MORGANTOWN -- If at the end of the basketball season Devin Ebanks turns out to be the best of West Virginia's freshmen, we can be reasonably sure of three things.

First, Ebanks had a very good season. Second, the Mountaineers had a very good season. Third, "very good" might not be a strong enough description.

Ebanks is indeed the top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2008, but forward Kevin Jones and guard Truck Bryant aren't too far behind. Maybe Ebanks starts as a freshman, perhaps from the very beginning, and replaces most of the production lost from the frontcourt when Joe Alexander went pro.

Just don't discount the possibility Jones and Bryant prove to be equally important in their own way.

"I feel like we're going to do some great things together," Bryant said.

Not only is each ready to contribute this season, but they're expected to contribute as either starters or key reserves for a team many figure can at least mimic its most recent postseason performance.

It's no longer unreasonable to hook NCAA Tournament hopes to a crop of freshmen. In fact, it's common because they just don't make freshmen like they used to.

"It's because we're experienced," said Bryant, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound guard from the Bronx, N.Y. "We're used to things like this. I'm not going to say I'm used to the college situation or the competition, but I've been in tough situations already. I've been on the No. 1 team in the country. In some ways we've been through things like this already."

Ebanks is known by now, the can't-miss prospect ranked somewhere among the top 12 players in his class. His decision to sign with WVU in May pushed rankings for WVU's recruiting class as high as No. 3, according to Scouts Inc.

"He's a hell of a player," Bryant said. "I'd rather have him on my side than the other side."

Ebanks also managed to overshadow those who were already on board. That itself is an achievement because Bryant and Jones -- and maybe still Roscoe Davis -- were thought to be a pretty good collection of talent. They proved as much in the seemingly endless series of opportunities for young players to establish themselves in AAU and high school.

Davis played for the Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy team that was 29-0 and won the prep school national championship this past season.

Bryant played for the New York Gauchos, one of the country's preeminent AAU programs that spent most of last summer as the top team and won tournaments all over the country. He was frequently on the all-tournament team, if not the most outstanding player.

"I'm not going to lie," he said. "I feel very confident. I feel like I work harder than everybody. That's just the way I've been for a while now."

Part of that comes from being a New York City point guard and living up to both the label and the battles.

"My game is basic," he said. "I just try to get the job done. Compared to the regular New York City guard, you won't see me doing all the dribbling and the moves and no-look passes. I'm more like one move and go."

Jones has similar faith because of similar success at high school events. He, too, was often the top player in a title run. Jones won a number of MOP and player of the year awards as a senior in Mount Vernon, N.Y., and actually appeared on the cover and was the subject of a feature story of Rise Magazine last March.

Physically, he's nearly ready at 6-8 and a trim 220 pounds with a passion for rebounding. Mentally, he's getting there, following orders during workouts and only speaking up when he wants to ask a question.

"I didn't think I knew it all coming in, but I think I've been through a lot of things to prepare me for this," he said. "I know I've got a lot to learn about the game and going through this process of workouts and bonding with teammates is helping out a lot. I think I'll fit in on offense and defense, but right now I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get on the court."