Recruiting update: Key prospects nearing decisions

It was a busy week for commitments in the 2013 class, most notably Simeon shooting guard Kendrick Nunn choosing Illinois over Marquette and Ohio State. While the 6-foot-2 shooting guard was high on Marquette’s list of players to round out the class, there is still talent left on the board mentioning Marquette.

As always, Williams plays his recruiting close to the vest, and 2013 is certainly no different. Things have been quiet on the recruiting front, but a handful of players are closing in on decision time in advance of the Nov. signing period.

In no order, here are eight players who have recently been mentioned with Marquette. After are eight 2014 recruits.

— E.C. Matthews (6-foot-4 shooting guard, Romulus H.S., Mich.)

ESPN: 4-star, No. 85
Rivals: 4-star, No. 92
Scout: 4-star, No. 72

Schools: Dayton, Iowa, Kansas State, Marquette, Minnesota, Missouri, Rhode Island, Providence, UNLV, Virginia Tech, Xavier

Analysis: Matthews was expected to visit Marquette this week, but reportedly called it off due to being tired from his recent trips. He recently visited Iowa, and has visited Dayton and Xavier so far. He wants to trim his list to six or seven, per Jeff Borzello, and Marquette should be on that list. He wants to commit in November, and while Iowa may be the leader right now, he’s one of the top recruits Marquette is still in on.

The latest story
Video highlights

– Ron Patterson (6-foot-2, Brewster Academy)

ESPN: 3-star, No. 143 overall
Rivals: 3-star, No. 131 overall
Scout: 3-star

Schools: Florida State, Iowa, Marquette, North Carolina State, Providence, SMU, Villanova, Xavier

Analysis: Patterson was released from Indiana after not qualifying for the school’s, not the NCAA’s, academic standards, and is reclassifying to the 2013 class after a year at Brewster Prep School. He’s unsure whether he will sign in the fall or wait until the spring period which, his coach says, could change his standing with certain teams. Williams is expected to visit Brewster this week to visit Kyle Washington and, presumably, Patterson as well.

The latest story
Video highlights

— Joel Embiid (7-foot center, Montverde Academy, Fla.)

ESPN: 3-star, No. 11 center
Rivals: 3-star, Not ranked
Scout: 4-star, No. 14 center

Schools: DePaul, Florida, Louisville, Marquette, Texas, UCLA, Virginia

Analysis: The 7-footer has exploded onto the recruiting scene and is garnering interest from some of the top schools in the country. He needs to put on weight and muscle (most 7-footers do), but he is an elite shot blocker and finishes well around the rim. Furthermore, he has only been playing basketball for 18 months, as he starred as a volleyball player before he took to the hardwood. He’s playing in Florida, giving Billy Donovan an advantage, but an interesting note is that Milwaukee Bucks forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is his mentor. While that could help UCLA, Mbah a Moute’s alma mater, Embiid coming to Milwaukee would make sense for both parties. Expect his recruitment to gradually pick up steam until he eventually makes a decision.

The latest story ($$)
Video highlights (No. 34 in white)

— Torren Jones (6-foot-9 forward, La Lumiere, Ind.)

ESPN: 3-star, No. 44 power forward
Rivals: 3-star, No. 114
Scout: 3-star

Schools: California, DePaul, Marquette, Missouri, Washington State

Analysis: Marquette jumped on Jones late, but has made his final list of five last week. The super-athletic power forward says he is looking for “location, style of play and education.” Jones may be a package deal with five-star big man and AAU teammate Marcus Lee, but for now has official visits lined up with Washington State, who last month he called his leader, and DePaul. It’s worth noting that Jones originally is from Arizona, so location could be in Cal’s favor. Still, Marquette looks to be in the hunt. He is planning on waiting until the spring to decide.

The latest story
Video highlights

— John Dawson (6-foot-2 point guard, Clovis H.S., N.M.)

ESPN: 2-star, No. 58 point guard
Rivals: 3-star, Not ranked
Scout: Not ranked

Schools: Auburn, Colorado State, Creighton, Marquette, UTEP, Wyoming

Analysis: The No. 3 recruit in New Mexico, Dawson has seen his recruitment pick up lately. Marquette has offered, and was in Clovis on Monday to see him. From small samples, Dawson is an excellent passer as a pass-first point guard and has a nice stroke from outside. Dawson boasts six offers but would not say whom, but the six schools above have been listed with him. He plans to make visits to all schools on his list, and he even joked about needing a school that can take care of his hair. (See: Crowder, Jae) Creighton seems to be on him the hardest for now.

