BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: CINCINNATI

June 3, 2009

Commitment Alert: Jaquon Parker, 6-foot-4 G from Kings Fork (VA) High School

Once it was determined that John Riek was NOT coming to Cincinnati, Kenny Belton was determined to be medically unable to play again and Alvin Mitchell decided to transfer out of the program, the Bearcats had room to add to their roster. Mick Cronin and staff recently did just that as a King's Fork Basketball Player Signs With Cincinnati (Virginian Pilot) and Jaquon Parker will be a member of the 2009-2010 UC squad.

Projected 2009-2010 Roster:

Seniors: Mike Williams* (PF), Deonta Vaughn (PG), Steven Toyloy (C/BF)
Juniors: Larry Davis (SG), Rashad Bishop (G/F), Anthony McClain (C), Darnell Wilks (F)
Sophomores: Yancy Gates (BF), Dion Dixon (G), Ibrahima Thomas **(C)
Freshmen: Sean Kilpatrick (G), Cashmere Wright*** (PG), Jaquon Parker (G)

*- There is a possibility Mike Williams can petition the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility because he missed the 2006-2007 season as a transfer student from Texas and the 2007-2008 season due to injury.

**- a transfer from Oklahoma State, Ibrahima Thomas will sit out the spring (09) and fall (09) semesters and be eligible in December of 2009. He will have 2 1/2 tears of eligibility.

***- Cashmere tore an ACL in the fall of 2008 and is sitting out the 2008-2009 season as a medical redshirt. He will have four years of eligibility beginning in 2009-2010




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The scholarship situation for Mick Cronin and his Cincinnati Bearcats is a little unclear with a potential waiver for Mike Williams to apply for to receive a 6th year from the NCAA. Williams can apply for a 6th season after the 2008-2009 year, if granted, the Bearcats look to be at the 13-player limit with the incoming additions of Sean Kilpatrick and Jaquon Parker, who committed to UC recently.

Parker had originally committed to Old Dominion earlier this spring. The 6-foot-4, multi-talented guard help lead the King's Fork Bulldogs to the to the Group AAA state championship and was named the Associated Press State Player of the Year. Parker averaged over 18 points and about 10 rebounds and three assists as a senior for his 31-1 squad.

It was believed that parker would be headed to prep school for the 2009-2010 season. He had decided to re-open his recruitment after several high majors began to inquirer, including Marquette, UConn and Georgetown, this spring. However, after performing well enough on his SAT exam, Parker realized he could qualify for college by taking just two summer courses. Once those are completed, he will join the Bearcats for next season.

Parker is a physically powerful 6-foot-4 guard that will also mix it up in the lane. He has the ability to play all three backcourt positions, but most likely will play the 2/3 in college.

The Bearcats received a quality commitment last fall when Notre Dame Prep guard Sean Kilpatrick made a commitment following a visit to the school back in October.

Kilpatrick was a hot commodity last spring among Big East schools as he attempted to become eligible after his senior season at White Plains (NY) High School where he was an offensive machine, lighting up the scoreboard on many occasions and often in front of college coaches. Kilpatrick made a brief verbal commitment to St. John's at one point in the recruiting process and also has had Providence high on his list of interested schools, but after a visit to UC this past weekend, he felt it was time to end the recruiting process. Next up is a commitment to his academics to make certain there are no more hold-ups in getting his college career going. Kilpatrick was an AAU teammate of SU freshman Mookie Jones and WVU frosh Kevin Jones with the Westchester Hawks.

Kilpatrick and Parker will not be the only new faces in the UC program on the court next season as mid-year Oklahoma State transfer Ibrahima Thomas throws a little more size into the line-up.

Thomas had played in seven games for Okie State this past season, averaging 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in a little over 20 minutes a contest. As a freshman Thomas averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds a game playing in 33 contests. He had a career high of 19 last year against Texas and scored 18 in a game earlier this season against Tulsa. Even though Thomas stands at 6-foot-11, he is not afraid to step outside and shoot from the three-point arc (made 11 last season). He is not a physical player, but there is definitely a lot to work with as he has room to grow his game more.

The native of Dakar, Senegal had prepped at Stoneridge Prep in California before signing with the Cowboys and coach Sean Sutton. After playing in seven games under new coach Travis Ford this year, Thomas decided to look for a new school and settled on Cincinnati quickly, despite interest from Rutgers and others.

Mick Cronin is adding talent and depth to the UC program with very good recruiting. The Bearcats already have a commitment from the class of 2011 with local standout Chane Behanan hoping to follow in the footsteps of Yancy Gates. We will track the UC recruiting targets as they emerge this summer as well in the class of 2010.