Recruiting as of 5/15/25

[4everwarriors]

I hope Bond got swept up in the Milwaukee hoops love fest last night and wants to play in the house that Giannis built

#donedeal, hey?

[Uncle Rico]

#donedeal, hey?

Once I see some crystal balls, I'll believe it

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

#donedeal, hey?

You cleaning Leon's teeth doc?

[4everwarriors]

My lips are sealed, hey?

[Dr. Blackheart]

My lips are sealed, hey?

That's no way to clean teeth, aina?

[Newsdreams]

My lips are sealed, hey?

https://youtu.be/r3kQlzOi27M

[jfp61]

With three scholarships currently open (four if Elliott doesn't opt for a COVID year), Shaka has 18 current offers out to rising HS seniors (numbers current 247 Composite rankings):

#32 Chance Westry
#35 A.J. Casey
#67 Terrance Arceneaux
#72 Trejuan Holloman
#140 Christian Watson
#141 Demarion Watson
#152 Sean Jones
#161 Leon Bond
#170 Jeffery Brazziel
#171 Kendall Blue
#175 Rowan Brumbaugh
#211 Ryan Dunn
#232 Jaret Teheran Valencia
#260 Malik Dia
UR 3-star Alpha Chibambe
UR 3-star Bryce Lindsay
UR 3-star Reed Bailey
UR 3-star Desmond Claude

Any offers I'm missing?

Its four open spots. Elliot won't count towards the scholarship count even if he comes back.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Its four open spots. Elliot won't count towards the scholarship count even if he comes back.

You are correct. Mea culpa

[shoothoops]

Peach Jam 17's Semifinals are on ESPNU tonight/now.

Bradley Beal Elite (MO) vs MeanStreets (IL)

The Renaissance NY vs Team Final (PA)

[shoothoops]

Peach Jam 17's Semifinals are on ESPNU tonight/now.

Bradley Beal Elite (MO) vs MeanStreets (IL)

The Renaissance NY vs Team Final (PA)

MUBB was at the first game, and, they were at Jalen Hooks' game in Indy today.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Demarion Watson announcing tomorrow. He started as a Wojo offer but Shaka stayed involved. Not sure that we ever got a visit. Think he's heading to Iowa St.

[Pakuni]

KyeRon Lindsay @KyeronLindsay21
After a great conversation with @CoachShakaSmart and the coaching staff im blessed to say I have received a offer from Marquette University 🦅 #mubb @ProSkillsEYBL @GuyerBasketball @MarquetteMBB

2022 6'7" PF from Texas. Not ranked/no stars by 247, but recent offers from Xavier, TCU, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

[Pakuni]

 Malik A. Reneau @MalikReneau
After a great talk with @CoachShakaSmart and @CoachDreHaynes I'm blessed to receive a offer from Marquette University🦅🟡
@MarquetteMBB @nightrydaselite

6'8" Class of '22 PF from Montverde Academy in Florida. Four-star, #53 overall on 247.

[Dawson Rental]

Not really. In one season, they were way better. Otherwise, it's been pretty close.
2017: Cincy 23, MU 32
2018: Cincy 4, MU 53
2019: Cincy 29, MU 33.
2020: MU 31, Cincy 44
2021: MU 83, Cincy 116

FWIW, that highly ranked team in 2018 didn't make it out of the opening weekend of the tournament.
And, as has been mentioned, the Cincy program is a dumpster fire right now.

Oh, so you just went back five years.  Good decision to make your case.  It was pretty bad for MU compared to Cincinnati prior to 2017, IIRC.  Two years ago, Cincinnati lost their coach so they have dropped.  Oh wait a minute, didn't something happen at Marquette a few months ago?  Cincinnati can certainly make a case that they have the better recent history, and certainly a much better chance to win their league.

[Pakuni]

Oh, so you just went back five years.  Good decision to make your case.  It was pretty bad for MU compared to Cincinnati prior to 2017, IIRC.  Two years ago, Cincinnati lost their coach so they have dropped.  Oh wait a minute, didn't something happen at Marquette a few months ago?  Cincinnati can certainly make a case that they have the better recent history, and certainly a much better chance to win their league.

So when you wrote "in recent history" you meant something other recent history?

[brewcity77]

So when you wrote "in recent history" you meant something other recent history?

Even if you go back further, Marquette had a bad 3-year stretch as they transitioned from Buzz to Wojo, but Cronin's first four years were even worse. Unless we're going back to Huggins, which seems a bit silly when we're talking recent history, it's been at pretty close, and the further you go, the more it favors Marquette.

[Scoop Snoop]

So when you wrote "in recent history" you meant something other recent history?

Great response to a strange reply.

Getting back to what triggered all of this: I believe recruits typically choose their school based primarily upon their relationship with a coach and how his talents match up with the system and team, not on how schools match up on the "recent past" of departed coaches. Now in UVA's case, "recent past" includes a natty and the coach is still there so that would certainly be a factor in Bond's decision if he chooses them.

I think this whole narrative of Marquette vs. Cincy that 4everdawson floated as a factor in Bond's recruitment is simply bogus.   

[Its DJOver]

If Cincy didn't have a chance, I don't think Bond would have included them in his list.  Remember when everyone thought DaRon Holmes was either MU or Zona?  Considering how quickly the recruiting landscape can change I would give us, UVA and Cincy all a 33% chance to land him.  Obviously subject to change as he still seems to be getting new offers.

[Scoop Snoop]

If Cincy didn't have a chance, I don't think Bond would have included them in his list.  Remember when everyone thought DaRon Holmes was either MU or Zona?  Considering how quickly the recruiting landscape can change I would give us, UVA and Cincy all a 33% chance to land him.  Obviously subject to change as he still seems to be getting new offers.

Sure, Cincy has a chance. We disagree upon how much of one they have but, point taken, strange things do happen with recruits. Now my point remains- imagine Bond mulling over his choices after narrowing them down to Marquette and Cincy. "Hmmm. Cronin or Wojo, Cronin or Wojo?" I believe this "recent past" narrative simply does not fit in a MU/Cincy matchup for a recruit. I think Bond is going to look to the near future, not the recent past if its us vs. Cincy. 

If he chooses Cincy, I will be surprised but my guess is that, in addition to deciding it is his best fit, he will have an excellent chance at being the team's star. He may or may not be Marquette's. For anyone who wants to charge me with a CYA, go for it.

[Fred Garvin]

Wasn't Bond going to decide by end of month?

[TallTitan34]

Wasn't Bond going to decide by end of month?

I think last I saw was late July/early August.

[Scoop Snoop]

I think last I saw was late July/early August.

That's what I saw also. I think he said first week of August and then added something about maybe late July. There's only one Crystal Ball prediction- Marquette/Evan Flood- but that was in April. Quite a bit has happened since, especially the UVA offer. His level of interest is listed as "warm" towards Marquette but I have no idea how that is determined on 247.

[Spotcheck Billy]

from jsonline last week: "I have two more tournaments and then officially done with AAU basketball, summer basketball," Bond said. "Then I plan on making a decision for college the first week of August or the last week of July."

[Dawson Rental]

#donedeal, hey?

If only the new NIL rules were in place years ago, Kevon Looney would have been a lock for Marquette with a sweet Dental endorsement deal!

[Dawson Rental]

So when you wrote "in recent history" you meant something other recent history?

I've been around a long time, Pak.  Recent has a different meaning to me than it does to young 'ens.