Musketeer Madness

XU really making a push in NYC Metro Area. Good timing because most of the local programs are down a bit the last few years. If XU makes inroads now while we're up, it could be a great next few years for the program!


From Today's NY Daily News:

Musketeers making sweet sell

Xavier is making a big push to land local talent. And it's getting down to crunch time.

The Musketeers, who reached the Elite Eight last season before falling to UCLA, have offered scholarships to four area 2009 prospects: South Kent forward Kevin Parrom, Rice guard Durand Scott, Mount Vernon forward Sherrod Wright and Trinity (Conn.) forward Tevin Baskin.

Of the four offers, Parrom is the Musketeers' top priority. Parrom, a 6-6 wing who can shoot and score around the rim, would fill a need for Sean Miller's squad, which loses Manhattan transfer C.J. Anderson and B.J. Raymond, both 6-6 senior wings, and Parrom would have a chance to see significant playing time as a freshman.

Xavier assistant Emanuel (Book) Richardson, who served as New York Gauchos program director for three years before joining the Musketeers' staff last season, said some area players are infatuated with Big East programs, which has been a hurdle in his efforts to recruit the city.

"People talk about us being in the A-10, but it's not about the conference," Richardson said. "It's about winning 30 games last year and going to the Elite Eight twice in the last five years. We are a high-major program."

Xavier has also offered scholarships to juniors Jayvaughn Pinkston (Bishop Loughlin), Devon Collier (St. Anthony), Ashton Pankey (St. Anthony), Doron Lamb (Oak Hill) and Shane Southwell (Rice), Shaquille Thomas (Paterson Catholic), Fuquan Edwin (Paterson Catholic) and Jayon James (Paterson Catholic), and St. Patrick's sophomores Shaquille Stokes and Marcus Kennedy.

This may be like the Staak/Gillen years, when it seemed like we got a lot of players from NYC, Philly, DC and Baltimore.

I'm fine with some of that East Coast toughness.

Although the scholarships available seem to change every year, it appears that there will be two for '09 (BJ & CJ). If Brown leaves, his scholarship might revert to Taylor. The next year there would be two again (Love and Graves). The following year maybe three (Taylor, McClean and Jackson). I guess you offer to many and it is first come, first gets!

Probably more likely, they have their positions separated and it would be first commits in each sub-section--bigs, swings, & PG's.

I would think that the first commits for '09 would come in early September.

Two guys named Shaquille, who would have thought that...wonder if either one is 7'+?

BTW the East coast is not the only coast Sean is looking to find talent. I like his style...he will look anywhere for talent and is not intimidated.

A name not mentioned in here is Parrom's teammate Ari Stewart who we also have offered a scholarship too. These are too solid 4 start recruits who are really considering going to college together, so if u get one of them then you will probaly get the other. Would be very good to land these 2 with the departure of BJ and CJ after this year. There's also a kid named Chris Braswell who is a 6'8'' face up kind of power forward

You are getting Ari Stewart mixed up with Omari Lawrence. Omari is teammates with Kevin Parrom. Ari Stewart is our top target from Georgia. Omari and Kevin may be a package deal, which would actually hurt our chances.

I've seen Parrom play. I'd say he is a must get and we have a good chance.