Xavier Basketball: Musketeers beefing up 2017 backcourt

Xavier basketball received commitments from 2017 guards Elias Harden and Naji Marshall.

While the Xavier Musketeers were shocked in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the 2015-16 season was a success for Chris Mack and company as the team finished second in the Big East regular season standings and earned a number two seed in the Big Dance.

The success doesn’t end there for the Musketeers though, as the program is loading up to be a constant threat not only in the Big East but nationally.

In 2016-17, Xavier is expected to be a consistent top-10 team. Edmond Sumner (who could explode in year two) and Trevon Bluiett (who was the team’s top scorer last year) are both returning, while key veterans J.P. Macura and Myles Davis join the starting lineup.

And that type of talent extends to 2017, where the Musketeers keep some experience, but also add some much needed newcomers.

Just this week, Mack landed two crucial guards in the class of 2017, four-star guard Elias Harden and four-star guard Naji Marshall.

Harden, a native of Tyrone, GA, is the 96th player in the nation and is the 22nd ranked shooting guard in 2017. Xavier beat out Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida, Cincinnati, and Auburn for the services of Harden.

He showed off his length, athleticism and his great shot making ability this spring/summer with Game Elite on the AAU Circuit. The guard averaged 15.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 41 percent from the field overall and 35 percent from beyond the arc.

“The coaches said I will play a big role as a freshman, and that is something that I am really looking forward to,” Harden said to Scout.com.

And he’s not the only freshman that is likely to have a big role. Marshall is another rising stud as the Washington, DC product is ranked 51st in Scout’s rankings and is 11th best small forward in the class.

While Marshall is listed as a wing due to his size (6’6″), his greatest impact is likely to come as a guard. He has a unique passing ability, maintains good vision and can play effectively in transition.

Marshall chose the Musketeers over Rhode Island, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech.

The Muskeeters also have Jared Ridder, another top-100 player, joining Harden and Marshall as new members of the program. Ridder is an excellent shooter, and played for MoKan Elite in the Peach Jam Nike EYBL Tournament.

Coach Mack is looking for future replacements for Sumner, Bluiett and Davis before it gets too late. If Sumner and Bluiett break out like they are supposed to, they are almost certainly off to the NBA in 2017. Davis is a senior and is gone either way.

The additions of Harden and Marshall will add to a backcourt (Marshall also gives X the versatility that they are losing with Bluiett) that will already consists of J.P. Macura and Quentin Goodin. It gives them depth, talent, and most importantly, continues to make them relevant nationally.

It’s one thing to be one of the top teams in the country for two years in a row, but it’s another to build a program that makes waves throughout the country on a yearly basis.

Next: Vanderbilt off-season questions

That’s what Xavier is trying to build, and they are surely in the midst of a successful plan.

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