I just read Jeff Goodman's blog and it appears 99% likely that Derrick is staying in. We will be down to 10 scholarship players for next season and play four out, one in quite a bit in my opinion. There is nobody worth wasting a scholarship on for next season at this point in the game. Sure we could land a talented D1 transfer still to sit out next season (Jake O'Brien) but in terms of getting frontcourt help that is eligible for next season that ship has sailed.
So now expectations are tempered a bit from my perspective. I am excited for Derrick for sure and there are no guarantees he is a first round pick, but he must be feeling good after some of his individual workouts. He will always be one of my all time favorite X men. But I am not one to hold on to yesterday for too long. It is time to look ahead. The goal remains the NCAA tournament and we have the talent to do so, without Brown, for the 09-10 season.
After the draft I will take an in depth look at our roster and coaching staff as well. There is further change in our coaching ranks with Chris Rounds (strength and conditioning) off to Arizona. One last (and I do mean LAST) note in regards to Sean Miller. For a guy who claims he has a better chance to win a national title in the desert over the Queen City he sure is acting contrarily. If we had no shot here coach Miller why take the staff and the recruits from 'little old Xavier'? It seems to me your taking the 'Buick' parts and adding them to your 'Lexus'. Good luck $ean.
Best of luck to Derrick once again. It will be nice having another player in the 'league'. My money says Jordan Crawford will be there one day as well.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Couple of things
Jeff Goodman reported on his blog that Boston University's Jake O' Brien will be on campus early this week. The America East Rookie of the Year is a 6-8 PF who averaged over 12 points a game. Goodman's blurb also said he was considering Butler.
Brian Grant has been diagnosed with an early form of Parkinsons Disease. At 37 BGrant is to young to be dealing with that. ESPN will cover this story on their next 'Outside the Lines'.
Will Barton (five star shooting guard) has Xavier on his 'list'. It shows Bino can get 'in' with the highest level prospects in Baltimore. However being on his list and getting him to seriously consider Xavier are two totally different things.
I read in an article dated May 3rd that JD Weatherspoon was leaning towards re-committing to Xavier. This was before tOSU offered but considering he didn't jump all over that offer the Muskies appear to be in great shape with JD.
Brian Grant has been diagnosed with an early form of Parkinsons Disease. At 37 BGrant is to young to be dealing with that. ESPN will cover this story on their next 'Outside the Lines'.
Will Barton (five star shooting guard) has Xavier on his 'list'. It shows Bino can get 'in' with the highest level prospects in Baltimore. However being on his list and getting him to seriously consider Xavier are two totally different things.
I read in an article dated May 3rd that JD Weatherspoon was leaning towards re-committing to Xavier. This was before tOSU offered but considering he didn't jump all over that offer the Muskies appear to be in great shape with JD.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Derrick Brown Update
Derrick Brown participated in commencement activities yesterday and received his degree along with CJ Anderson and BJ Raymond. Brown has been invited to the NBA camp in Chicago for May 27 -29th. Reading the other 57 names at that camp I feel like Derrick will have a terrific opportunity to play himself into solid first round consideration. It will be interesting to see which teams invite him for individual workouts leading up to the June 15th early entry withdrawal date. My feeling at this time is he will be drafted in the first round. Nothing scientific here I just agree with many that this year is a weak draft class and his chances are good. To be clear I would be more than happy if he came back for Chris Mack's first season as head coach but life will go on if he does stay in. I would like to see him go first round if he does.
IF HE DOES stay in the NBA draft Xavier will be down to 10 scholarship players. If we were to lose another transfer we would be down to danger time in case of injuries or academic issues. To that end you may see Xavier offer Jamal Olaswere out of Springbrook High School in Maryland. He has been receiving late interest from Georgetown but he has been 'off the radar' of most scouting services. He is a 6'6" post player who has a dominant left hand. I have never seen Jamal play but my take is if he is offered on his visit later this week Mack and staff see the need for insurance. There is some thought on banking the scholarship for next season to give us four for the 2010 class. My dream recruiting class for next year would be Jordan Latham, JD Weatherspoon, Donnie Hale, and Jay Canty. However there are new names popping up every weekend since AAU season is in full swing. My expectation is that we would have two sewn up heading into the July evaluation period but recruiting is a very inexact science to say the least.
