Brian Walsh Article

[GBXU]

Walsh offers:
Xavier
Duquesne
Maryland
Memphis
Penn State
Pittsburgh
Saint Joseph's
West Virginia

Frease offers:
Xavier
Indiana
Michigan
Michigan State
Notre Dame
Ohio State
West Virginia

Lyons Offers:
Xavier
Buffalo
Clemson
Massachusetts
Siena

Redford Offers:
Xavier
Dayton

Quick tangent... I think the above should help Miller realize that X can compete with major programs year in and year out. I think Raymond and Anderson will make up another solid senior class next year and even if there is a drop off from this year to next it probably won't be that significant.

End tangent....

[MillerTime]

No doubt Frease was our biggest pickup from a "most highly sought after" standpoint. I've seen him play, and I hope X fans have patience. Everybody talks about this kid, but I don't expect him to come in and dominate. He has a lot of room for improvement, especially from a strength and conditioning standpoint, like most high school big men.

Walsh's list is impressive as well. Redford's official offer list was never updated on scouts (i recognize where you got these). He had more offers than just us and Dayton, though those were probably his most impressive offers. Thankfully he committed prior to his senior season, or even his AAU summer last year, or you can bet Mich and Mich St would be hot after him. Lyons will play the most of any recruits next year, including Frease. I'm not saying he is or will end up being the best player, its just that we have an immediate need for a point guard who is athletically and mentally ready to handle the PG position from day 1.

Too much emphasis is placed on these recruiting rankings nowadays. A kid can play, or he can't. Whether he is number 5 or number 32 in the rivals or scouts pg rankings isn't worth much to me.

[kmcrawfo]

Too much emphasis is placed on these recruiting rankings nowadays. A kid can play, or he can't. Whether he is number 5 or number 32 in the rivals or scouts pg rankings isn't worth much to me.

I agree... I do put credence in who else is offering scholarships, though.

I think that means some big time programs agree on whether the "kid can play, or he can't".

That's why I am impressed with getting Frease and Walsh. I am sure Lyons will be a big time contributer, as we definitely need a boost at the point, next year.

[Lead Guitar]

Saturday's game against Richmond might be a glimse into next year's style of play.

Dante or Lyons--similar to Burrell as far as size. Maybe more secondary fast breaks. I would expect even stronger rebounding especially on the offensive side. (we've done a good job this year.) Sean is recruiting size and shooting--the two things that are tough to teach. He then teaches them team defense.

Sean will show his flexibility and coachability again by making subtle changes based on his personnel. As much as he likes man to man, I could see a little more zone next year. He is recruiting players like Lyons and Walsh, who from what we read, have high basketball IQ's. They can all play two or three positions.

We are in good hands, just as long as Sean does not go to Harvard!

[mtax]

"Walsh, a 6-4 guard/forward who has committed to play with Xavier’s top-25 program next year, scored 30 points in Moon’s resounding 61-41 victory over Central Catholic Saturday in the PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinals.
In the first round, Walsh scored 27 points in a double-overtime victory over Canon-McMillan and lifted the Tigers into the lead in both overtime periods.
In a second-round game with McKeesport, he scored the game-winning field goal with 20 seconds remaining. He experienced a root canal on Thursday afternoon, and then extracted McKeesport from the playoffs on Thursday evening.
But his best performance came in the most demanding game. More painful than dental work was the recurring memory of Moon Area’s last-heartbeat loss to Central Catholic in the WPIAL AAAA championship game."

WPIAL = Western Penna. Interscholastic Athletic League
http://www.wpial.org/memberschools.asp
PIAA = Penna. Interscholastic Athletic Assoc.
Moon's in the state semi-finals in a pretty big state.
http://www.piaa.org/assets/web/document ... B_Brax.pdf

I'm eager to see all four of our new guys play. They may be behind defensively (although a Redford article metioned his defensive skill) and we need to replace Stanley, but they could be ahead offensively. At any rate, Graves and Jackson better be working hard on their games this summer. Competition is good for the soul! My hope is that Redford is a Steve Thomas with longer range!