Big East Basketball: Analyzing the top 2019 recruit for each program

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats reacts in the first half against the Saint Mary's Gaels during the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – FEBRUARY 24: Coach Steele of Xavier. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

KyKy Tandy – Xavier Musketeers

CG | 6-foot-1 | 190 lbs | No. 86 overall

Xavier head coach Travis Steele has quickly emerged as a top recruiter in the conference since taking over the program. In his first true class as the leader, KyKy Tandy is the top-rated player. A top-100 guard with plenty of all-around skill, Tandy projects as an immediate contributor in a number of ways. Most notably, he is a hard-nosed attacker. Even though he is listed at just 6-foot-1, he does a great job bullying his way to the basket and finishing for buckets. In addition, he can knock down the three with consistency and is developing as a playmaker.

Tandy plays a bit like an undersized shooting guard, at this point in time, but it is expected that he will grow into a stronger point guard option down the road. Defensively, he uses his quick feet to stay in front of most opponents while his strength prevents them from strong drives to the hoop. Due to his athleticism and motor, Tandy has plenty of potential as a two-way guard in the future. His potential might depend on growing stronger playmaking skills, though.

Xavier is heading into this season with fringe top-25 expectations. The Musketeers are returning plenty of contributors as well as bringing in some major talent. As a result, it seems relatively likely that Tandy will emerge as a solid option for minutes right away during this coming campaign. He might be able to fill a “spark plug scorer” role during his first season on campus.

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