Marquette Basketball: Harry Froling commits to Golden Eagles

After visiting both Marquette basketball and Oregon State, Harry Froling chose Steve Wojciechowski and company.

After announcing his decision to transfer from SMU, freshman Harry Froling became a coveted seven-foot forward.

Related Story: Sophomore guard opts to leave Golden Eagles

Froling opted to visit both the Marquette Golden Eagles and Oregon State Beavers in recent weeks, and decided on Tuesday that the best fit lies in Milwaukee. The forward officially announced his commitment to Steve Wojciechowski and the Golden Eagles on Twitter last evening.

The Australian native, who will be eligible for Marquette following the first semester of next season, came into the college ranks as a highly touted international prospect in the class of 2016. He had offers from SMU, Arizona, Colorado and Illinois, and received interest from many other high quality schools.

Froling committed to SMU and had a solid impact off the bench for the Mustangs in 10 games. He averaged 4.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and shot 49 percent from the field in 14.6 minutes per game. He showed his ability to score inside-and-out, as he used his physical frame to bully opponents around the rim and shot 30 percent from beyond the three point arc.

But after reportedly being unhappy with his role and not having the opportunity to play for the coach he originally committed to (Larry Brown), Froling decided to transfer.

And the big man found a home with Marquette. He had some interesting comments to ESPN’s Jeff Goodman as to why he believed Milwaukee was the best fit for him:

"“The visit was great and the overall knowledge and past playing experience all of the coaches had was unbelievable,” Froling told ESPN. “Most if not all had played pro or at high-level colleges, and I knew it was a place that was going to challenge me. By no means will it be easy, and being from Duke and with Coach being tutored by Coach K [Mike Krzyzewski], he knows what it takes. Another thing I loved about the staff was how honest they were. They didn’t tell me what I wanted to hear.”“Another thing that really attracted me to Marquette was the Henry Ellenson situation,” said Froling, referring to the former Golden Eagles big man who became a first-round NBA draft pick. “I know I’m not Henry, but we do have some similar attributes and the way Coach demonstrated how he changes the offense and plays to his team was awesome. As long as I hold up my end of the bargain and give it my all, there’s no reason I don’t see myself playing a huge role in the success of Marquette in the near and distant future.”"

The similar attributes that Froling may be referring to is his overall versatility and lack of athleticism. Froling doesn’t have the handles that Ellenson has or the NBA body, but I can see why he believes his role and usage can be somewhat similar down the road.

For Marquette, this is a solid addition, especially given their lack of true size and the upcoming departure of Luke Fischer at season’s end. Fischer is a senior and is one of only two true bigs on the roster, so Froling would likely play a critical role immediately.

Next: Where does the ACC and other major conferences stand in our Bubble Watch?

Froling won’t be just a one year stop gap though. He could be a critical piece to the puzzle in the years to come in the Big East. This won’t transcend the Golden Eagles back to the NCAA Tournament, but this is another quality get for Wojo.