'Tis the Season

No, not Christmas... recruiting season. This is the time of year that basketball recruiting really heats up, as AAU tournaments are in full swing and kids are looking to commit to schools before they begin their senior seasons.

Marquette has received one commit from 2006, SG Anthony Green from Beloit, WI, but it also appears there are a number of players they are interested in to fill their final two slots. It seems clear that Jonathan Mitchell, a 6'6" combo forward of Mt. Vernon, NY and Bryce Webster, a 6'10" center, of St. Paul, MN are two high priorities for the staff. Both players are regularly ranked in the top 100 nationally.

There are varying reports on Mitchell, but every report at this point names Marquette as his leader. It seems that the race for Mitchell may come down to Marquette and Virginia, as Mitchell has expressed interest in new Wahoo coach, Dave Leitao, who was the assistant who helped recruit Mt. Vernon product, Ben Gordon, to UConn. Mitchell appears intent on visiting UVa, but from all indications, still loves Marquette. A decision may not be made until late August or early September.

Webster also appears to have approximately the same timeline in mind for his decision, and MU appears to also be at the top of his list. Recently, Bryce crossed Notre Dame off his list of 4, leaving Minnesota and Boston College as MU's main competitors. One article even suggested that Minnesota is off the list entirely.

There are other options out there as well. Tyrone Kent, a Chicago Crane player Marquette really liked in 2005, may be going the prep school route, and presumably, MU will be watching. Paul Bayer, a sharpshooter from Moline, IL, has already visited Marquette and liked what he saw. He is also considering Wyoming, Stanford and Creighton.

A couple other interesting names have popped up of late. Lazar Hayward, a 6'4" SG/SF who will attend Notre Dame prep in Fitchburg, MA. Hayward apparently has great interest in Marquette at this point, and Marquette has reportedly offered Hayward.

Two other big men recruits from Chicago have also been of interest to Marquette. Thijin Moses, a rising 6'7" junior was reportedly offered by Marquette and DePaul. Also, 2007 6'8" big man, Nyal "Mac" Koshwal has been rising up the recruiting ladder (he is expected to be a top 100 player in 2007) also is reported to have an offer from Marquette. Both players attended Marquette's Elite Camp this summer and both will attend the brand new Boys to Men Math and English Academy this year, where they will be coached by current Marquette player, Ousmane Barro's former coach, Loren Jackson.

Some other recent articles with some Marquette mentions for recruiting:

Twin forwards Jerrell and Terrell Williams of Paterson, NJ, announced they were transferring from Paterson Catholic to Northfield Mount Hermon, a prep school in Northfield, MA.

Kimmani Barrett, a 6'5" guard, also from Paterson Catholic.

Josh Guillory, a 6'4" wing who left the rough community of Watts, CA near Los Angeles, to live in Decatur, GA.

Also, keep an eye on Armon Bassett, a talented Terre Haute, IN point guard. There is some mutual interest between MU and Bassett.

Time will tell which athletes end up at Marquette.