MBB Teams Excited About Incoming Group Of Newcomers For 2016-17
NEW YORK – The major national recruiting services agree that BIG EAST schools have lured many top-of-the-line men’s basketball recruits and several standout transfers who will be eligible this season. Many of those new faces will be challenging for critical roles for their respective teams.
Recruiting is always an inexact science, though the recruiting services have noted that BIG EAST teams have done well on the recruiting trail for the 2016-17 season.
Scout.com, Rivals.com, 247Sports.com and ESPN.com all have BIG EAST schools among their top-rated classes nationally. The classes for Marquette, Villanova, St. John’s and Xavier have received the most attention in the rankings.
The 2015-16 BIG EAST basketball campaign was capped by Villanova capturing the NCAA title. The BIG EAST had five teams earn NCAA Tournament appearances and one team secure an NIT berth.
Here is a school-by-school roundup of incoming recruits and transfers:
Newcomers for 2016-17:
Butler
Henry Baddley, G/F, Fr., 6-4, 175, Wadsworth, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary
Kamar Baldwin, G, Fr., 6-0, 170, Winder, Ga./Appalachia
Joey Brunk, F/C, Fr., 6-11, 240, Indianapolis, Ind./Southport
Sean McDermott, G-F, R-Fr., 6-6, 190, Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights
*Kethan Savage, G, R-Sr., 6-3, 205, Fairfax, Va./George Washington
*Avery Woodson, G, Gr., 6-2, 190, Waynesboro, Miss./U. of Memphis
Five of the six newcomers for the Bulldogs can play on the perimeter guard as the Bulldogs deal with the loss of the backcourt of Kellen Dunham and Roosevelt Jones. Woodson is a graduate transfer, who is a 3-point threat. McDermott, a redshirt from 2015-16, also figures to contribute as a shooter. Savage was a double-figure scorer at George Washington. Baddley and Baldwin are two more candidates pushing to be noticed. Brunk is the highest-ranked Bulldog recruit in this class and figures to play closer to the basket.
Creighton
*Marcus Foster, G, Jr., 6-3, 210, Wichita Falls, Texas/Kansas State
Martin Krampelj, R-Fr., 6-9, 205, Grosuplje, Slovenia/Impact Academy (Fla.)
Davion Mintz, G, Fr., 6-3, Huntersville, N.C./North Mecklenburg
Kobe Paras, F, Fr., 6-6, 190, Manila, Philippines/Middlebrooks Academy (Calif.)
Justin Patton, F, R-Fr., 6-11, 215, Omaha, Neb./North
Foster sat out last season after transferring from Kansas State. He is expected to start. Two seasons ago, Foster averaged 12.5 points as a sophomore and 15.5 points as a freshman. He led the team in scoring in both years and was a strong defensive presence. Krampelj was injured early in 2015-16 and took a medical redshirt. He can help at power forward and center. Patton also was a redshirt last year. He will be eyeing the open starting position at center. Mintz, the only true freshman of the group, is a point guard candidate. Paras is a wing who brings a reputation as a good scorer.
DePaul
Levi Cook, C, Fr., 6-10, Arnett, Va./Elev8 Institute (Fla.)
Brandon Cyrus, G, Fr., 6-5, Encinitas, Calif./La Lumiere School (Ind.)
Al Eichelberger, F, Fr., 6-7, Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw
Devin Gage, G, Fr., 6-2, Chicago, Ill./Curie
*Chris Harrison-Docks, G, Gr., Okemos, Mich./Western Kentucky
Tre’Darius McCallum, F, Jr., Myrtle Beach, S.C./Indian Hills JC (Dan.)
Cook will bring some needed size and strength to the frontcourt. He is a low-post player with strong passing and scoring skills. Cyrus is a shooting guard candidate with all-around ability. Eichelberger will contend at power forward. He carries a reputation as a physical and versatile player. Gage is expected to add scoring punch to the backcourt. He was a Chicago All-Public League honoree. McCallum is a junior college transfer who excels as a perimeter shooter. Harrison-Docks is a graduate transfer who was a double-figure scorer at Western Kentucky for three years and is a strong 3-point threat. He was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2014.
Georgetown
Akoy Agau, F, So., 6-8, 230, Omaha, Neb./Univ. of Louisville
Jagan Mosely, Morganville, N.J./St. Anthony
Jonathan Mulmore, Jr., New Orleans, La./Allegany JC (Md.)
*Rodney Pryor, Gr., Evanston, Ill./Robert Morris U.
Pryor is graduate transfer from Robert Morris where he was an All-Northeast Conference First Team selection after averaging 18.3 points and 8.0 rebounds. He was also the NEC Tournament MVP. Mulmore capped off two years at Allegany JC by being named to the NJCAA All-America Second Team. He averaged 26.1 points, 5.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds last season. Mosely was named state Player of the Year by NJ.com after leading St. Anthony to a 32-0 record, the state title and a No. 4 national ranking. He played in Jordan Brand Classic and the U.S. All-Stars in the Capital Classic. Agau, a transfer from Louisville who sat out last season, will compete at the power forward position.
Marquette
Sam Hauser, G, Fr., 6-6, 210, Stevens Point, Wis./Stevens Point
Markus Howard, G, Fr., 5-11, 185, Chandler, Ariz./Findlay Prep (Nev.)
