Whiteside came to Marshall University under the radar during the start of the 2009–10 season, but it did not take long for him to make national attention. He was spotlighted in the December 28 edition of ESPN The Magazine's College Basketball column after he amassed 14 points, 17 rebounds, 9 blocked shots, in 29 minutes of play in a 60–53 win over the Ohio Bobcats on November 28.[

It was pure torture watching this guy today. He absolutely dominated.

He was a beast that night we played in Charleston. We were the home team too.

Our first night with AB who put up like 9 or 10 shots and made 0. First time Mrs Coop saw him. Ohhhhh boyyyyy. I stayed out of her way that night. She was livid. Had not known of or heard of AB up to that point. Said something to her initially and then knew, better to walk away. AB got swatted a couple of ill advised forays into the lane and continued bombing from deep, missing them all while turning the ball over 4 or 5 times.

Hassan came flying over the top of Tommy who was blocking him out. Ref called TF for a foul loudly announcing "you undercut him as he went up over you". Classic butt on the knee technique. Hassan is a beast that lived in the lane that night and aggressively made the game go his way. Absolutely ate Ivo and Devo for lunch. KVK was decent till he fouled out and Reg was surprisingly solid vs them as a frosh. I would bet HW had close to a dozen blocked/altered shots and maybe 20 rebounds.

14 points, 17 rebounds, 9 blocked shots, in 29 minutes

Monster game last night with 24 points, 20 rebounds and sets new club record by making his first 11 shots. Miami, however, loses to T-Wolves, who were led by Zanesville's Kevin Martin's 30 points.

Bobcat basketball got his cousin, Seth, also of Zanesville H.S., for about a year.