At White & Blue Review, we are constantly continuing to extend our coverage of Creighton sports. The posting below is the introduction to our expanded coverage of Creighton Recruiting on WBR. Our recruiting expert Joey Tempo breaks down his list of recruiting prospects for 2013. You can follow continual Creighton recruiting updates from White & Blue Review by following the recruiting account on Twitter: @tempowbr
Guards
DONDRE ALEXANDER
Alexander is a power scoring guard from Iowa, who has collected football offers from multiple Big 10 schools. His play on the court mimics the swagger he possesses on the gridiron. He is confident and does not fear contact. However, Dondre is raw. He has used his strength to overpower competition in Iowa high schools, something that at 6’3’’, 205lbs he would not always be allowed to get away with at the next level.
Alexander plays for the Iowa Barnstormers, alongside fellow CU recruit and high school teammate Jeremy Morgan. The success of that team has allowed college coaches to get a good feel for what Dondre can do on the hardwood, and by all accounts it sounds as if they like what they see.
He recently told reporters he hopes to play Division 1 basketball and forgo the numerous football offers. Creighton will continue to monitor throughout the summer. Dondre was present at the NCAA Selection Show and seems very interested in Creighton.
Major Competition: Iowa, Iowa State, Drake & UNI
AJ RILEY
Riley, a 6’2’’, 175lbs, combo guard from Peoria, Illinois is the stereotypical Chicago hoopster. Riley plays with a combination of fire and flair. Riley has excellent handles and can pass with both hands. What he lacks with his outside shot he makes up for in his ability to create toward the bucket.
Riley leads the Illinois Wolves AAU 17U squad that competes at the highest level on the circuit. Illinois Wolves are directed by Mike Mullins, father of former Southern Illinois great Bryan Mullins.
It seems the Jays would like to get involved with the Chicago market that has brought great success to so many Valley teams over the last decade. Look for Riley to be courted by each team in the league.
Major Competition: Penn State, Nebraska, George Mason, Detroit & Bradley
KENDAL HARRIS
Harris is one of the top backcourt players in the 2013 class. He was injured last summer so his recruitment did not take off until the last four months. Since then he has collected high-major offers from every conference. However, Harris and his family have built a nice relationship with Coaches McDermott & Lutz, thus the Jays are still a major player.
Harris is 6’3’’ and projects as a point guard at the high major level, yet I believe Coach McDermott would play Kendal almost exclusively at the two spot. I believe this will intrigue Kendal enough to keep Creighton around throughout his recruitment. His frame is college ready and he would be an instant contributor on the Hilltop.
Kendal played for the Dallas Mustangs program until this summer and has since switched to Urban DFW Elite. Harris’ older brother Terrell played for Oklahoma State, and is currently with the Miami Heat.
Major competition: Oklahoma State, Missouri, Marquette, LSU & Texas A&M
MARCUS FOSTER
Foster, a 6’3’’, 180lbs wing from Wichita Falls, Texas scores. That’s his game– he shoots, he penetrates, he dunks, he does what every coach want a shooting guard to do. I believe Foster to be the #1 target for this class. However, Foster has also caught the eye of many other programs including Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and SMU.
Foster plays for powerhouse Dallas Mustangs, a program McDermott, Lutz and Creighton have a great connection with. Former alumni include current Jay Geoffrey Groselle, ex-Jay Booker Woodfox and McDermott Iowa State recruit Wesley Johnson.
Major Competition: Kansas State, Oklahoma & SMU
NICK FULLER
Fuller is a 6’6” athletic lefty with good range. He’s been a consistent performer for the talented Wisconsin Swing AAU squad over the summer. Creighton has been front and center for many of Nick’s game and is seen as one of the front runners for his services. There were rumblings of a verbal to Butler late in 2011, but Nick has since come out and stated he is open coming into the summer. I see the Jays in real good position with Fuller and will surely hope for an official visit later this summer.
Major Competition: Butler, Nebraska, Marquette, Northern Iowa, Wisconsin
JEREMY MORGAN
Morgan’s a 6’5” wing from Iowa City, who like his high school and AAU teammate Dondre Alexander, is gaining recognition for his play on the court as well as on the gridiron. Morgan is silky smooth, comfortable with the ball in his hand, and uses his athleticism to get to his spots and hit mid-range jumpers. Morgan is also a heavily recruited Wide Receiver who in interviews says he hopes to continue his basketball career in college. Morgan has been a frequent visitor on the Hilltop, joining the Jays during them during the 2012 selection show party.
Major Competition: Northern Iowa, Rice, Iowa (Football), Iowa State (Football), Michigan State (Football), Florida (Football)
PETER JOK
Jok is a ultimate “high risk — high reward” recruit. Peter has suffered knee and leg injuries, finally getting back to the court at this summer for the All-Iowa Attack. Early recruiting companies projected Jok as a top 10-25 national recruit after his freshman and sophomore years. While his injuries have slowed his recruiting ranking, he still looks explosive and dangerous playing as either a 2 or 3 on the court.
Major Competition: Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois, Indiana
JARED BROWNRIDGE
Jared is a well-built scoring machine. He uses all of his 6’3’’ 180 pound frame to attack the basket, yet he has the range that draws defenders out to the arc exposing the lane for him to attack.
Brownridge runs with fellow Jays prospect AJ Riley for the Illinois Wolves. Jared has collected offers from nearly each member of the Valley.
Major Competition: Bradley, Drake, UNI & Missouri State
SHIRMANE THOMAS
Shirmane is a 6’2’’ guard out of the Dallas area. Thomas is an explosive athlete who at 6’2’’ is capable of moments like this: Thomas
Thomas, like Harris is a tweener. At the high-major level he would be required to play the point as they would be too small to guard a two. Yet, at Creighton Thomas would be developed exclusively as a scoring guard and would be free to come off a screens and look to score once he gets the ball. I believe this makes Creighton a heavy player in Shirmane’s recruitment.
