Xavier scores transfer commitment, JUCO prospect de-commits
For a few hours Tuesday, Xavier head coach Chris Mack's embarrassment of riches at the center-forward position numbered five players for the 2017-18 season, but that didn't last long.
Mack on Tuesday afternoon secured the services of sought-after 6-10 graduate transfer Kerem Kanter (Wisconsin-Green Bay), a proven Division I commodity that was chased by some of the biggest programs in the country.
Kanter, who averaged 11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game at Green Bay last season, is the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter.
By around 6 p.m., Brady Ernst, a 6-10 junior college prospect (Indian Hills Community College) that'd been committed to Xavier since early January, announced he was re-opening his recruitment.
Kanter announced Tuesday via Twitter he planned to see out the pre-NBA Draft process he previously declared for but would play for Xavier if he returns to the college ranks for the 2017-18 season.
"First, I would like to reaffirm my decision to declare for the 2017 NBA Draft. I am eager to begin the process of preparing myself both mentally and physically for the road that lied ahead," Kanter said in a statement. "With that said, should I return to college basketball next season, I will not be doing so at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. From this point forward, I am excited to announce myself as a Xavier Musketeer!
"My visit to Xavier this past weekend exceeded all of my expectations, and while I remain committed to the NBA Draft process, I am extraordinarily excited and appreciative of the opportunity that coach Mach has afforded me at X. Lastly, I would like to thank my family and also the rest of the school who took their time to recruit me. Go X!"
Ernst followed up later, issuing a tweet that indicated he'd changed course and will offer his three years of remaining NCAA eligibility to another program.
"After a lot of thought and talking with people, I will be announcing that I have decided to de-commit from Xavier University and explore other options," Ernst said in his Twitter statement. "I wanna thank Coach Mack for the opportunity he gave me and wish them the best of luck next year."
ROSTER ANALYSIS
Ernst couldn't immediately be reached for comment Tuesday, but it's possible the two personnel announcements Tuesday were directly related.
While Kanter's Xavier pledge is contingent on his return to the college ranks, it still created a noticeable log jam on the Xavier roster with Sean O'Mara (rising junior) and Tyrique Jones (rising freshman) in line to return for 2017-18 at the same position.
O'Mara and Jones both enjoyed successful campaigns last season.
Kentrevious Jones (6-10, 240 pounds) also remains as part of Mack's consensus top-10 ranked 2017 class of recruits. That class is now a five-man class and, outside of Kentrevious Jones, is comprised of small forwards and guards.
Kanter's announcement, combined with Ernst's commitment of long ago, made for significant congestion at center-forward. Five players is a lot of mouths to feed at any one position, and probably too many if you're a three-star recruit coming out of the "juco" ranks like Ernst is.
By almost every measure, Ernst probably figured to be looking up from the bottom of the five-man pecking order.
And even if the decision to re-open his recruitment had nothing to do with the competition for time, it still helps sort out the congestion.
In winning Kanter's services, Mack beat out powerhouse programs, including Kansas, Michigan State, Purdue, Baylor, Pittsburgh, Boston College and others. Kanter's suitors point to his skill and how big of a get this is for Mack.
All of this comes in the wake of Monday's news that Trevon Bluiett was arrested in Indiana during a traffic stop in which he was found to be in possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana, hash oil or hashish, according to police in Carmel, Indiana.
Trevon Bluiett arrested in Indiana, facing drug charge
The arrest interrupted Bluiett's ongoing pre-NBA Draft process. Xavier is yet to comment at-length on Bluiett's status following Monday's arrest, but there appears to be an increased likelihood he might lean toward a return to the Evanston and Norwood campus next fall for what would be his senior season.
"He probably needed to come back anyway (to Xavier), but this should solidify it," ESPN college basketball insider, Jeff Goodman, told The Enquirer Monday via text message. "This draft is loaded, and next year it's not nearly as good. NBA guys would overlook this (the arrest) with a lottery pick, but it could hurt someone like Trevon, who is a second rounder at best."
Factoring in Bluiett's possible return, several website and outlets project Xavier as a top 25-ranked program for next season.
The Musketeers finished 2016-17 ranked the No. 18 program in America, according to the final USA Today Coaches poll.