Zags out of the running for Marshall

Anthony Marshall, the 6'3 CG from Las Vegas, has cut his list to a final 6 schools, and Gonzaga is nowhere to be found. The 6 schools remaining for Marshall are UCLA, UNLV, Stanford, Baylor, Colorado State, and San Diego State. This is certainly an interesting list, considering the fact that Stanford and UCLA have not yet offered Marshall. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Marshall staying local and playing at UNLV, as he has a great relationship with coach Lon Kruger. However, if the Pac 10 powers on his list offer, then everything could change. TKR has just found out that SMU is also on the list for Anthony.

As for the Zags, guard was certainly not a position of priority, and it seems that the focus will be on the bigs for the class of 09. We should also remember that the Zags have already secured the commitment of Mangisto Arop, who is a 6'6 CG that played exceptionally well in the recent FIBA tournament.

TKR 2009 Recruit Breakdown: Anthony Marshall

In the world of recruiting, everyone wants to put a label on a player. Maybe he is a SG, or he is a big man, or he is a shooter, but it seems that every player has some sort of label. However, there is one player in the class of 09 that seems impossible to put a label on. Anthony Marshall, a 6'3 basketball player from Las Vegas, Nevada, does not seem to fit the model of the typical highly rated high school player. He does not focus solely on scoring, he loves to play defense, and he is great at getting his teammates involved in the game. Marshall has also been described as a model for his peers, and is a 3.5 student. With Anthony Marshall, you are not getting a player who can do one thing, but instead a player who can do literally everything on the basketball court, and do it exceptionally well.

Scholarship offers: Marshall holds offers from numerous schools across the nation. At this point, he holds offers from Gonzaga, UNLV, Washington, Colorado State, Baylor, SMU, Miami, Marquette, Virginia, Washington State, James Madison, and Detroit.

Rankings: Rivals- 67th ranked player overall/ 17th at his position
Scout- 4 star recruit/ 68th ranked player overall/ 13th ranked at his position
Scouts. Inc- 79 scout grade/ 92nd ranked player overall/ 17th ranked at his position

Teams: Marshall plays his high school ball for Mojave High school in Las Vegas, and is coached by Tony Hopkins
Marshall plays his AAU ball for the Las Vegas Prospects, and is coached by Anthony Brown

High School Stats: This past season, Marshall averaged 19.0 pts, 9.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists.

Strengths: What makes Marshall such a unique player is the versatility that he demonstrates on the court. Marshall is an exceptional playmaker that has the strength and athleticism to not only get to the basket and score, but to also make plays for the teammates around him. Marshall has the strength, and a flat footed 35 inch vertical leap, that allows him to finish very well when he is in among the bigs. This great athleticism also allows for him to be a fantastic rebounder for his size, as demonstrated with the 9 rebounds he averaged per game last season. Although he is a great offensive player, Marshall is better known for his shutdown defensive abilities. Because of his length, Marshall can guard any of the wing positions, as well as the point guard. He has the strength to really bother and opposite 3, and also has the length to really bother any 1's or 2's. But what makes Marshall so unique, is that he really loves playing defense. In the Las Vegas tourney last month, there was a description of Marshall working so hard on defense and rebounding that he nearly passed out from exhaustion. This is so rare to hear about during an AAU event, and really helps you understand how special of a talent he is.

Weaknesses: The one area of his game that Anthony need to improve the most is his shooting. Because he has the strength and athleticism to blow by his defender off the dribble, he needs to develop a consistent jump shot to continue to dominate offensively at the DI level. Although he gets great lift and arc on his shot, he does not yet hit it consistently enough to keep the defense honest. However, this is something that can be improved with hours spent in the gym, and it seems that Anthony is willing to put in the hard work to take his game to the next level.

Recruiting Forecast: Marshall is one of the more difficult recruits to forecast. He has continually said that he is open to any schools, and still has not decided on any official visits at this point. It has been mentioned, that a long standing relationship with Marshall will be important towards his recruiting. If that is indeed the case, then look for Gonzaga, UNLV, and Washington to be in the Marshall recruitment until the end. However, he has been getting lots of interest recently from UCLA, which could prove to be tough to beat. Marshall has stated that he will make his decision when the feeling is right, so we should know after he has taken his 5 official visits.

