BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CINCINNATI

March 2, 2008



VERBAL COMMITMENT ALERT: Dion Dixon, 6'3 (G) Crane Tech HS

The disappointment of an overtime loss to Providence on Sunday might be softened a little bit for Cincinati Bearcat fans by the news that Mick Cronin landed a verbal commitment as Dion Dixon Commits to Big East School (Illinois Prep Bulls-eye).



Projected 2008-2009 Roster:

Seniors: Mike Williams (PF)
Juniors: Deonta Vaughn (PG)
Sophomores: Larry Davis (SG), Rashad Bishop (G/F), Kenny Belton (F/C), Alvin Mitchell (G/F), Anthony McClain (C), Darnell Wilks (F)
Freshmen: Yancy Gates (BF), Cashmere Wright (PG), Dion Dixon (G)
Early 2009 Commitment: Danny McElroy (F)



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On the strength of a big senior season, Crane Tech guard Dion Dixon has emerged as the top unsigned prospect in Illinois. With a scoring average of 25 points per game for Crane, which is 14-8 on the season, Dixon can obviously score the basketball. Cincinnati definitely has a need for players who can put the ball in the basket and while on an official visit this weekend the match was made and Dixon decided the Bearcats would be his future home.

Dixon joins Cashmere Wright, originally a Clemson Tiger commit, and local standout Yancy Gates of Withrow HS in the 2008 UC class. Wright will join a roster where Deonta Vaughn would be a junior and the only other point guard in the program, meaning Wright could have a chance to see some early playing time his first two years and have the chance to run the show in his final two seasons. With Jamaul Warren and Alvin Gentry being seniors this season, Wright and Dixon should have plenty of chances to see a lot of playing time as freshman with Vaughn and sophomore (to-be) Larry Davis. Gates is a 6'8 powerful post player expected to contribute rigth away on the frontline.

Cincinnati already has one 2009 commitment (Danny McElroy) and one senior on the projected 2008-2009 roster (Mike Williams), a scholarship or two could be set aside for the 2009 class as well as they still have two scholarships open for 2008. Other players that we have come across that Cincinnati has been involved with this year inckude shooting guard Bud Mackey of Harmony Prep, Scotty Hopson of University Heights (KY), Georgia small forward Wesley Witherspoon, Chipola CC PF Gary Flowers, Vincennes University shooting guard Devon Dumas and Miami-Dade CC big man Steven Toyloy, among others. We will continue to follow UC recruiting to see if they add more to their 2008 class.



A great resource on UC recruiting can be found at Bearcat News. They have the possibility of another large class for 2008 and already have a commitment from Withrow HS standout Yancy Gates, who got the ball rolling earlier in the spring.