Creighton knew what it was losing in experience and leadership when the clock struck midnight on their 2017-18 season with Marcus Foster, Toby Hegner, Tyler Clement, and Manny Suarez departing to graduation. But then came Ronnie Harrell, Jr.’s decision to transfer to Denver and play his final season of college basketball closer to home. Junior guard Khyri Thomas then took his defensive prowess that made him a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year winner and declared for the NBA Draft, leaving the Bluejays with only one senior on the roster in reserve point guard Kaleb Joseph.
On Thursday morning, that number doubled when Connor Cashaw informed Creighton head coach Greg McDermott and his staff that he would be finishing his collegiate career in Omaha. Cashaw led Rice in scoring, rebounding, assists, assist-to-turnover ratio, steals, and minutes as a junior. He averaged 15.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in 33.7 minutes per game and was named to Conference USA’s All-Academic Team last season.
He admits that it was difficult to make the decision to transfer for his senior season, but ultimately Creighton offered an opportunity to grow as a leader that proved even more difficult to pass up.
“It was a tough decision to leave Rice and I obviously want to thank them for all they’ve done,” Cashaw said in a phone interview with White & Blue Review. “I was comfortable there and that was like my family and my home, but in talking to my parents we thought it was best to move on. Once we found Creighton — first of all, in coach Mac and his staff I saw that I could be developed here and come here and lead. Not only that, but the fans and the atmosphere was incredible right when I stepped on campus. I felt at home. I was really comfortable bonding with the guys and in seeing how they interact I knew that I could fit in right away.”
As a three-year starter at Rice, Cashaw says filling an experience void at Creighton won’t exactly be his first day on the job. While Rice prepared him for the role, he is hoping to enhance those abilities at Creighton while also getting somewhere he’s never been before — the NCAA Tournament.
“I told coach Mac that I could see myself growing [at Creighton],” Cashaw said. “I want to be a better player. I want to play professionally next year, and I want to be a better person. I think I can achieve that with this staff and coach Mac. As far as playing time goes, I wanted to see how I fit and what my role would be, and he told me that there were a lot of talented young players that I can help lead and help grow. That’s something that is very intriguing to me. Helping me grow as a leader is something that can prepare me for the next 10 years and it’s an opportunity that I am so grateful for. I want to come in make plays, rebound, score, and hopefully cut down some nets.”
“I want to go to the NCAA Tournament. I’ve dreamt of that ever since I was a little kid. I want to play in that atmosphere. That’s been the goal since I can remember. I want to continue to learn and be a student of the game and teach who I can. If I see something in practice I always want to let people know to see if they can grow. I want to see my past teammates and future teammates be the best they can be too.”
Cashaw and Creighton are not unfamiliar with each other. They first met when Cashaw was back in high school. The Jays were recruiting a friend of his who would turn into a two-time National Champion and National Player of the Year winner in Villanova’s Jalen Brunson. While he says Creighton didn’t recruit him back then, Cashaw believes he fits what they are looking for on the court these days. At 6-foot-5, 200-plus pounds, he can score, rebound, defend, and shoots the three-ball at a 35.5% clip for his career.
“Creighton kind of plays how I’ve been playing the past seven years, whether it’s in high school, AAU, or at Rice,” Cashaw said. “Playing fast, being free, moving without the ball, setting screens. I felt like I could fit in right away and learn as I go.”
Along with the style he’ll be playing, Cashaw was also intrigued by opponents he’ll be facing. Rice faced four teams that either reside in a power conference or made the NCAA Tournament last season in Stephen F. Austin, Marshall, Texas Tech, and Ole Miss. In those games, the Lincolnshire, Illinois native averaged 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 45.5% from the 3-point line and 84.0% from the charity stripe.
“At Rice we loved playing against the best teams and now with transitioning to the Big East there will probably be seven NCAA Tournament teams on the schedule,” he said. “It’s something I’m looking forward to. I love the best competition. Seeing their tendencies, researching and scouting them, and ultimately competing. That’s the one thing I love to do is compete … obviously I’m coming from a smaller school, but something I’m really excited for is to compete against the top notch teams and see what I can do.”
Cashaw understands there is risk involved with not only jumping up in competition, but also moving on from a place he’s been for three years. But to him, with change comes growth and he’s ready to embrace that part of his basketball journey.
“The great thing about playing three years at Rice is how much I’ve learned,” Cashaw said. “I think I’ve been in every single role of college basketball, so I understand a lot that goes on. Obviously getting out of my comfort zone is unnatural, but I think it’s the best way to grow in life and to elevate and continue to develop. I didn’t really look at leaving Rice as a negative. I looked it as a positive. I know I’m going to be on the move a lot in life so I just wanted to continue growing.”
See some of Cashaw back when he was in HS with Villanova star Jalen Brunson
