Written by Justin Prince. 

When Marshall University’s basketball team takes the court this Saturday night to take on old rival the Ohio Bobcats, the Herd’s rotation may look a little different.

That’s because it’s anticipated that Wake Forrest transfer Rondale Watson will make his season and Marshall debut. A West Virginia high school product Watson enjoyed a stellar prep career at Greenbrier East where he was a 2014 McDonald’s All-American Team nominee after averaging nearly 21 points a game as a senior.

For the Demon Deacons the 6-4 guard made 35 appearances over the course of his two seasons at Wake Forrest. During his sophomore season Watson averaged nearly 15 minutes per game and averaged 3.1 points.

He’s an athletic guard who has the ability to bring the ball up the floor and attack the basket. Watson should also provide the Herd a little extra defensive tenacity on the perimeter.

“I’d say I’m more of defensive player,” Watson told the Gazette-Mail back in June.

Making a choice to transfer schools can be a tough choice for many players but in that same interview with the Gazette-Mail, Watson said his decision to come back to West Virginia and attend Marshall was an easy one.

“I don’t think it was tough,” Watson said. ‘I knew that the time I would spend sitting out would be a benefit for me, to give me the opportunity to work on what was lacking, I couldn’t get that work at my last school.

Coming over here, I thought it was a good idea and I had a good support system behind me. I’ve been positive about the whole thing and I’m looking forward to getting out there.”

It’s been more than 20 months since Watson saw his last live game action but he has been able to practice with the team and acclimate himself to the D’antoni system over the last year and a half.

“It’s been a long year and a half, but I know it’s coming to an end,” Watson said. “I’m ready to get back out there.”

Marshall takes the court against the Ohio Bobcats from the Cam Henderson Center at 8:00 p.m. on December 16.