Katin Reinhardt, G, Gr., 6-6, 220, Dana Point, Calif./Mater Dei
*Andrew Rowsey, G, Jr., 5-10, 180, Lexington, Va./UNC Asheville
The four Golden Eagle newcomers are guard prospects. A consensus top 50 recruit, Howard also has earned gold medals in each of the past two summers playing for USA Basketball teams. He is known as a prolific scorer. The other freshman is 6-6 Sam Hauser, who led his prep team to two Wisconsin state titles. Rowsey is a scoring guard, who sat out last season after transferring from UNC Asheville. He averaged 19.2 points two seasons ago and is known for his shooting prowess. Reinhardt is a graduate transfer from USC who averaged 11.4 ppg last season for the Trojans.
Providence
Alpha Diallo, G, Fr., 6-7, 205, New York, N.Y./Brewster Academy (N.H.)
Bryan Donovan, G, Fr., 6-0, 180, Gainesville, Fla./Bishop McGuinness
Emmitt Holt, F, Jr., 6-7, 230, Webster, N.Y./Indian Hills JC (Iowa)
Maliek White, G, Fr., 6-2, 180, Richmond, Va./George Wythe
Kalif Young, F, Fr., 6-9, 250, Vaughn, Ontario/Orangeville Prep
The Friars will welcome two forwards and three guards for 2016-17. Diallo has excelled as a small forward, leading his prep team in scoring and placing second in rebounding. Last summer, he averaged 20.5 points while playing for Team Africa in the adidas National Tournament. Holt is a junior college transfer who can use his 6-7, 230-pound frame effectively around the basket. He ranked second in the nation in field goal percentage, making 68.9 percent. Holt played at Indiana as a freshman. White is a point guard candidate who led his high school team to a state crown as a junior. He is a versatile performer. Young is a power forward, who played in the Biosteel All-Canadian Games, which feature the top 24 players in Canada. He was named the MVP of his team. Donovan will add depth in the backcourt. He comes to Providence 30 years after his father Billy led the Friars to the Final Four.
St. John’s
Bashir Ahmed, G, Jr., 6-7, Bronx, N.Y./Hutchinson JC (Kan.)
Richard Freudenberg, Fr., F, 6-9, Heidelberg, Germany/Bayern Munich
Marcus LoVett, G, R-Fr., 6-0, 170, Chicago, Ill./Morgan Park
*Tariq Owens, F, So., 6-10, 190, Odenton, Md./U. of Tennessee
Shamorie Ponds, G, Fr., 6-1, Brooklyn, N.Y./Thomas Jefferson
Ponds is a top-rated guard, who was a 2,000-point scorer in high school. He was named co-MVP of the New York PSAL city title game as a senior. While averaging 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Ponds also helped his team win a state title. He was named to the Jordan Brand Classic All-American Team. Ahmed is the only player at Hutchinson JC ever to win NJCAA All-American honors twice. Considered a versatile performer, he was a first team selection after averaging 20.1 points and 8.1 rebounds last season. Freudenberg has spent the past three seasons playing for Bayern Munich in Germany’s top division. He is also a well-rounded player who has extensive international experience. LoVett was a consensus top-25 rated point guard candidate a year ago. He sat out last season when the NCAA determined he was a partial qualifier. Owens also sat out last season after transferring from Tennessee. He will contend for playing time at forward.
Seton Hall
Eron Gordon, G, Fr., 6-3, Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral
Myles Powell, G, Fr., Trenton N.J./South Kent School (Conn.)
The two Pirate newcomers are freshman guards. A consensus four-star recruit, Powell is considered a top-notch 3-point shooter, who can also take the ball to the basket effectively. He played in the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic and participated in the National High School 3-Point Championship. Gordon is also a strong shooter, who can also contribute as a passer and playmaker. He was MVP of the Kentucky Derby Festival Classic and was a finalist for Mr. Basketball in Indiana. He is the younger brother of NBA standout Eric Gordon, Jr.
Villanova
Tim Delaney, F, R-Fr., 6-9, Pitman, N.J./Blair Academy
Dylan Painter, Fr., F, 6-10, Hershey, Pa./Hershey
Eric Paschall, F, So., 6-7, 260, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./Fordham U.
Omari Spellman, Fr., F, 6-8, North Royalton, Ohio/St. Thomas More (Conn.)
Spellman is at or near the top of the recruiting rankings for all BIG EAST signees. At 6-8, he is expected to contribute immediately. Spellman was the only player to record a double-double in the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic when he posted 12 points and 15 rebounds. Painter is also a skilled forward who can score and rebound. Delaney was an injury redshirt in 2015-16 because of hip surgery. He has perimeter shooting ability and solid inside skills. Paschall, a transfer from Fordham, was the Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year two seasons ago. He averaged 15.9 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Xavier
Eddie Ekiyor, F, Fr., 6-9, 235, Ottawa, Ontario/New Hampton School (N.H.)
*RaShid Gaston, F, Sr., 6-9, 240, Warren, Ohio/Norfolk State
Quentin Gooden, G, Fr., 6-3, 190, Campbellsville, Ky./Taylor
Tyrique Jones, F, Fr., 6-8, 225, Saxton River, Vt./Vermont Academy
Three of the four Musketeers newcomers are candidates for the frontcourt where the team lost James Farr and Jalen Reynolds. Gaston, a physical frontcourt presence, sat out last season after transferring from Norfolk State and figures to challenge for a starting spot. He averaged 15.5 points two seasons ago and ranked fourth in the nation in field goal percentage, making 62.6 percent. Jones has earned a reputation as a quality rebounder and will be pushing for playing time. Gooden is a point guard standout, who was an all-state selection and the Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky. Ekiyor is a very athletic frontcourt candidate who will be trying to break into the rotation.
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*Transfer from a four-year school who will be eligible in 2016-17