Busting Brackets
Fansided

Xavier Basketball: Analyzing the 2019 recruiting class for the Musketeers

By Lukas Harkins

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 09: Xavier Musketeers fans are seen during a game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Cintas Center on December 9, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Xavier won 96-69. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 09: Xavier Musketeers fans are seen during a game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Cintas Center on December 9, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Xavier won 96-69. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 19: The Xavier Musketeers bench erupts. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 19: The Xavier Musketeers bench erupts. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

Xavier basketball has high hopes heading into this coming season. How will the incoming 2019 recruiting class make a difference?

Even though Xavier basketball is yet to make a Final Four appearance, you would be hard-pressed to find a more consistently successful program. Throughout the course of the 21st century, the Musketeers have been absolutely tremendous under some elite-level head coaches. In fact, they have reached 16 of the last 19 NCAA Tournaments and it is hard to look past that level of consistent performance. And while the program did not dance during this past campaign, there is plenty of hope moving forward.

This is largely due to the amount of returning talent on the roster. Most notably, Paul Scruggs and Naji Marshall look poised to take their next steps with the program as potential All-Big East level performers. It is also important to mention that the Musketeers made a late charge towards the end of last season as they looked like a completely different team from the earlier portions of the year. Xavier clearly showed improvement over the course of the season and their late-season success will hopefully carry over into 2019-20.

Additionally, head coach Travis Steele is bringing in a highly-touted recruiting class. Coach Steele has not been at the helm of the program for long (one full season) but his chops on the recruiting trail have been well documented. With regards to this incoming 2019 group, Xavier secured five top-200 commits and the class is ranked at No. 23 in the nation. This is clearly a superb class and it will be interesting to see their development with the program.

Without any further ado, let’s dive deeper into this recruiting class and analyze each of the newcomers joining the Xavier program.