Indiana head coach Darian DeVries, fresh off his departure from Morgantown, has broken from tradition following the 2025 NBA Draft: he has not publicly congratulated his former star point guard, Javon Small.

Small, who starred at West Virginia under DeVries before the coach’s move, was selected 48th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies on June 27.

 

In college basketball, it’s almost standard, especially in the social media era, for coaches to commemorate drafted players, regardless of their current affiliations. Yet DeVries has remained entirely silent.

By contrast, fellow former WVU assistants such as , , and Kory Barnett posted celebratory messages on X, sharing clips and heartfelt shout-outs to Small.

The context is clear: DeVries owes much of his early success at West Virginia to Small’s leadership. Small averaged 18.6 points and 5.6 assists per game, leading the Mountaineers to a 19–12 record and earning All-Big 12 honors. His performance played a significant role in providing DeVries with the exposure needed to secure the Indiana job.

Now, as Small embarks on his NBA journey, DeVries’s silence speaks volumes.

With his transfer from West Virginia still fresh, perhaps the coach is keeping a low profile, or maybe he’s intentionally stepping away. Either way, his decision not to issue a congratulatory post breaks unwritten norms and has not gone unnoticed among fans, media, and former Mountaineers.

As DeVries settles into Big Ten basketball, the question arises whether this behavior toward his former players will continue or if he’ll rectify it with a personal message down the line.