Interview with Coach Brown: Earlier today, our correspondent was able to catch up with Coach Anthony Brown of the Las Vegas Prospects. We would like to thank Coach Brown and our correspondent for getting TKR this quick interview.

TKR: How would you describe Anthony's performance in Las Vegas and Los Angeles

Coach Brown: Anthony was exceptional. He did everything possible on the court and he was exceptional. He did a great job getting his teammates involved. You don't know what to expect from kids his age, he could have just showed up and laid an egg. But he played like I thought he would play, he played really well.

TKR: What schools were at his games, and what schools have been in contact the most?

Coach Brown: Honestly, I don't know what coaches were at his games. I am focused on coaching, and you can't really see the logos on the shirts, and I dont know the faces. UNLV, UCLA, Baylor, SMU, Marquette, Creighton, and Kentucky have been in contact the most.

TKR: Why should a school recruit Anthony Marshall

Coach Brown: Because he does everything on the court. He rebounds, he defends, he scores, he is a great student and a good teammate. I have been really blessed to coach Anthony. If you want to win, you recruit Anthony Marshall. Everybody talks about wanting to win, but Anthony does whatever it takes to win.

Inteview with Anthony Marshall

Earlier today, the correspondent for TKR was able to catch up with 09 recruit Anthony Marshall. TKR would like to thank Anthony for taking time from his day to answer our questions, and we would also like to thank our correspondent for making the interview happen. We hope everyone enjoys the interview.

TKR: Over the past couple of months, your stock has really started to take off. What do you think are the reasons for your huge jump up the recruiting ranks?

Anthony Marshall: I think its because I am showing people I can do more then 1 thing. I can set up my teammates, and I can get in there and battle with the bigs if I have to. I also play defense, and I take great pride in my defense, and I realized that it is better if I get my teammates involved instead of just me shooting.

TKR: Was there a defining moment for you, when you realized that basketball could take you a lot of places?

Anthony Marshall: I always though that basketball could take me to the next level. I knew that if I put in the hard work and the time, then I could go to the next level.

TKR: Where have you seen the greatest growth in your game since the AAU season began?

Anthony Marshall: I would say it is getting my teammates involved. At the start of the season I felt a lot of pressure, because I felt like I had to score more. But by getting my teammates involved it has made the game easier and more fun.

TKR: Along with being a top basketball player, it is reported that you are also a very good student. How do you manage the time between school and basketball?

Anthony Marshall: It is all about time management. I go to school, and then before practice I do all my homework, and then after that it is about basketball. There is no secret, it is just about good time management.

TKR: Where do you think you need to make the biggest improvements in your game before you start playing college basketball?

Anthony Marshall: Working on my shooting, I need lots of repetitions because that is how you get better. My shooting is a question mark, I believe I can shoot but I need to prove it. I also need to get quicker and stronger.

TKR: You will be ending you AAU career in your home city. How does that feel, and what expectations do you have?

Anthony Marshall: Its exciting that my fans and family get to see me end my AAU career in my home city. I have high expectations and I feel like we can do pretty good, and go deep.

TKR: What schools have been recruiting you since the beginning? Who were the first schools you heard from?

Anthony Marshall: UNLV was the first school to offer me. I have been hearing from Gonzaga, Washington, and Colorado State since the beginning. These schools have been with me since day 1.

TKR: Do you have a top 5 or top 10 at this point?

Anthony Marshall: At this point I don't. I am still wide open. At the end of the month I am going to sit down with my coach (Anthony Brown) and we are going to decide where I want to take my official visits to. I will have my list at the end of the month.

TKR: What schools have you taken unofficial visits to at this point?

Anthony Marshall: Last year I went to Arizona State. I have also looked at Colorado State, Miami, and Marquette. The best spot for me is where I will go. I will make my decision when I have the right feeling about a school.

TKR: With all these schools recruiting you, what are you looking for in a school?

Anthony Marshall: Im looking for a good relationship with the coaches. I dont want to go to a school and be stuck in a situation where I dont know the coaches well. I also want to go to a winning program where I can contribute right away and help improve my game for the next level.

Interview with Las Vegas Prospects coach Anthony Brown

Today is an exciting Monday for all GU fans....as The Kennel Report was able to get a quick interview with Anthony Brown. Brown is the head coach of the Las Vegas Prospects, and more specifically GU target Anthony Marshall. We would like to thank our new correspondent, who hunted down the coach and did the interview for us. We would also like to thank Coach Brown for taking time out of his day to answer some questions, and for keeping in touch throughout the summer.

