Recruiting as of 4/15/25

[DoctorV]

Ames is a stud.  Would be a massive get for Shaka if he can beat Illinois for him.

Don't know much about the recruitment and don't have any insider info but I like this one.

I'm gonna come out and say that I think Dai Dai is Shakas first huge top 50 get at Marquette.

A recent article from 247 sports had these two quotes

Marquette is one of two campuses Ames has been on unofficially.
"Shaka Smart recruits me from there," Ames said. "The facilities and their practice gym stood out to me. I watched how they practiced and it was very intense. They were very serious with how they play on the court."

And

"I am trying to prove that I am one of the best guards in the country regardless of class," Ames said. "Coaches like my tempo in how I can control the game with my scoring and get my teammates involved."

Article lists DePaul, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Marquette as the most involved with ND and Kentucky sniffing around.

Kid is a southpaw and Shaka seems to love lefties. He mentions that Shaka himself recruits him, talk about a power move. Already came for a visit and loves the intensity of the practice and the tempo.

I really trust Shaka to land this kid over Underwood and Moser.

I think the style of play and Shaka factor will be the difference, pun intended. It also really helps that Marquette is having some recent success and is being talked about with admiration.

A win tomorrow would really help too.

I predict that Dai Dai Ames chooses Marquette and does so relatively early.
Come on down young man!

[JTJ3]

Don't know much about the recruitment and don't have any insider info but I like this one.

I'm gonna come out and say that I think Dai Dai is Shakas first huge top 50 get at Marquette.

A recent article from 247 sports had these two quotes

Marquette is one of two campuses Ames has been on unofficially.
"Shaka Smart recruits me from there," Ames said. "The facilities and their practice gym stood out to me. I watched how they practiced and it was very intense. They were very serious with how they play on the court."

And

"I am trying to prove that I am one of the best guards in the country regardless of class," Ames said. "Coaches like my tempo in how I can control the game with my scoring and get my teammates involved."

Article lists DePaul, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Marquette as the most involved with ND and Kentucky sniffing around.

Kid is a southpaw and Shaka seems to love lefties. He mentions that Shaka himself recruits him, talk about a power move. Already came for a visit and loves the intensity of the practice and the tempo.

I really trust Shaka to land this kid over Underwood and Moser.

I think the style of play and Shaka factor will be the difference, pun intended. It also really helps that Marquette is having some recent success and is being talked about with admiration.

A win tomorrow would really help too.

I predict that Dai Dai Ames chooses Marquette and does so relatively early.
Come on down young man!

There was a recent blurb in a Rivals article where the author believed Marquette is leading and Ames said Marquette is the one OV he's looking to set up.

[Galway Eagle]

Three '23 IL recruits heading up to the game tomorrow: Dai Dai Ames (Kenwood) Cameron Christie (Rolling Meadows) and Jaloni Johnson (Proviso East)

https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/1484940234810929158?s=20

https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/1484940007253102592?s=20

https://twitter.com/scottybscout/status/1484922537431732234?s=20

Jaloni is from my school district I'll start to heading to games in full MU gear!

More seriously I wonder if Shaka knows enough about Doc Rivers to say "a fellow proviso east alum is hanging in the rafters"

[Herman Cain]

Looks like Desmond Claude ended up at X. He liked the research he did on X.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/xavier/xaviersports/2022/01/20/xavier-adds-top-100-four-star-prospect-desmond-claude-2022-class/8535655002/

[JakeBarnes]

Jaloni is from my school district I'll start to heading to games in full MU gear!

More seriously I wonder if Shaka knows enough about Doc Rivers to say "a fellow proviso east alum is hanging in the rafters"

IIRC from when we hired Shaka, he said the two know each other pretty well.

[Silkk the Shaka]

IIRC from when we hired Shaka, he said the two know each other pretty well.

