Chase Harler takes on new roles for Best Virginia’s 2024 TBT run

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As Best Virginia, the team representing WVU men’s basketball in The Basketball Tournament, readies for its 2024 run, it welcomes a familiar face into a leadership role.

Wheeling native and former Mountaineer Chase Harler will serve as the general manager and head coach this summer. When Harler first started with the team as a player three or four years ago, he made it clear he wanted to be more involved.

“My first year playing was after my first season professionally. I came back and played with them and I reached out to John (Flowers). He asked if I wanted to play and I said ‘Yeah, but I want to do a whole weekend in Wheeling.’ Pretty much what we are doing now with the exhibition game, the scramble, the basketball camp,” Harler said. “I took it upon myself to do that. I think once I showed that I could do that, he had more faith in me.”

When he returned to Best Virginia two years later, Flowers, the general manager, handed the assistant GM duties to Harler. In that role, he took on more of the behind-the-scenes work.

This year, as Flowers has more on his plate, he entrusted Harler to take over his role.

“John started an AAU program called Best Virginia and he is way more involved with that. He has three kids now and is a little more busy. I think just from the first year to the second year, just showing that I’m capable of doing that,” Harler said. “It’s something he built. He doesn’t want it to go away. He realized I could take that on and he is still involved.”

Harler began prep for this year’s Best Virginia run back in January, including the marketing and sponsorship opportunities. He already had experience with organizing travel, meals, and fundraising, all things that are essential to the team’s appearance in the tournament.

This year, roster management was added to his list of responsibilities in his new role as the GM, which comes with its own set of challenges.

“I’ll tell you it’s been an interesting experience. A lot of these guys play overseas so I’m reaching out to them in March and they are still playing, still in game mode. They get back home, far away from West Virginia, and are with their families and their friends,” Harler said. “It’s like ‘Do I really want to give up my free time?’ Like I said, these guys play overseas so the offseason is three months. For them to give up three or four weeks of their time is huge.”

Just a few days go, he learned he was adding another title next to his name – head coach .

James Long was set to return as the head coach, but after another opportunity presented itself, Long will step into an assistant role. He was named the men’s basketball head coach at the University in Charleston in May, calling it his dream job .

Long did have a conversation with UC officials and they were on board with him continuing to coach Best Virginia this summer. However, Long ultimately decided to take a step back from the TBT squad, a decision that everyone involved understood and respected.

“TBT is three weeks, we all take it seriously but this is his career. He felt like stepping away for two or three weeks might do more harm than good,” Harler said. “He texted me that and I was immediately like ‘Alright I’ll be the head coach.’ I think this is going to be an exciting time. All these guys, I have so much respect for this roster, and they know the type of person and player I was and have respect for me. There’s going to be bumps and bruises along the way but I’m excited.”

Long will still be involved with the team but as an assistant coach. He will be on the bench at the games in Pittsburgh. Mountaineer hoops legend Kevin Jones will also be an assistant coach this year along with Alex Peavler who is good friends with Long.

From those very first conversations between Harler and Flowers years ago, they expressed they wanted to find ways to get the team more involved with the community. With some help, Harler organized some events this summer leading up to the Pittsburgh Regional.

“When we get these guys into town, they get that feeling of being a Mountaineer again. For them to have that feeling, it helps them play harder and faster, and it means more,” Harler said.

Best Virginia will host an exhibition game at Buckhannon-Upshur High School on July 12 at 7 p.m. It’s free admission. The team will then hold a golf scramble on Saturday, July 13 before hosting a youth camp on Sunday, July 14. They will then practice through Thursday before opening up action in the Pittsburgh Regional on Friday, July 19.

The full TBT bracket will be released at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.