Walker out scores Hayes

[kyzrex]

Not that it really means anything....

But in last nights victory by Covington Catholic over Cincinnati Moeller, Jake Walter (Xavier center recruit) outscored Jaxon Hayes (Texas center recruit who had X in his final 4) by 10 to 9 in a 58-53 victory by the top ranked northern Kentucky team over the top ranked Cincinnati team.

Kid might actually turn out to be a player....

[olsingledigit]

Not that it really means anything....

But in last nights victory by Covington Catholic over Cincinnati Moeller, Jake Walter (Xavier center recruit) outscored Jaxon Hayes (Texas center recruit who had X in his final 4) by 10 to 9 in a 58-53 victory by the top ranked northern Kentucky team over the top ranked Cincinnati team.

Kid might actually turn out to be a player....

Trust in Mack!

[SC in DC]

It means he scored 1 more point! LOL

[skyhops]

After watching some of the game Walter will need to get in shape and lose a lot of weight in order to see any time his freshman year. Probably a red shirt year.

[Anti-Homer]

Both of these guys are acknowledged projects. Whether that means they'll start contributing their sophomore, junior, or senior year remains to be seen. There is a reason X is still heavily recruiting bigs. However, objectively speaking, Hayes had UK and Texas after him along with X. X's competition for Mr. Walter was low, mid-major teams. Hopefully, they simply missed out on him.

[skyhops]

Not sure we will be in the wait mode for a slow out of shape big man. I was not impressed

[muskieman]

After watching some of the game Walter will need to get in shape and lose a lot of weight in order to see any time his freshman year. Probably a red shirt year.

a lot of players have been given red shirt status by you over the years...keep saying it and someday it might come true

[kyzrex]

Xavier has a pretty good record of developing bigs. I don’t know this kid at all, but for some reason I have the feeling that he WANTS to become a better player. That desire to develop is 1/2 the battle. I’m not going to bet against it happening. I’d almost rather have someone that comes in rough and unpolished, but has the DESIRE to prove his critics wrong, than I would to have someone that comes in with all kinds of hype, but thinks he has it made and doesn’t want to work to improve.

One of the all time greats once said that it wasn’t the “will to win” that was important. It was the “will to prepare to win”, that was.

With Bluiett X has a kid that not only has the physical talent and ability to win, but has the mental toughness and desire to do the preparation necessary to improve and become good enough to win....the will to win AND the will to prepare, along with the natural talent and ability. That’s what makes him, along with players like Larkin, West, etc. so special.

But we have also seen kids come into this program (and others) that had all of the God given talent in the world, yet never got any better because they rested on their laurels. The didn’t have the “will to prepare”, only the “will to win”.

I enjoy watching the kids that have that “will to prepare”, even if they don’t have all of the natural talent and ability that some of the others have. I enjoy watching them develop. A college career is seemingly over in a blink of an eye when you are in it, but it’s a journey of a lifetime when you are looking back. Enjoy the journey. I’m not going to bet against this kid, I’m going to root for him.

[edgecliff hall]

Me too, Kyzrex.

[X-lucidity]

Me three Kyzrex. Well said. This size and coordination do not grow readily on trees. Welcome to the family Jake as I have heard nothing but positives as far has his passion for the sport and work ethic. Never met this kid obviously, but I met his father Joe once at a Bengal affair. Great dude, and a blue-collar tough as nails trench fighter. I trust the apple has not fallen far from the tree here. Looking forward to watching this young man blossom here in Xavier Nation..