IF HE DOES stay in the NBA draft Xavier will be down to 10 scholarship players. If we were to lose another transfer we would be down to danger time in case of injuries or academic issues. To that end you may see Xavier offer Jamal Olaswere out of Springbrook High School in Maryland. He has been receiving late interest from Georgetown but he has been 'off the radar' of most scouting services. He is a 6'6" post player who has a dominant left hand. I have never seen Jamal play but my take is if he is offered on his visit later this week Mack and staff see the need for insurance. There is some thought on banking the scholarship for next season to give us four for the 2010 class. My dream recruiting class for next year would be Jordan Latham, JD Weatherspoon, Donnie Hale, and Jay Canty. However there are new names popping up every weekend since AAU season is in full swing. My expectation is that we would have two sewn up heading into the July evaluation period but recruiting is a very inexact science to say the least.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Chaney to VA Tech
Allan Chaney enjoyed his visit with Seth Greenberg and the Hokies enough to commit there this weekend. He never made it to Xavier's campus as he was scheduled to visit later this month. He would have been a nice addition to the team in the 2010-11 season.
Xavier is beginning to offer several prospects from the 2011 class, including Dee Davis from Bloomington, IN. He is a 5-9 point guard and is one of the best in his class at the '1'. Obviously his hometown school would be attractive but the Hoosiers already have a 2011 point guard committed. Davis was on campus for move out weekend. His AAU team mate Austin Etherington made it to campus this weekend as well. They play together for the Indiana Elite AAU team and Travis Steele is using his connections very well to get in on these kids. The battle for both will be tough. There are several high major players on Indiana Elite and it should be interesting to see if Xavier lands any off this team.
I have also heard Weatherspoon and Latham are still very viable options for the Musketeers 2010 class. There is still serious interest from both guys in the XU program. It would be nice to see both these guys be a part of Coach Mack's first class at Xavier.
Xavier is beginning to offer several prospects from the 2011 class, including Dee Davis from Bloomington, IN. He is a 5-9 point guard and is one of the best in his class at the '1'. Obviously his hometown school would be attractive but the Hoosiers already have a 2011 point guard committed. Davis was on campus for move out weekend. His AAU team mate Austin Etherington made it to campus this weekend as well. They play together for the Indiana Elite AAU team and Travis Steele is using his connections very well to get in on these kids. The battle for both will be tough. There are several high major players on Indiana Elite and it should be interesting to see if Xavier lands any off this team.
I have also heard Weatherspoon and Latham are still very viable options for the Musketeers 2010 class. There is still serious interest from both guys in the XU program. It would be nice to see both these guys be a part of Coach Mack's first class at Xavier.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Quick Recruiting Updates
Two weeks until the spring signing period ends (5/20) and neither of the local teams have picked up any recruits in this window. Couple of notes:
XU:
-ALLAN CHANEY will be visiting Xavier later this month according to zagsblog. He visited St. Joe's last week and Temple this week and several Big East suitors. Some like our chances with him and some don't. Will Bino and Mack land their first commit for Xavier?
-AUSTIN ETHERINGTON (2011) has picked up XU's first offer for his class. Currently listed at 6-5 and a shooting guard at Hamilton Heights (IN) HS he may not be done growing. My Naptown buddy says think Gordon Hayward from Butler. Should be noted that Austin's dad played basketball at BU.
-JD WEATHERSPOON (2010) picked up an offer from Thad Matta and the Buckeyes this week. If that would have happened this time last year we would have never got started with him. I take the fact that he didn't commit right away as a positive sign for X.
-CHAD JACKSON (2010) according to Jody Demling from the Louisville Courier Journal; Jackson holds offers from Xavier and West Virginia. The shooting guard from Scott County HS has interest from Butler and hearing from Kansas, Florida, and Indiana recently.
-DONNIE HALE (2010) Hale fell off the radar earlier last season when Latham and Weatherspoon verballed. Now that those commits are no longer there currently the New Albany, IN native is once again receiving attention from the Xavier staff.
UC:
-JOHN RIEK was the big story this week in town on the recruiting front. Mick spent plenty of time with this kid to know what the issues were and in the end ultimately did the right thing for the program. Cronin has not had a good history with foreign big men but you can clearly see why he would be interested in JR. At the Lebron James Camp in 2007 he burst onto the scene and was projecting as a lottery pick. He is academically eligible to play for Mississippi State but there are still questions regarding his amateur status with the NCAA because he filed for the NBA draft last year.
-ERIC BLEDSOE at one time in the not so distant past had serious interest in UC. In the end it came down to the Memphis Tigers and Kentucky Wildcats. He chose to join an outstanding class for John Calipari that is starting to get 'Fab 5' type hype. The options are running thin at point guard (always a premium position) in the spring of 2009. Prominent JUCO targets are starting to fall off the board as well.
-CHANE BENAHAN (2011-verbal commit) has looked impressive in spring AAU tournaments besides a bad back. He is working on his jump shot and remains one of the best in his class. Expanding his perimeter game will be key if he stays in the 6-6, 6-7 range to making him even more impressive as a prospect.
-GRIFFIN MCKENZIE (2010) local prospect from Moeller high school may be one to keep an eye on. He had some injury issues last year but the 6-9 forward should be healthy for the spring AAU circuit.