He plays alongside Kendal Harris for the Urban DFW Elite squad that has been very impressive thus far. The Jays are recruiting him very hard so look for Shirmane to make a visit.
Major Competition: Oklahoma, Alabama, Wichita St, Richmond, Houston & Texas A&M
LEYTON HAMMONDS
Hammonds, like Martin, can fill many positions. Hammonds is a good shooter whose strength is grabbing a tough rebound and pushing the ball to the rim. Hammonds plays along side other Jay recruits Marcus Foster and Soma Edo with the Dallas Mustangs and has made it clear he would be interested in re-joining his teammates at a basketball-dominated University. Hammonds has said he will make his decision in early August.
Major Competition: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Houston, SMU
KEVIN JOHNSON
6’2” Johnson is an athletic scoring guard out of Cincinnati. He gets to the bucket with ease using a variety of moves and changes of pace. Despite his ability to get to the hoop and score, he is a very unselfish player, always looking for the high percentage shot. He tallied 11 points with 8 assists in the D3 Ohio Championship game, leading his team to victory.
Major Competition: Xavier, Cincinatti, Ohio State, Dayton, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Forwards
TOBY HEGNER
Hegner is a rising star in the midwest. He is an ever improving inside-outside big man very much in the mold of Doug McDermott. Toby gets easy buckets by simply knowing his way around the hoop. What makes Toby a special talent is his effortless stroke from the outside. He is a dangerous threat from beyond the arc which makes his dominant interior game all the more impressive.
Major Competition: Wisconsin, Marquette, Nebraska, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Minnesota, & Boston College
SOMA EDO
There are few players who have been more impressive than Edo this summer. Early scouting reports on Edo were that his size, 6’6”, would limit him on the next level. In high school and on the AAU circuit for the Dallas Mustangs, Edo fills the garbage man role by grabbing tough rebounds, getting tip in’s and doing the little things that help a team to victory. However, high majors have begun to change their mind as Edo has been extremely impressive against top competition. Soma has a high motor and plays with the kind of energy that every fan could get behind. Creighton was one of the first schools to target Soma and I have high hopes that those important Dallas Mustangs ties will pay off for the Jays.
Major Competition: Houston, Texas A&M, Marquette, Oklahoma State, Wichita State, Nebraska, Texas Tech, SMU
DALTON FRANKEN
Franken was a relative unknown on the recruiting scene before blowing up for Kingdom Hoops AAU this summer. The 6’5” shooting forward from Atlantic, Iowa has a dominate mid-range game and pairs his jumper with sneaky athleticism. His is good on the defensive end and bigger programs are starting to take notice.
Major Competition: Northern Iowa, Drake & Iowa
HASSAN MARTIN
Tough nosed New York forward is versatile enough at 6’7” to play anywhere on the floor. He uses his length and big hands to snag rebounds from opposition bigger and stronger than his current frame.
Major Competition: Providence, UMass, Fordham, Iowa State, George Washington, St. Joseph’s, Kansas State
D’ANDRE DOWNEY
Downey is a long 6’7” player who excels on the defensive end of the court. He uses his length to block shots other players his size would not be able to. His offense is a work in progress. Downey had to sit out the earlier part of last season due to grade issues, but has since got that situation sorted out.
Major Competition: Minnesota, Depaul, & UW-Green Bay
ANDREW CHRABASCZ
Chrabascz, like Tory Miller, would help fill the massive gap in the middle left after the graduation of Gregory Echenique. At 6’7” – 245, Chrabascz is a people mover inside, yet also has the soft touch that makes him a dangerous scorer around the rim.
Major Competition: Davidson, Canisius, UMass, St. Bonaventure, Temple and St. Joseph’s
AKOY AGAU
The name Akoy Agau should be familiar to every Bluejay fan. Creighton has recruited Agau since before he began high school at Omaha Central, less than 4 blocks from Creighton’s campus. Agau has been to countless Creighton games and camps, and seems to have a great relationship with current staff members and Creighton’s athletic department. However, Agau has always made it clear his ambition to play in the Big East. Don’t count the Jays out as he has also stated his desire to play in front of his family.
Agau is a defensive wiz, with multiple games of double digit blocks. His offensive game is improving and he has hit the weight room and put on a lot of muscle to a once skinny frame. If his offensive game ever develops to the level of his defensive game, he would be a force in any conference.
Major Competition: UConn, Georgetown, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Oregon, Indiana, & Marquette
TORY MILLER
The big-bodied 6’8” Lee Summit native has been recruited by the Jays since he began high school. His wide frame allows him to dominte the paint for the KC GMC. As impressive as his power is his ability to pass out of the post to open shooters caused by defenses collapsing on him. Miller’s role in the Creighton offense would be very similar to that of current rising Senior Gregory Echenique. His size has opened the door to high major offers and interest from many schools in the SEC, Big 10 and Big XI. Despite his new admirers, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jays get a visit.
Major Competition: Arkansas, Nebraska, Kansas State, Missouri, Colorado & Memphis
ZACH HANSON
6’9” Hanson is a versatile forward that runs the court well and is proficient around the rim. He was the South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year as a Junior. Despite his athleticism he seems to prefer to bang down in the low post. He is well built at 240 lbs yet can still out jump most players his size on the AAU scene.
Major Competition: Nebraska, Drake, Gonzaga, Northern Iowa, Arizona State, Minnesota
TED FRIEDMAN
Friedman is a hard-working post with a good offensive skill set. The 6’8” Friedman has a good motor and can get up and down the court.
Major Competition: Drake, Northern Iowa & SLU