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07-10-2008, 08:17 PM
http://s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj89/xhoops/th_Crawford.jpgFormer IU freshman star will transfer to Xavier
By Mike Damone
No, it’s not Eric Gordon. But after the proverbial housecleaning of the basketball program at Indiana University, it’s tough to argue that any other school has been a bigger beneficiary of turbulent times in Bloomington than Xavier. In April, it was incoming freshman Terrell Holloway – a smooth, pass-first guard from Long Island, NY who originally committed to Kelvin Sampson and IU – asking for his release from his letter-of-intent with Indiana in order to take what was thought to be the final scholarship for Xavier's 2008 class.
Now, a more proven prospect is taking the short road from Bloomington to Cincinnati, as former IU freshman guard Jordan Crawford officially committed to Sean Miller and the Xavier Musketeers on Thursday. Miller and Crawford aren’t exactly strangers. Crawford was a major target for Miller and Company back in the Summer of 2006, when Crawford, originally from Detroit, was running the show at Hargrave Military Academy, the same prep school that produced Xavier greats David West and Stanley Burrell, in Garner, NC.
Crawford eventually passed on the Xavier offer that November, signing with Sampson and IU, where the 6’4 guard would go on to average 9.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 25.3 minutes per game as a freshman, highlighted by 20- and 18-point games against Kentucky and Illinois, respectively. Crawford even chipped in six points and three rebounds against the Musketeers in Xavier’s 80-65 win over the Hoosiers last November in Chicago. He was a vital part of Indiana’s 25-8 record, including a third-place finish in the Big Ten and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
But due to the resulting tumult at Indiana from Sampson’s recruiting violations and subsequent dismissal, Crawford and many other Hoosiers opted for greener pastures, rather than be a part of a regime change under former Marquette head coach Tom Crean, who was hired to replace IU interim head coach Dan Dakich in April.
There’s no denying Crawford’s talent, evidenced by Miller’s persistent recruiting of Crawford in his prep days, and his rookie season turned in at IU. But his addition to the Musketeers comes amidst some uncertainties. The biggest of which being the fact that, technically, Xavier had no available scholarships for 2008 at the time of his decision to transfer.
Dustin Dow of The Cincinnati Enquirer has reported that Xavier forward Andrew Taylor will give up his scholarship in order to allow Crawford to join the team, as the NCAA only allows teams to carry a maximum of 13 scholarship players. Taylor, a transfer from D-II Hillsdale College in Michigan, will reportedly go back on scholarship for the 09-10 season.
Another uncertainty is what need would be addressed with Crawford’s presence in the lineup. Xavier already welcomes four new guards for the incoming class in Holloway, Mark Lyons, Brad Redford and Brian Walsh. In addition, sophomore Dante Jackson, junior Adrion Graves and senior BJ Raymond all return to vie for starter’s minutes in Xavier’s stacked back-court.
It’s certainly an embarrassment of riches for the Musketeers, leading some to believe that Miller may utilize a more guard-heavy lineup to get as much talent on the floor and maximize the unique abilities of his fleet of back-court players.
Crawford’s addition, as well as Taylor’s supposed regaining of his scholarship for the 09-10 season, also means Miller has now but one scholarship to give for the 09 class, making it more likely Miller will look to add a true front-court player, rather than a taller guard able to be converted to a small forward.
Another item of uncertainty is when Crawford will become eligible to play. Dow mentions that the Xavier coaching staff may join forces with coaches of other programs welcoming former Hoosiers jumping ship after the Sampson fallout, in order to petition to the NCAA. Crawford, along with other former Hoosiers, is reportedly petitioning for a waiver to forego the NCAA-mandated bystander year where transfers must sit out one year of athletic play before becoming eligible. There has been no indication of when such a decision will be made by the NCAA.
If Crawford were granted such relief, the transition from a precise, dissecting offense orchestrated by former point guard Drew Lavender to a neophyte-oriented one, involving starter’s minutes at the point for more inexperienced players could be a tad less bumpy. If not, Crawford’s past experience in major Division-I basketball could push the younger players in practice and better prepare them for another rigorous non-conference schedule.
