BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: MARQUETTE

October 30, 2007


VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Tyshawn Taylor (G), St. Anthony's in Jersey City (NJ)


The situation looked good for Tyshawn Taylor and Marquette over the weekend when Taylor took an official visit to the Marquette campus. After returning home to New Jersey and sleeping on it, he decided to make it official and the latest guard to commit to Tom Crean and the Golden Eagles as Taylor to Marquette (zagsblog) became official yesterday.


Projected 2008-2009 Roster:


Seniors: Wesley Matthews (WG), Dominic James (PG), Jerel McNeal (SG), Dwight Burke (BF)
Juniors: David Cubillan (G), Lazar Hayward (G/F), Maurice Acker (PG)
Sophomores: Scott Christopherson (G), Trvor Mbakwe (PF), Patrick Hazel (F), Joseph Fulce (SF)
Freshmen: Nick Williams (SG), Tyshawn Taylor (G)
Early 2009 Commitment: Erik Williams (F)



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After a tough week where the Golden Eagles lost top targets Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech) and Jared Swopshire (Louisville), Tom Crean quikcly rebounded and landed fast-rising St. Anthony's guard Tyshawn Taylor. As a member of Bob Hurley's tremendous corps of guards, Taylor was playing mostly under the radar as one of five Division 1-A guards on the squad last season with Miles Beatty (GW), Travon Woodall (Pitt), Mike Rosario (Rutgers) and Jio Fontan (Fordham). Taylor had a very strong spring and summer on the AAU circuit, teamming with Mookie Jones and Kevin Jones to help lead the Westchester Hawks. It was with his AAU program that Taylor showed off his ability to play point guard and with excellent athletic ability and a 6'3 frame, his recruitment took off with that versatility. Taylor can put a lot of pressure on a defense with his ability to get out in transition and get to the rim. Taylor had scholarship offers from Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Kansas, and had been offered a scholarship by North Carolina last Thursday, who also lost out in the Iman Shumpert sweepstakes with Marquette.

Taylor joins Joseph Fulce and Nick Williams in the 2008 recruiting class. Fulce is a 6'6, 210-pound wing from Plano, Texas that is very familiar with at least one member of the Marquette coaching staff. Out of high school, Fulce committed to Texas A&M where he was recruited by Buzz Williams, an assistant at the time under Billy Gillispie. However, academic concerns derailed his attempt to join the Aggies and it was off to Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia. In one season there, Fulce averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds and re-opened his recruitment. In last seasons late signing period, Fulce signed with the University of New Orleans, who was coached by Buzz Williams. However, later in the spring, Williams resigned from New Orleans and opted to join the staff at Marquette as an assistant coach. Fulce was released from his letter of intent over the summer and has enrolled Tyler (TX) Junior College. He will come to Marquette as a sophomore next year and have three seasons of eligibility left.

Williams of Mobile (AL), is a rock-solid 6'3 shooting guard who can really dial it in from the perimeter when he has it going. Williams also has shown the feel for the game to take midrange jumpers when the opportunity arises and knock them down.

Although the Golden Eagles now look to be full with 13 scholarships committed for the 2008-2009 season, they most certainly will continue pursuing a big man. BF/C Chris Otule of Fort Bend Bush High School in Richmond (TX) is another prospect high on the radar for Marquette and Garrett Stutz from Kansas City (MO) has also been getting recruiting interest from the Marquette staff. At this point, seldom-used Dwight Burke is the only player taller than 6'7 scheduled to be on campus for 2008-2009, which is a concern for the staff who has been putting an emphasis on interior toughness, defense and rebounding thsi preseason.


As for underclassmen, in addition to Erik Williams, another recruit from Texas who committed while visiting for 'Marquette Madness', Diamond Taylor and Joey Brooks from the class of 2009 were on campus recently and Jamil Wilson of Racine Horlick is the Golden Eagles top target for 2009.

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.