Marquette Recruiting Class for 2012: An Analysis

Five-Star's Big Board: Marquette

Buzz Williams Bringing in Big Names from Around the Country
by Adam Zagoria December 8, 2011 12:50pm ET

Current Roster and Program Needs:
Immediate Needs – 2012


Buzz Williams and the Marquette staff believe they've pretty much addressed all of their needs with their incoming four-man class. If 6'4" combo guard T.J. Taylor can in any way approximate the Darius Johnson-Odom type of role, as the staff believes he can, Marquette will be in good shape going forward. 6'7" forward Steve Taylor and 6'10" center Aaron Durley figure to slot in as up-and-coming bigs behind Chris Otule and Davante Gardner. "I think our staff does a good job of developing those guys," Williams said.
Williams also expects freshman point guard Todd Mayo, sophomore shooting guard Vander Blue and sophomore forward Jamil Wilson to take big steps next year.
If Marquette loses somebody and a scholarship opens up, the staff plans to sign another shooter.
Longer Term Needs – 2013

The 6'4" Deonte Burton is a guy who can put it on the deck and also shoot it, but the next area of need will be another shooter.


Going forward beyond 2013, Marquette will need one of each: a point guard, a wing who can shoot, a wing who can play the three and another four/five man.



#COLLEGE BASKETBALL | NOVEMBER 9, 2011
Durley, Ferguson, Steve and T.J.Taylor sign with Marquette

by Brian Neuberger
Wednesday marked the opening of college basketball’s early signing period and it proved to be very fruitful for the Marquette Golden Eagles.

All told, fourth-year head coach Buzz Williams secured the signed national letters of intent from Aaron Durley, Jamal Ferguson, Steve Taylor and T.J. Taylor for the 2012-13 season.

The 6’10”, 270-pound Durely, who verbally committed to MU on Oct. 26, enters his first varsity season at Ft. Bend Bush High School (Texas) after missing all of this past season due to an Achilles injury.

“He has a long way to go, but he’s a really good kid who understands the value of working and I think he’ll be a lot better when he arrives on campus than he is even today,” cited Williams, as reported by jsonline.com.

Durley, who was an all-state selection as a sophomore while playing for St Thomas Catholic High School (Houston), will have four years of eligibility upon arriving on campus this coming summer.

Ferguson, the first player from the Class of 2012 to commit to the blue and gold, is an athletic 6’4” wing player currently ranked as the 137th overall prospect in the country by Rivals.com.

A three-year letter winner for Maury High School (Norfolk, Va.), Ferguson, who will have four years of eligibility, averaged 17.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while being named first team all-district as a junior during the 2010-11 campaign.

“Jamal was our first commit in this class, and like the others, comes from a great program and a wonderful family,” said Williams, according to jsonline.com. “Jamal’s versatility is like the guys we have won with in the past. He doesn’t have a true position, but his length and athleticism allow him to impact the game on both ends.”

In Steve Taylor, a 6’7”, 210-pound bruising forward entering his senior campaign at Simeon High School in Chicago (currently ranked as the No. 1 overall high school team in the country), the Golden Eagles are getting a proven winner.

Named All-State Special Mention by the Chicago Tribune as a junior, Taylor, who is ranked 18th amongst small forwards nationally, has been an integral part of two consecutive state championships by the Wolverines.

“I am really excited about Steve. I absolutely love his spirit and have liked him as a person, from the very first time I met him and his parents,” noted Williams, according to gomarquette.com. “I believe Steve has a very high ceiling and will grow to be better than any of us even think possible.”

Taylor, who averaged 9.5 points and 7.0 rebounds a season ago, will have four years of eligibility.

The lone JUCO transfer—which Williams’ teams have gained notoriety for over the past three years due in large part to the success of Jimmy Butler, Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom—among MU’s 2012 signees, T.J. Taylor is entering his first season at Paris Junior College (Texas) upon transferring from Oklahoma after the first semester of the 2010-11 season.

Rated as the 78th overall prospect entering his senior season at Denison High School (Denison, Texas), the 6’3”, 220-pound Taylor did not see any floor time with the Sooners after missing time stemming from a concussion.

“Similar to guys in the past we have signed with three yeas [of eligibility] left, T.J. fits into what we do with our perimeter players,” said Williams, as reported by jsonline.com. “He is switchable and has the versatility we rely on from those guys on both ends of the floor.”