-SEAN KILPATRICK is assuredly joining the UC squad next fall. After committing to UC last season Sean went on to have an impressive prep school season. His scoring capabilities will be a welcome addition to the team next season.
Finally congratulations to Bill Edwards Jr for announcing for Penn State Nittany Lions this week. The Middletown high school first team all state player joins three others in PSU's '09 class. Rivals.com reports his final choice came down to Penn State and Miami (OH).
XU:
-ALLAN CHANEY will be visiting Xavier later this month according to zagsblog. He visited St. Joe's last week and Temple this week and several Big East suitors. Some like our chances with him and some don't. Will Bino and Mack land their first commit for Xavier?
-AUSTIN ETHERINGTON (2011) has picked up XU's first offer for his class. Currently listed at 6-5 and a shooting guard at Hamilton Heights (IN) HS he may not be done growing. My Naptown buddy says think Gordon Hayward from Butler. Should be noted that Austin's dad played basketball at BU.
-JD WEATHERSPOON (2010) picked up an offer from Thad Matta and the Buckeyes this week. If that would have happened this time last year we would have never got started with him. I take the fact that he didn't commit right away as a positive sign for X.
-CHAD JACKSON (2010) according to Jody Demling from the Louisville Courier Journal; Jackson holds offers from Xavier and West Virginia. The shooting guard from Scott County HS has interest from Butler and hearing from Kansas, Florida, and Indiana recently.
-DONNIE HALE (2010) Hale fell off the radar earlier last season when Latham and Weatherspoon verballed. Now that those commits are no longer there currently the New Albany, IN native is once again receiving attention from the Xavier staff.
UC:
-JOHN RIEK was the big story this week in town on the recruiting front. Mick spent plenty of time with this kid to know what the issues were and in the end ultimately did the right thing for the program. Cronin has not had a good history with foreign big men but you can clearly see why he would be interested in JR. At the Lebron James Camp in 2007 he burst onto the scene and was projecting as a lottery pick. He is academically eligible to play for Mississippi State but there are still questions regarding his amateur status with the NCAA because he filed for the NBA draft last year.
-ERIC BLEDSOE at one time in the not so distant past had serious interest in UC. In the end it came down to the Memphis Tigers and Kentucky Wildcats. He chose to join an outstanding class for John Calipari that is starting to get 'Fab 5' type hype. The options are running thin at point guard (always a premium position) in the spring of 2009. Prominent JUCO targets are starting to fall off the board as well.
-CHANE BENAHAN (2011-verbal commit) has looked impressive in spring AAU tournaments besides a bad back. He is working on his jump shot and remains one of the best in his class. Expanding his perimeter game will be key if he stays in the 6-6, 6-7 range to making him even more impressive as a prospect.
-GRIFFIN MCKENZIE (2010) local prospect from Moeller high school may be one to keep an eye on. He had some injury issues last year but the 6-9 forward should be healthy for the spring AAU circuit.
-SEAN KILPATRICK is assuredly joining the UC squad next fall. After committing to UC last season Sean went on to have an impressive prep school season. His scoring capabilities will be a welcome addition to the team next season.
Finally congratulations to Bill Edwards Jr for announcing for Penn State Nittany Lions this week. The Middletown high school first team all state player joins three others in PSU's '09 class. Rivals.com reports his final choice came down to Penn State and Miami (OH).
Monday, May 4, 2009
Parrom to Arizona
No big suprise here: on his weekend visit to Arizona Kevin Parrom committed to the Wildcats. He obviously wanted to play for Miller and Book and life goes on. I could have done without the whole 'Buick to a Lexus' statement he repeated several times but hey $ean is getting easier not to like with each passing day. In the end he needs to win games in Tuscon and he feels Parrom will help him there. It is funny and ironic to me that he said he thought he had a better chance to win a national title at Arizona than Xavier and then continues to pursue the same recruits he was bringing to X. Always one to look on the bright side at least I won't have to put up with 'coach puncher' comments from Flyer and Bearcat faithful for the next few seasons.
Again I think the only chance we fill a scholarship this spring is with Allen Chaney, the transfer from Florida. We are getting on with the 2010 class and some familiar names may commit to X by the end of the July period again. We have lots of PT to offer frontcourt players and guys want to play right away these days. Also Mack and staff have offered their first 2011 target out of Indiana so never fear Muskie faithful it will be business as usual soon enough on the grassroots scene.
Again I think the only chance we fill a scholarship this spring is with Allen Chaney, the transfer from Florida. We are getting on with the 2010 class and some familiar names may commit to X by the end of the July period again. We have lots of PT to offer frontcourt players and guys want to play right away these days. Also Mack and staff have offered their first 2011 target out of Indiana so never fear Muskie faithful it will be business as usual soon enough on the grassroots scene.
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