kyxu
09-02-2009, 06:43 PM
http://www.xavierhoops.com/forums/images/logos/150/xu.gifMoeller forward caps outstanding class for Mack, Musketeers
By Mike Damone
Just five months ago, the Xavier men’s basketball program appeared to be at a crossroads. The departure of former head coach Sean Miller to Arizona prompted the highly-touted prospects to jump ship, while more than a few murmurs hinted at current players defecting to more stable pastures. Concerns abounded as to whether a rookie head coach with a staff of up-and-comers could maintain the steady flow of talent onto Victory Parkway created by its predecessors, keeping Xavier as a perennial contender on a national scale.
At around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the tribulations of early April were further distanced in the minds of Xavier fans as Cincinnati Moeller High senior forward Griffin McKenzie became what appears to be the final piece in new head coach Chris Mack’s already impressive 2010 recruiting class.
A strong July propelled McKenzie into many top programs’ sights, and was good enough to place McKenzie in the Rivals.com Top 150 at #115. The high school senior ended his recruitment Wednesday afternoon at a high school press conference when he gave a verbal pledge to the Xavier Musketeers over Wake Forest, Northwestern and Vanderbilt. He also held offers from Ohio State, Tennessee and Cincinnati.
The verbal commitment from McKenzie comes just 10 days after Xavier received a commitment from Indianapolis wing Justin Martin. Martin had originally chosen Louisville over Xavier when he committed to the Cardinals last fall, but reevaluated his decision in May and chose the Musketeers the second time around. Arguably the “crown jewel” of the 2010 class, Martin is ranked in the top 100 on Rivals.com at #83.
Two weeks prior to Martin’s pledge, Xavier received its second commitment of the 2010 class in the form of North Carolina wing Jay Canty. Though playing a similar position as Martin, the highly-athletic Canty provides more of a slashing wing to complement Martin’s long-range capability. Canty had originally committed to High Point, but a coaching change caused him to reconsider his choice. Canty finished his junior year on a high note, also earning himself a spot in the Rivals Top 150 at #130.
But the first commitment to Mack’s 2010 class certainly cannot be forgotten, as Xavier fans will forever have a special place in their hearts for Baltimore forward Jordan Latham. Latham pledged to the Musketeers under former head coach Sean Miller in early November, only to de-commit for a brief period before becoming in mid-June Mack’s first verbal commitment of his head coaching career. Latham made it clear that though coaching played an important role in his decision back in November, he felt very comfortable at Xavier and that it was the place for him in the end. Latham will be a valuable addition to the frontcourt as a skilled “4", ranked #121 in the Rivals 150.
It certainly is an impressive feat for a coaching staff that has only been on the job since mid-April to assemble not only a good recruiting class, but one that could challenge as the best, on paper, over the last decade in the program’s history. In considering this class complete, it should be noted, however, that attrition of student-athletes is common in college basketball, so any players could be added (or subtracted) to this class.
Regardless, Mack and his coaches should be commended for putting together such a complete recruiting haul, let alone the first one in the program's history to have each member nationally-ranked. If this staff’s recruiting is any indication of its coaching ability, Xavier’s success won’t miss a beat, and could reach the pinnacle sooner rather than later. Getting talent such as this is no doubt a healthy first step.
By Mike Damone
Just five months ago, the Xavier men’s basketball program appeared to be at a crossroads. The departure of former head coach Sean Miller to Arizona prompted the highly-touted prospects to jump ship, while more than a few murmurs hinted at current players defecting to more stable pastures. Concerns abounded as to whether a rookie head coach with a staff of up-and-comers could maintain the steady flow of talent onto Victory Parkway created by its predecessors, keeping Xavier as a perennial contender on a national scale.
At around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the tribulations of early April were further distanced in the minds of Xavier fans as Cincinnati Moeller High senior forward Griffin McKenzie became what appears to be the final piece in new head coach Chris Mack’s already impressive 2010 recruiting class.
A strong July propelled McKenzie into many top programs’ sights, and was good enough to place McKenzie in the Rivals.com Top 150 at #115. The high school senior ended his recruitment Wednesday afternoon at a high school press conference when he gave a verbal pledge to the Xavier Musketeers over Wake Forest, Northwestern and Vanderbilt. He also held offers from Ohio State, Tennessee and Cincinnati.
The verbal commitment from McKenzie comes just 10 days after Xavier received a commitment from Indianapolis wing Justin Martin. Martin had originally chosen Louisville over Xavier when he committed to the Cardinals last fall, but reevaluated his decision in May and chose the Musketeers the second time around. Arguably the “crown jewel” of the 2010 class, Martin is ranked in the top 100 on Rivals.com at #83.
Two weeks prior to Martin’s pledge, Xavier received its second commitment of the 2010 class in the form of North Carolina wing Jay Canty. Though playing a similar position as Martin, the highly-athletic Canty provides more of a slashing wing to complement Martin’s long-range capability. Canty had originally committed to High Point, but a coaching change caused him to reconsider his choice. Canty finished his junior year on a high note, also earning himself a spot in the Rivals Top 150 at #130.
But the first commitment to Mack’s 2010 class certainly cannot be forgotten, as Xavier fans will forever have a special place in their hearts for Baltimore forward Jordan Latham. Latham pledged to the Musketeers under former head coach Sean Miller in early November, only to de-commit for a brief period before becoming in mid-June Mack’s first verbal commitment of his head coaching career. Latham made it clear that though coaching played an important role in his decision back in November, he felt very comfortable at Xavier and that it was the place for him in the end. Latham will be a valuable addition to the frontcourt as a skilled “4", ranked #121 in the Rivals 150.
It certainly is an impressive feat for a coaching staff that has only been on the job since mid-April to assemble not only a good recruiting class, but one that could challenge as the best, on paper, over the last decade in the program’s history. In considering this class complete, it should be noted, however, that attrition of student-athletes is common in college basketball, so any players could be added (or subtracted) to this class.
Regardless, Mack and his coaches should be commended for putting together such a complete recruiting haul, let alone the first one in the program's history to have each member nationally-ranked. If this staff’s recruiting is any indication of its coaching ability, Xavier’s success won’t miss a beat, and could reach the pinnacle sooner rather than later. Getting talent such as this is no doubt a healthy first step.