Marquette University Athletics
Men's basketball adds two
4/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The two additions to the Golden Eagles recruiting class make it the sixth-best in Division I according to Hoopscoop?s Clark Francis.
?I?m excited about adding to well coached quality athletes to our frontline,? said Crean.
Burke (6-8, 230), a forward from St. Benedict?s Prep, is considered one of the nation?s best fifth-year players and helped lead St. Benedict?s to a 26-1 record and its third New Jersey state prep school championship in four years.
?We are very fortunate to sign Dwight,? said Crean. ?Once you spend some time around him, his coaches and family, you realize how serious he is about becoming a very good player.?
Originally signed by East Carolina in the fall, Burke shot a team-best 61.0% from the field and averaged 9.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks.
?We are excited about his upside, athleticism and ability to compete. He played for an outstanding coach in Dan Hurley who pushed him to be better every day,? Crean said.
Lott (6-7, 225), a forward from North Dakota State School of Science, averaged 16.6 point and 8.0 rebounds in leading his team to 28 victories and, for the first time in 93 years, the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I tournament.
?We?ve followed Jamil since his days in high school and through a very good career at North Dakota State School of Science, which culminated with a trip to the national tournament in March.?
Originally recruited by Marquette while attending Como Park High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lott earned second team junior-college All-American honors this season.
?Jamil brings us intensity, athleticism, experience and a winning background,? said Crean. ?He is a quality young man, was well coached and we are excited to have him.?
The April decisions of Burke and Lott to attend Marquette followed up a tremendous fall signing period for Crean.
In November, MU signed 6-5 wing Wesley Matthews, the Associated Press/Gatorade and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel?s Player of the Year; 5-10 point guard Dominic James, the leading scorer in the state of Indiana; 6-3 wing Jerel McNeal, a first team state of Illinois selection; and 6-5 forward Matt Mortenson, Utah Class 4A?s fifth-best scorer at 18.8 points per game.
?Our entire coaching staff worked diligently to put this class together,? said Crean. ?With our move to the BIG EAST it was important to get high quality players and address needs of athleticism, length and skill. This was a very important class for our program.?
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