Busting Brackets
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Big East Basketball: Analyzing each program’s 2019 recruiting class

By Lukas Harkins

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 14: A general view during the championship game of the Big East basketball tournament between the Villanova Wildcats and the Xavier Musketeers at Madison Square Garden on March 14, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 14: A general view during the championship game of the Big East basketball tournament between the Villanova Wildcats and the Xavier Musketeers at Madison Square Garden on March 14, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 18: Coach Steele of the Musketeers calls. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 18: Coach Steele of the Musketeers calls. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

480. . . . Xavier Musketeers. . player

Head coach Travis Steele is turning Xavier basketball into a recruiting powerhouse. Even though he only has one complete season under his belt as the program’s leader, he has plenty of momentum on the recruiting trail. This incoming 2019 recruiting class was ranked at No. 26 in the nation and features several potential stars. He is also off to a strong start with 2020 prospects, but let’s stick to the present for the purposes of this article.

Leading the way in this class is talented combo guard KyKy Tandy. Ranked as the No. 89 overall recruit in the class, Tandy looks the part of an immediate reserve contributor for the Musketeers this season. It will be hard to crack the starting lineup considering the returns of Quentin Goodin and Paul Scruggs, but he should be able to find minutes.

He will also be competing with fellow 2019 commit Dahmir Bishop for minutes in the backcourt. Bishop was the No. 119 overall player in the class and comes in as a 6-foot-4 true shooting guard. He can fill it up from beyond the arc and brings enough size to play either spot on the wing. Bryce Moore is an incoming transfer worthy of discussion for reserve minutes in the backcourt as well.

Zach Freemantle, though, might be the freshman poised to play the most important role. Xavier needs someone to step up as Zach Hankins’ replacement this year and this 6-foot-9 big man might do the trick. Freemantle was the No. 134 overall recruit and impressed many over Xavier’s international trip. There is a real chance that he is one of the first players off the bench this season for Coach Steele. Tyrique Jones and Jason Carter (Ohio transfer) will likely start in the frontcourt alongside Naji Marshall.

The competition for that coveted reserve role in the frontcourt will also feature Daniel Ramsey (No. 162) and Dieonte Miles (No. 191) from this class. Both are very talented prospects ranked in the top 200 of the class. It is clear that Xavier’s incoming 2019 group is not only very talented but also quite deep. Many of these newcomers project as starters at some point in their careers in the Queen City.

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