Ha 99% sure the lore goes that Shaka committed to taking the MU job to Doc directly back in spring 2014 then got cold feet. If true, they certainly know each other! Someone please correct me if I'm wrong

[DoctorV]

Looks like Desmond Claude ended up at X. He liked the research he did on X.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/xavier/xaviersports/2022/01/20/xavier-adds-top-100-four-star-prospect-desmond-claude-2022-class/8535655002/

6'7 F
6'5 SG
6'5 PG

All three ranked in the top 100 and two in the top 60.
Travis Steele doing work replacing Scruggs and Johnson. Xavier will continue being in the top 4/5 in conference

[jfp61]

Looks like Desmond Claude ended up at X. He liked the research he did on X.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/xavier/xaviersports/2022/01/20/xavier-adds-top-100-four-star-prospect-desmond-claude-2022-class/8535655002/

Marquette was no longer a legitimate option once Ross committed

[Galway Eagle]

IIRC from when we hired Shaka, he said the two know each other pretty well.

Cool. But how often in professional relationships do you know the high school the individual went to and have an opportunity to use that info as a cherry on top in a recruiting pitch?

[rocket surgeon]

Ha 99% sure the lore goes that Shaka committed to taking the MU job to Doc directly back in spring 2014 then got cold feet. If true, they certainly know each other! Someone please correct me if I'm wrong

that's what my peeps told me, but i still stand to be corrected as well

[JakeBarnes]

Cool. But how often in professional relationships do you know the high school the individual went to and have an opportunity to use that info as a cherry on top in a recruiting pitch?

If they went to St Ignatius, yes.

[Fred Garvin]

Good game for them to be at!

[We R Final Four]

Jaloni sat in front of us. He had to be impressed with the student section, the SS love for Shaka, the game, the atmosphere, the honoring of old players, Diener slamming a beer, etc. great game to experience.

[WarriorFan]

After watching Shaka's style of play, every aerial-minded 6'8-6'11 guy in the country should want to come and play for him.

[JakeBarnes]

Anyone hear news on how the recruits liked it?

[JTJ3]

At halftime, while the guys were doing their layup lines, Ames and his family were down on the court talking to a few of our assistants.  Dont remember seeing that before with recruits during games.

[Galway Eagle]

If they went to St Ignatius, yes.

Lol I applaud this.

[We R Final Four]

At halftime, while the guys were doing their layup lines, Ames and his family were down on the court talking to a few of our assistants.  Dont remember seeing that before with recruits during games.

Wow—did not see that. I have never heard or seen such a thing. That is great news.

Jaloni played the role of the uninterested recruit. His Dad was watching NFL highlights  on his phone. But, as we have come to realize none of this is indicative of anything.

[jfp61]

Wow—did not see that. I have never heard or seen such a thing. That is great news.

Jaloni played the role of the uninterested recruit. His Dad was watching NFL highlights  on his phone. But, as we have come to realize none of this is indicative of anything.

Correct, unofficials for Wisconsin guys, or Illinois guys on a weekend is not indicative of a lot. Though I like where they are with Dai Dai.

[JakeBarnes]

Correct, unofficials for Wisconsin guys, or Illinois guys on a weekend is not indicative of a lot. Though I like where they are with Dai Dai.

I think info that someone else posted that Dai Dai has only been looking to get an official from Marquette puts us in good position. Love his game.

[MUDPT]

New offer

https://mobile.twitter.com/JQ_co2023/status/1486476146518765575

[Osiris]

New offer

https://mobile.twitter.com/JQ_co2023/status/1486476146518765575

I hear he's a package deal with DeeNice

[21Jumpstreet]

I hear he's a package deal with DeeNice

Well done, always funny

[Goose]

Folks

Do not worry about recruiting. Shaka is going to bring studs to MU. Recruiting to MU is  going to become an easy task and we have an elite guy running the show.

[JakeBarnes]

Folks

Donor worry about recruiting. Shaka is going to bring studs to MU. Recruiting to MU is  going to become an easy task and we have an elite guy running the show.

Amen, Goose.