ADAMS TWP — He waited more than two years.

But JJ Wetherholt never wavered.

The Mars senior verbally committed to extend his academic and baseball career to West Virginia University shortly after his freshman high school season. He recently signed that letter of intent with the Mountaineers.

“Before I verbally committed, I was also considering Kent State and Pitt,” Wetherholt said. “But I've never considered going anywhere else these past two years.

“I've always followed West Virginia. And when I visited there, the coaches, the program, the atmosphere ... I just knew very early where I wanted to be.”

While he lost his junior l baseball season to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was hardly a waste for Wetherholt on the diamond. He played for three summer teams.

Playing in the Youngstown B League, Wetherholt led that circuit with a .560 batting average. He also hit between .450 and .500 for Beaver Valley and Team Ohio Select during the summer months.

“JJ is a very gifted player,” said Andy Bednar, who coached him at Mars during Wetherholt's freshman and sophomore years. “His swing is simply special. He's got a great approach at the plate, too.

“He has a strong arm at shortstop. That kid has a lot of tools.”

Wetherholt is a middle infielder who started his freshman season at second base and ended it as the Planets' shortstop. Mars reached the WPIAL title game that season.

“We've never won a WPIAL championship. I'd love to be part of the team that does that,” he said of his upcoming senior season at Mars.

Wetherholt's brother, Brandon, is a red-shirt sophomore outfielder at Gannon University. He was leading the Golden Knights with a .364 batting average through 12 games this past spring before the seaason was stopped.

As a freshman at Gannon, Brandon hit .304 with three homers and 14 RBI. He quickly worked his way into the starting lineup.

JJ is hoping to follow a similar path at West Virginia.

“When you have an older sibling find the success in baseball that Brandon's had, it helps you because you saw what it took for him to realize that success,” Bednar said. “Brandon has played an important role in JJ's development as a player.”

JJ doesn't deny that for a second.

“Brandon has always been there to mentor me,” he said. “I took batting practice with him all the time.

“Growing up behind him, I got used to playing ball with kids three or four years older than me. That definitely accelerated my progress.”

Randy Mazey is entering his eighth year as baseball coach at WVU. The Mountaineers were 38-12 in 2019 — second most wins in program history — and reached the Big 12 championship game. The school also hosted an NCAA regional for the first time in 55 years.

The Mountaineers have posted six winning seasons and one .500 campaign under Mazey, who has not endured a losing season there. The 2019 team had eight players selected in Major League Baseball's amateur draft.

“That season happened after I already committed to go there,” Wetherholt pointed out. “I knew the program was headed in a positive direction.”

Only two seniors — including one middle infielder — are on the Mountaineers' 2020 fall roster. That means Wetherholt will be joining a seasoned team when he gets there next fall.

“He will be up for that challenge,” Bednar said. “JJ never stops working on his craft. He will make it hard for them to keep him off the field.”

Especially when Wetherholt plans to be on the field.

“My goal is to be a multi-year starter there,” he said. “My approach offensively has always been to do my job and get on base. I don't try to hit home runs, just barrel the ball. I have the strength to get it out of the park.

“Defensively, I hope the ball is always hit to me. When it is hit to me, I want everyone to know it's going to be an out.”