Kam Craft

[xavierj]

These are some very impressive highlights!

https://wbsnsports.com/66-sg-kam-cra...n-the-country/

The Peach Jam features elite competition, but I'm thinking defense is somewhat soft in these events.

Also, Craft is transferring to the Skill Factory prep school in Atlanta for his senior year.

https://www.journal-topics.com/artic...-leaves-state/

I sure hope we can hold on to this guy!

The guy who runs the Skill Factory is Trey Scotti who was Xavier’s video coordinator last year and then promoted to director of basketball ops and shortly after took over the Skill Factory. Probably not a bad thing for Xavier.

[xukeith]

The guy who runs the Skill Factory is Trey Scotti who was Xavier’s video coordinator last year and then promoted to director of basketball ops and shortly after took over the Skill Factory. Probably not a bad thing for Xavier.

Do players who already sign a LOI and then attend a prep school do so to get their body in better shape or to learn more skills before starting college?
I always thought many prep schools existed so that a player could demonstrate his skills and get the best scholarship offer.

[xukeith]

Future X Teammate, Tyler Ward rose even higher on Rivals too. Up 9 spots to #36.

[Xuperman]

The guy who runs the Skill Factory is Trey Scotti who was Xavier’s video coordinator last year and then promoted to director of basketball ops and shortly after took over the Skill Factory. Probably not a bad thing for Xavier.

This is fantastic info and probably news that most here are unaware of. I feel much more confident that Kam will follow through with his commitment. Thanks for posting!

[nickgyp]

This is fantastic info and probably news that most here are unaware of. I feel much more confident that Kam will follow through with his commitment. Thanks for posting!

Gee, great news. I guess it is more important that Kraft is a truly great basketball player. "Scholar-athlete" becomes even more of a misnomer as years go by. Admittedly, I know nothing about the educational aspects of this prep school. Prep schools exist. Our David West attended one but I believe he still had a legitimate high school degree.

Locally, a very good LaSalle High School football team gets waxed by a "high school" team of mercenaries which only had recently waxed a Bishop Sycamore squad of football aspirants. Bishop Sycamore is apparently a "high school without walls". Gee, it doesn't even follow the vaunted disciplines of UNC's academic disciplines.

Sadly, the trend continues; and if this is the price Xavier's willing to accommodate then it portends to a day when I will recall a fonder day of Steve Thomas, Bob Pelkington, Bob Quick at Schmidt Fieldhouse. I have no idea how much any of those players were truly "scholar-athletes" but at least there was an effort.

[Xavier]

"What ever happened to STUDENT athlete????"

Where the hell have you been for the last 30 years.

[nickgyp]

"What ever happened to STUDENT athlete????"

Where the hell have you been for the last 30 years.

You are right; that was the term I was looking for. Long night w/o any sleep. Chemo and radiation for thyroid cancer will do that. Nonetheless, the observation is correct. Thomas More's women's basketball team loses its national championship title because of Randy Moss' daughter staying with a coach as she rehabs but UNC has no repercussions for its scandalous academic shenanigans.

Just an observation. That is all. I have bigger problems to worry about than the changing world of college athletics. Seeing it seep deeper into high school to me seems not to be a good thing or even something to cheer about. But if it carries Xavier to a final four someday then it will at least be good for the fans.

[xukeith]

Remember in the '90's where X fans understandably bashed UC and Huggins for having transfers and not so academically up to par athletes?

Those were the days.

[xudash]

You are right; that was the term I was looking for. Long night w/o any sleep. Chemo and radiation for thyroid cancer will do that. Nonetheless, the observation is correct. Thomas More's women's basketball team loses its national championship title because of Randy Moss' daughter staying with a coach as she rehabs but UNC has no repercussions for its scandalous academic shenanigans.

Just an observation. That is all. I have bigger problems to worry about than the changing world of college athletics. Seeing it seep deeper into high school to me seems not to be a good thing or even something to cheer about. But if it carries Xavier to a final four someday then it will at least be good for the fans.

Best of luck to you with what you are going through. Prayers.

[nickgyp]

Best of luck to you with what you are going through. Prayers.

Dash:

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. In June, I returned with my daughter from M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston where she had just completed two years research as part of her surgery residency at University Hospital. We drove back and while we were awaiting her belongings to be received here, the delivery was delayed and she was not at the hospital the day her belongings arrived. Good thing. While we waited, she noticed a lump on my throat. Noticeable but not obvious but, "Dad, you need an ultrasound."

Ultrasound leads to biopsy to a diagnosi of rare form of papillary cancer, Treatable with thyroid removal. Four days later path labs back and anaplastic cancer found incapsulated within the tumor. Daughter and wife go nuts because that appears to be bad news. Finally reach ENT surgeon who tells my wife that I am "the luckiest man in the world as I got it all". Daughter wants me to go to MD Anderson to get examined but insurance issues delayed getting there. Local oncologist is not so sure it is all gone although CT scans and PET scan are negative with no spread beyond one lymph node.

Tri-Health sets up mapping, beam radiation and chemo to start in Cincinnati with decent prognosis. MD Anderson okayed insurance and a week down there put me in the same place as far as diagnosis and treatment plan. I am running with the local doctor's goal of a cure so I think I am in a good spot. First week of radiation has gone okay and the chemo (low dose) has been tolerable.

Can't really afford to lose any more hair and drinking the equivalent of all the water in Lake Michigan on a daily basis but if that's what it will take then no big deal. My daughter is a Xavier grad who even with a stellar high school record was turned down by Notre Dame (a school where six of my siblings graduated). I had long since abandoned any affinity for the Irish; and consoling her after receipt of that rejection letter is seared into my memory.

I like to consider divine intervention in play along the way. Had she not gone to Xavier, she wouldn't have done research at Cincinnati Childrens' Hospital or gained early admittance to UC's med school. Doors close and they open up. Several years ago, she caught an early melanoma on my neck that in six months would have been a major problem. She has been my angel and I am truly blessed. The overwhelming support by people I barely know has been unbelievable. I believe in prayer and thank you for yours as well.

Finally, your avatar of the football stadium is so appropriate for me as someone who grew up on Xavier football and who has fond memories of games at Corcoran Field.