BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: MARQUETTE

October 2, 2006


VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Patrick Hazel (F), Blair Academy, NJ


Article from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Hazel's commitment: Forward Chooses Marquette.


Projected 2007-2008 Roster:



Seniors: Ousmane Barro (C), Dan Fitzgerald (F), Lawrence Blackledge (F)
Juniors: Wesley Matthews (WG), Dominic James (PG), Jerel McNeal (SG), Dwight Burke (BF)
Sophomores: David Cubillan (G), Lazar Hayward (G/F), Maurice Acker (PG)
Freshmen: Scott Christopherson (G), Trvor Mbakwe (PF), Patrick Hazel
2008 Early Commit: Nick Williams (SG)



Marquette headed back East to distribute their last open scholarship for 2007 by gaining a commitment from Patrick Hazel, a re-classified senior at Blair Academy. The hard-working 6'7 forward averaged about 8 pts and 8 rebounds a game last year at Blair after transferring in from Bayside HS in his native Queens, NY.

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For much of the summer recruiting period, Hazel saw interest from most of the Atlantic 10 schools and a couple of the local colleges, like Hofstra. He did have St. John's, Providence, Seton Hall and Rutgers staying in touch, and Hazel knew he wanted to be part of a Big East program.

Hazel's relationship with Marquette grew quickly as Marquette head coach Tom Crean saw him workout at Blair and got him to visit Marquette shortly after (last weekend) and that was all it took for Hazel, who committed on Sunday.

With Hazel joining Trevor Mbakwe and Scott Christopherson, the projected roster for 2007-2008 for the Golden Eagles now stads at the NCAA limit of 13.

With an early commitment from Nick Williams for 2008, it looks like Marquette has at least two more scholarships for the 2008 class, but will also watch the NBA draft stock of sophomore Dominic James, but with Maurice Acker sitting out this season, they definitely look to have their contingency plan in place.

There is also the unresolved eligibility case with freshmen Lazar Hayward and the NCAA Clearinghouse. The Marquette staff is optimistic and hopes to have a positive response from the NCAA prior to the start of practice on October 13th.

As always, for more information on Marquette recruiting and their program, visit Cracked Sidewalks on the blogger network which is a blog dedicated to Marquette basketball.