to be correct.
Cottrill never saw the first minute on the floor as a Mountaineer. He was excused from the team shortly after practice started in October of 2010.
It seemed that Cottrill, however was making a change in his life. Noah decided, or could have had it decided for him, to get clean. He spent some time in a rehab program in Michigan. After going through the program for a period of time, Noah reached out to Huggins and WVU and expressed his desires to re-join the university and it's basketball program.
It seemed as if Cottrill was getting clean, and more importantly, trying to stay that way. He had a break-through. Or, so we had thought.
Noah traveled to Tampa during last year's NCAA Tournament, to watch what should have been his teammates, WVU, during their games against Clemson and Kentucky. Cottrill appeared clean, and clear headed for the first time in quite a while. Him finally putting his talents on display were surely not far over the horizon.
Until the inevitable happened. A relapse.
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| Cottrill's Mug Shot |
Unfortunately, that campus was Southwestern Regional Jail.
Cottrill was a passenger in a car, that was initially pulled over for questions about it's registration. While being pulled over, Cottrill was found to be in possession of that very damning little plastic baggie that gets so many taken down. And yes, his was filled with something it shouldn't have been.
It was reported that the baggie contained '10 white pills', which were later said to be hydrocodone and acetaminophen.
His trouble on this evening wouldn't end there, though. Cottrill was also cited and charged with larceny, as it was reported that at some point earlier, he had stolen a gold chain necklace, which was reported to be worth $500.
It was stated that the theft was of property owned by a Jamie Evans, who apparently had a part in Cottrill's basketball development.
One can only thing that a few things happened here: Either Huggins was not receptive to Cottrill's desires to return to the program, although that his hard to believe considering he was at the games in Tampa behind the team's bench, or that Cottrill was attempting to con Huggins and the rest of WVU, and had not changed at all, and was called-out on it. Which led to his returning to Logan County, and returning to the 'Pillbilly' life-style.
Cottrill could have been the next Jerry West, but he decided to go the Jesco White route.
Now, the once promising Cottrell is for sure gone off the path, unfortunately for him, he is on a new path. It's a path that will take him 'up the river', and he is going to need a sturdy boat.....he is going to need an arc.
3 comments:
man... got to meet this talented young man, and although he was very skilled at basketball, he was also a bundle of joy waiting to be released and excepted for who he is. often our talents cover-up what drives us to be that talent everyone grows to admire, but really never deals with the problem(s) that individual is facing.yea everybody is responbsible for their own actions but it's obvious this kid needed some mentorship around that understands what it feels like to be all alone w/a habit.You would think that Huggs and his staff would be able to help him a little more since they have a history of dealing with adverse players, but not only that, Huggs has dealt with his own battles w/alcohol. It's easy for us to judge Noah,but if it can happen to one of the best coaches of college basketball history, why not an 18 year old.Im praying this isnt the end of Noah because i believe everyone deserves redemption, and with the right people around him there is no doubt he will bounce back. Noah I wish I was a better role model for you too, but thats in the past, now you must stay strong in prayer and know that because of this experience you can help not only yourself but others you might encounter from indulging in similiar addictions. God bless you man.
I watched him play for logan when I was like 9 or 10. He was such an inspiration to me. So glad to see that he FINALLY cleaned up and is playing for Georgetown ky.
this dude is spoiled brat who told his mom he would kill himself constantly just to get money for pills. that was a long time ago. hopefully he let up on his mom
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