Xavier adds third Rivals150 prospect for 2017
Xavier's hot start to the class of 2017 continued on Friday with the addition of their second four-star prospect and third member of the Rivals150.
Small forward Naji Marshall who ranks No. 62 overall in the class of 2017 selected Chris Mack and Xavier giving them a versatile and tough 6-foot-5 wing player.
Marshall will spend a prep year at Chatham (Va.) Hargrave and joins four-star shooting guard Elias Harden and three-star forward Jared Ridder in the Musketeers class.
IN THE WORDS OF HIS COACH
Damon Handon is the program director of the DC Premier summer program that Marshall has played with for the last several summers. He thinks Xavier is getting a big time player.
"In my opinion Xavier is getting the best all-around player in the class of 2017. He defends, rebounds, passes and scores at a high level.
"Naji will help keep Xavier at the top of the Big East and content for a national championship."
RIVALS' REACTION
The early work that Mack and his staff -- who are still very much in the mix for prospects like four-star combo guard Paul Scruggs and five-star forward Kris Wilkes -- have done in the class of 2017 is impressive.
They already had two nice pieces in Harden and Ridder because both are dangerous shooters and can help stretch defenses. The addition of Marshall, though, adds an entirely new element to the class.
Marshall is an Alpha personality and on the floor leader who is about toughness and winning. He had one of the best summers of any player in the country with his driving, relentless style. He'll show up on campus ready to go physically and is the type of player who is likely going to end up a team captain and holds All-Conference type of upside.