Wheeling University men's basketball coach Chris Richardson has announced the signing of Raef Wykes to a National Letter of Intent. 

Wykes won't be traveling far to his new home. The 6'2" guard has spent the past two seasons as a standout at The Linsly School in Wheeling, averaging 13.2 points per game as a senior.  

"We're excited to have Raef on board," said Richardson. "We've gotten a chance to watch him a lot over the past two years, and he's continued to grow as a player. He's a playmaker. Raef can really pass, he makes shots, and he's an awesome teammate. He is an outstanding addition to our program on and off the court. 

Wykes will make the short trip across Wheeling Creek after leading Linsly to one of its best seasons in years. Coach Dave Wojcik's Cadets finished 17-7 and won the OVAC 3A championship. It was the first OVAC championship for Linsly since 2012. Along the way, Wykes picked up All-OVAC honors, was named to The Intelligencer's 55th annual All-Valley team, and competed in the OVAC All-Star game. 

"Raef is a winner," Richardson continued. "Whatever the team needs on a given night, he finds a way to contribute to winning. He's a leader, and in watching him over the past couple of years we not only got excited about his basketball skills, but his leadership skills as well. He's a great fit for our program and university." 

Originally from Portland, Ontario, Wykes will pursue a degree in business. He is the son of Scott and Dana Wykes.