Chris Thomas (Commit Other)

[GoMuskies]

I am not making anything into a negative (or missing anything). If he doesn't pan out (or show up), him committing to us means squat.

[xudash]

I am not making anything into a negative (or missing anything). If he doesn't pan out (or show up), him committing to us means squat.

Your opinion. No problem.

You believe it will mean squat if he never plays.

Some of us believes it means squat because of Mack's ability to secure a recruit of that caliber, and for the signal it sends to the recruiting marketplace.

[GoMuskies]

Fair enough. I think we're well beyond needing moral victories around recruiting.

[muskienick]

Fair enough. I think we're well beyond needing moral victories around recruiting.

The point that Dash and others are trying to make is that we have never before had a "moral victory" of this magnitude. The fact is that:

• He has been ranked among the TOP FIVE recruits in the Nation
• He has been ranked the top player at his position.
• He has verbally commited to Xavier University, the first such high-ranking player in our school's history to commit to our Men's Basketball Program.

Can't we just be happy about such a milestone for a short while?

Can't the stark realists hold back on their antithises of sugar plums and Horatio Alger urgings for a week or two while we soak up the warmth from this first-time occurrence?

Right now we really are not interested in hearing that our chances of seeing Chris perform as Muskie are not great or that such a commitment can't have a positive effect on how other top prospects will view Xavier as a possible destination.

We just want to luxuriate in the splendor of the feeling for a few days without having people throw ice water in our faces or slapping us across the cheek to bring us out of our collective stupors of happiness.

Is that too much to ask?

[GoMuskies]

All that is great. If he shows up at Xavier and plays like his billing, it will be a great thing. If he never shows up, it doesn't mean a damned thing. It would be about as exciting as LaSalle getting a commitment from Kobe Bryant.

I'm thrilled that if he plays in college it will be for Xavier. But if he doesn't ever play for Xavier, no, I don't think this will be some landmark occurrence that will have some sweeping positive effect on the program going forward.

I am glad this news has given some of you such joy, though.

[MADXSTER]

all that is great. If he shows up at xavier and plays like his billing, it will be a great thing. If he never shows up, it doesn't mean a damned thing. It would be about as exciting as lasalle getting a commitment from kobe bryant.

I'm thrilled that if he plays in college it will be for xavier. But if he doesn't ever play for xavier, no, i don't think this will be some landmark occurrence that will have some sweeping positive effect on the program going forward.

I am glad this news has given some of you such joy, though.

kill joy!

[LA Muskie]

There is some downside if he never shows: he will likely scare off other 3's in the 2013 and 2014 classes, if we're even recruiting them anymore. But that comes with the territory. We'd all obviously prefer the LOI, but he can't sign one yet. (Does anyone know if he ever signed one in HS? If so, he can't sign one at all.) At this point, he's made the strongest commitment he's allowed to make to us. For that, we should be happy. At minimum, cautiously optimistic. Certainly not down about it.

[xavierj]

He will either be at Xavier or the nba. He won't be anywhere else. Chances are very good he will be Xavier's starting 2 guard in 2 years. That group will be nasty.

[SixFig]

He will either be at Xavier or the nba. He won't be anywhere else. Chances are very good he will be Xavier's starting 2 guard in 2 years. That group will be nasty.

Indeed. Semaj, Thomas, Wells, Reynolds, Philmore, Martin, D Davis, M Davis, and Farr. Pretty much all former top 100ish recruits.

Let's add a couple from the group of Austin Colbert, Greg McClinton, Kennedy Meeks and Devin Williams and we can call it a helluva team!

[XUFan09]

He has not signed any LOI before, so yes, he will be able to sign this November. The kid cares about loyalty and strong relationships, which Xavier has given him over everyone else, so it is a really strong verbal. The only question, which Xavierj alluded to, is whether he will play D1 ball. If he does, I'm 90% confident that it will be in a Xavier uniform.