With October comes the official start of the college basketball season as teams begin practices. Follow along as Pickin’ Splinters highlights the incoming classes of the A-10 that are “signed, sealed and delivered.”
Leading it off with the Xavier Musketeers.
The Musketeers have made six consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament taking eight wins during those appearances. Xavier fell to Marquette in the first round of last year’s tournament.
Andrew Taylor and Jamel McLean graduated from that team. Chris Mack and his staff added three freshmen to this year’s club.
Dee Davis 5’11” 150lbs. G Bloomington South – Bloomington, Indiana
HONOR ROLL
Davis was ranked No. 22 at point guard by ESPN.com, No. 23 by Scout.com and No. 24 by rivals.com…rivals also listed Davis as the No. 120 player overall.
AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH
Won 4A State Championship as a sophomore and a senior and was named MVP of the state tournament both years…averaged 21.6 points, 5.7 assists and 2.4 steals a game as a senior while leading his team to a 26-2 overall record and the state title…hit 52 percent from the field, including 41 percent from three-point range…a three-time All-Conference Indiana selection and two-time All-State selection…finished his career with 1,582 career points and 471 career assists, while helping Bloomington South compile a 75-3 record during his three season as the starting point guard… the team had a streak of 49 straight wins that ended in the postseason tournament his junior year…scored a team-high 15.7 ppg. and dished off a team-high 5.4 apg. on a 23-1 squad his junior season…averaged 13.1 points and 5.2 assists as a sophomore, while leading his team to a perfect 26-0 record and a No. 3 national ranking in the USA Today’s Super 25 prep poll…among his high school teammates were Spencer Turner (Belmont), Jordan Hulls (Indiana) and Eric Fruman (Butler)…basketball coach: J.R. Holmes.
What they’re saying about Davis – Rodger Bohn/Slam Online : “Super fast point guard who can really run an offense and lock down on D. May struggle against bigger point guards, though. Can definitely see him contributing as a freshman.”
Justin Martin 6’7″ 202lbs. F Lawrence North – Indianapolis, Indiana and Mountain State Academy – West Virginia
AS A MUSKETEER
Practiced last season with the Musketeers and is eager to make a significant impact this season.
HONOR ROLL
Ranked as the no. 87 prospect by scout.com and No. 86 by rivals.com…scored 42 points in leading the Class AA-A All-Stars past their AAA counterparts in the annual Scott Brown Memorial Classic in April, 2010.
AT MOUNTAIN STATE ACADEMY
Averaged 15.9 points and 6.9 rebounds, while leading his team to a 22-4 record and a No. 17 final ranking in USA Today…Team MVP…basketball coach: Rodney Crawford.
AT LAWRENCE NORTH HIGH
Averaged 10.4 ppg. as a junior at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Ind., the same school that sent XU current junior Jeff Robinson…basketball coach: Jack Keefer.
What they’re saying about Martin– Eric Vaughn Coach/Founder of Blessed IJN AAU Basketball and publisher of The Geeker Report: “N.B.A. or bust. He has tremendous skill. He reminds of a bigger Eric Gordon. If he has learned a work ethic, they have an N.B.A player. He can shoot it. He can handle it. He can pass it. He can post. There’s nothing he can’t do as a two-guard. He’s an A-10 rookie-of-the-year talent. I coached him in a game when he scored 42.”
Rodger Bohn/Slam Online: “Ton of talent, but the issue is whether or not he will ever put it all together. Great size and stroke for a player who can play either wing position. He’s the type of guy who I feel will either really flourish, or will have a lackluster career.”
Dezmine Wells 6’4″ 220lbs. G/F Hargrave Military Academy Raleigh, North Carolina
HONOR ROLL
Was ranked as the No. 45 player in America by Scout.com…ranked No. 48 on ESPN.com and No. 76 by rivals.com…the MVP of the 2010 NBA Player’s Camp Tournament in Charlottesville, Virginia…a 2010-11 McDonalds All-American Candidate…participated in the 2010 Nike Lebron James Skills Academy, the 2010 Nike Paul Pierce Skills Academy and was a 2010 Nike Global Games Invitee.
AT HARGRAVE MILITARY ACADEMY (CHATHAM, VA)
Team recorded a 28-1 overall record this past season…earned Hoophall Classic MVP honors…played with a long list of talented players, including P.J. Hairston (North Carolina), Robert Brown, C.J. Barksdale, Craig Ponder (UNCW) and Jalen Walker (WVSU)…the same program that has sent Xavier talented players such as David West, Jordan Crawford and Stanley Burrell …basketball coach: Kevin Keatts.
AT WORD OF GOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (RALEIGH, N.C.)
Two-time state champion…averaged 19.8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals as a senior while leading his team to a 28-1 record…teammates included John Wall, C.J. Leslie, Bishop Daniels, Elijah Johnson and Emanuel Chapman…basketball coach: Erasto Hatchett.
What they’re saying about Wells –Eric Vaughn Coach/Founder of Blessed IJN AAU Basketball and publisher of The Geeker Report : “He is a Mitch Richmond-type guard with a big-time athletic body. He can play small forward. He has a J.R. Smith body size, but I don’t know if he can shoot it as well.”
Thanks to the Xavier Sports Information Department for background information for each of the student/athletes.
Smitty says
Great stuff Casey! Looking forward to the upcoming season to see how much of an impact the incoming class in getting Xavier deep into the NCAA tourney.
Casey says
Justin Martin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1aRFhJ6hc8&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active