The latest story ($$)
Video highlights

— Darin Johnson (6-foot-4 shooting guard, Sheldon H.S., Calif.)

ESPN: 2-star, No. 54 shooting guard
Rivals: Not Ranked
Scout: 4-star, No. 83

Schools: Marquette, Oregon, San Diego State, Washington

Analysis: Johnson narrowed his list to four on Monday, and said Oregon is his favorite after taking an official visit there last week. He has a good relationship with the Marquette coaching staff, and the appeal of playing in the Big East is enticing. The 6-foot-4 slasher has excellent size that he uses in the lane, and he is still coming into his own from the perimeter. He has a Sept. 20 visit to Milwaukee lined up, and Marquette reportedly visited him on Sept. 12. It may be tough to pry him from the West coast, but Marquette seems highly interested.

The latest story
Video highlights

— Brandon Parrish (6-foot-6 wing, Juan Seguin H.S., Tex.)

ESPN: Not ranked
Rivals: 3-star, No. 140
Scout: Not ranked

Schools: Iowa, Marquette, Rice, TCU, Texas Tech

Analysis: Eric Bossi of Rivals.com said Marquette is in “heavy” with Parrish, an up-and-coming wing from Williams’ recruiting hotbed of Texas. TCU seems to be the leader at this point, but Parrish is expected to make a visit to Marquette and he has risen up the recruiting ranks this summer. He previously had offers from teams such as Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Oregon State and Tulane, with a handful of other high majors watching him in the July evaluation period. (Note: One of those teams was North Texas). Williams may have to pry him away from the south, but he’s a name to keep an eye on going forward.

The latest story ($$)

— Kyle Washington (6-foot-9 center, Brewster Academy)

ESPN: 4-star, No. 66
Rivals: 4-star, No. 96
Scout: 4-star, No. 82

Schools: Iowa State, Louisville, Marquette, NC State, Ohio State, Washington

Analysis: Yesterday, Washington listed, in no order, Ohio State, North Carolina State, Iowa State and Washington as his favorites. He isn’t sure when he will make a decision and has one more official visit he is allowed to make. Williams and Marquette may be behind in the recruitment, but he did list the Golden Eagles on Sept. 14. A “Marquette assistant” visited Washington, and Williams is expected to visit Brewster Academy this week.

The latest story
Video highlights

2014 recruits

T.J. Schlundt: Per 247 Sports’ Evan Flood, Marquette “recently acquired about” the 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Oconomowoc, Wisc.

Riley LaChance: Per 247 Sports’ Evan Flood, Marquette is “beginning to show interest” in the 6-foot-1 shooting guard from Brookfield, Wisc.

Kevon Looney: The top schools in the country, including Michigan State and Florida, are in on the top-10 prospect in the country. Marquette has offered, but the 6-foot-8 small forward will be a tough get for Williams.

Alex Robinson: Marquette offered the four-star, No. 77 overall prospect yesterday, and the 6-foot-1 point guard already has 14 offers on his plate.

Kobe Eubanks: The 6-foot-5, No. 102 overall prospect has an offer from Marquette, and is looking at Florida, Michigan, George Mason, Alabama, Missouri and Arizona.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright: The No. 37 overall prospect has recent interest from Kansas, Georgetown and Marquette, and the 5-foot-9 point guard has nine more high-major scholarship offers, per Evan Flood.

Sean O’Mara: The 6-foot-9 forward has a handful of mid-major scholarship offers, and most recently picked up offers from Illinois, Marquette, Boston College and Virginia. He has interest from Northwestern, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin, all per Prep Bullseye.

Paul White: One of the top players in the class, the 6-foot-8 small forward from Chicago has offers from the following schools: Arizona, DePaul, Florida State, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Marquette, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Florida, Georgia Tech, and Nebraska and Wisconsin. The following schools have shown recent interest: Louisville, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Stanford, per NY2LA Sports.

—

For an unofficial list of 2013 recruits who list Marquette, here are links. The accuracy varies, as some players have added,  and others have dropped Marquette since the last time the lists were updated.

Recruits listing Marquette, via ESPN.com

Recruits listing Marquette, via Rivals.com

Recruits listing Marquette, via Scout.com