But with the virtual log-jam at the guard position, and the teeming potential of the back-court players both young and old(er), Miller will not be short on options for the next few years.
By Mike Damone
No, it’s not Eric Gordon. But after the proverbial housecleaning of the basketball program at Indiana University, it’s tough to argue that any other school has been a bigger beneficiary of turbulent times in Bloomington than Xavier. In April, it was incoming freshman Terrell Holloway – a smooth, pass-first guard from Long Island, NY who originally committed to Kelvin Sampson and IU – asking for his release from his letter-of-intent with Indiana in order to take what was thought to be the final scholarship for Xavier's 2008 class.
Now, a more proven prospect is taking the short road from Bloomington to Cincinnati, as former IU freshman guard Jordan Crawford officially committed to Sean Miller and the Xavier Musketeers on Thursday. Miller and Crawford aren’t exactly strangers. Crawford was a major target for Miller and Company back in the Summer of 2006, when Crawford, originally from Detroit, was running the show at Hargrave Military Academy, the same prep school that produced Xavier greats David West and Stanley Burrell, in Garner, NC.
Crawford eventually passed on the Xavier offer that November, signing with Sampson and IU, where the 6’4 guard would go on to average 9.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 25.3 minutes per game as a freshman, highlighted by 20- and 18-point games against Kentucky and Illinois, respectively. Crawford even chipped in six points and three rebounds against the Musketeers in Xavier’s 80-65 win over the Hoosiers last November in Chicago. He was a vital part of Indiana’s 25-8 record, including a third-place finish in the Big Ten and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
But due to the resulting tumult at Indiana from Sampson’s recruiting violations and subsequent dismissal, Crawford and many other Hoosiers opted for greener pastures, rather than be a part of a regime change under former Marquette head coach Tom Crean, who was hired to replace IU interim head coach Dan Dakich in April.
There’s no denying Crawford’s talent, evidenced by Miller’s persistent recruiting of Crawford in his prep days, and his rookie season turned in at IU. But his addition to the Musketeers comes amidst some uncertainties. The biggest of which being the fact that, technically, Xavier had no available scholarships for 2008 at the time of his decision to transfer.
Dustin Dow of The Cincinnati Enquirer has reported that Xavier forward Andrew Taylor will give up his scholarship in order to allow Crawford to join the team, as the NCAA only allows teams to carry a maximum of 13 scholarship players. Taylor, a transfer from D-II Hillsdale College in Michigan, will reportedly go back on scholarship for the 09-10 season.
Another uncertainty is what need would be addressed with Crawford’s presence in the lineup. Xavier already welcomes four new guards for the incoming class in Holloway, Mark Lyons, Brad Redford and Brian Walsh. In addition, sophomore Dante Jackson, junior Adrion Graves and senior BJ Raymond all return to vie for starter’s minutes in Xavier’s stacked back-court.
It’s certainly an embarrassment of riches for the Musketeers, leading some to believe that Miller may utilize a more guard-heavy lineup to get as much talent on the floor and maximize the unique abilities of his fleet of back-court players.
Crawford’s addition, as well as Taylor’s supposed regaining of his scholarship for the 09-10 season, also means Miller has now but one scholarship to give for the 09 class, making it more likely Miller will look to add a true front-court player, rather than a taller guard able to be converted to a small forward.
Another item of uncertainty is when Crawford will become eligible to play. Dow mentions that the Xavier coaching staff may join forces with coaches of other programs welcoming former Hoosiers jumping ship after the Sampson fallout, in order to petition to the NCAA. Crawford, along with other former Hoosiers, is reportedly petitioning for a waiver to forego the NCAA-mandated bystander year where transfers must sit out one year of athletic play before becoming eligible. There has been no indication of when such a decision will be made by the NCAA.
If Crawford were granted such relief, the transition from a precise, dissecting offense orchestrated by former point guard Drew Lavender to a neophyte-oriented one, involving starter’s minutes at the point for more inexperienced players could be a tad less bumpy. If not, Crawford’s past experience in major Division-I basketball could push the younger players in practice and better prepare them for another rigorous non-conference schedule.
But with the virtual log-jam at the guard position, and the teeming potential of the back-court players both young and old(er), Miller will not be short on options for the next few years.