The Kennel Report: How did Anthony play at the recently completed NBPA top 100 camp? Was it a good experience for him?

Coach Brown: Anthony played great. Bob Gibbons (a recruiting expert) said that Anthony really raised his stock. Hoopscoop said that Anthony was one of the top players and ended the camp as the 21st ranked player there. He probably only scored about 6 pts per game, but 4 of those were dunks on players, and the other 2 were either free throws or jump shots. A lot of the players at the camp were selfish and just looking to score. Anthony wasnt in the top 10 for any category, but he probably averaged 5-6 rebounds and assists per game, and 2 blocks.

TKR: What is Anthony's greatest strength and greatest weakness as a player?

Coach Brown: His greatest weakness is that everybody labels him as a combo guard, but he can really play anything. For his AAU team (The Las Vegas Prospects) he often has to play in the position that is best for the team, not best for him. He is a very team first player. His greatest strength comes from his weakness, because he can really play any position. We can put him at the 3 and he can guard the other team's best player. He can play the 2 and score tons of buckets. He can play the point and run the team. People are going to be shocked by Anthony Marshall this July. People are going to be like Wow!!!! after they see how he plays and where I play him

TKR: At this point what schools are recruiting Anthony the hardest? Does he have a list of top teams? Is there a timetable for his decision?

Coach Brown: Miami, Marquette, Gonzaga, Florida, Colorado State, UNLV, and Detroit. Detroit because Derrick Thomas was just hired there (as an assistant coach) and he and Anthony have a good relationship. Anthony will make his decision when the feeling is right, there is no timetable. He has already visited UNLV, Miami, Marquette, and Colorado State, and he has no more planned at this time.

TKR: What player would you compare Anthony to.

Coach Brown: Derek Fisher. Anthony is the ultimate glue guy, and like Derek Fisher, you hate him when he is not on your team, but when he is on your team you love having him.

TKR: There have been numerous stories about what a great student and person Anthony is. How would you describe Anthony away from the court?

Coach Brown: He is very quiet and very to himself. He is a big relationship guy. He has not got caught up in the hype of all the big schools who have recruited him. His recruiting and decision will come down to the place he has the best relationship with. So many schools have recruited him because of what they read on the Internet, but they have never come to Las Vegas and met with him or seen him play. Anthony wants a relationship with people who have seen him play and met with him. He has a very small and tight circle of friends and family.

09' Recruiting Breakdown

As the AAU Summer Circuit gets into high gear, we thought that we would give Zag fans a breakdown of what prospects GU appears to be looking at. Keep in mind that recruiting is a very fluid process, so many of the players who GU is interested in today, may not be of high interest in a couple of months.

Committed for 09: Mangisto Arop: Arop was the second person to commit for the class of 09. Unfortunately, previous commit Brock Osweiler, elected to pursue football at Arizona State. Arop is a 6'5 SG/SF from Canada. He is coming off of a great performance at The Albert Schweitzer Tournament, where he helped the Canadian U 18 team to a 5th place finish. He is known for his great athleticism and ability to finish at the rim, but his outside shooting appears to be inconsistent. We will hopefully learn more about Arop over the summer as he will continue to play with the Canadian National Team.

Considering GU: Solomon Hill, Rivals-27 Scout-NR: Hill is a 6'6 SF who attends Fairfax high school in Los Angeles. He is a very versatile forward, who can rebound and pass at an extraordinarily high level. He is also blessed with great athleticism, and is known to throw down thunderous dunks. His main area of weakness is his jump shot, which has improved over his high school career, but is not at this point very consistent.

Tyler Honeycutt, Rivals-119 Scout-NR: Honeycutt is a 6'7 SF from Sylmar, California. Honeycutt was not a well-known recruit until this summer circuit kicked off, but he has emerged as one of the more unique talents on the West Coast. He is a great shooter, with range that extends beyond the 3 point line, and is a very solid defender. Many people have compared his skill set and build to current GU standout, Austin Daye. Honeycutt is blowing up on the national recruiting scene, as he recently picked up an offer from Arizona. He recently said that he was very high on Arizona, Gonzaga, and Washington.

Joe Burton, Rivals-105 Scout-NR: Burton is a 6'8 PF from West Valley, California. Many Zag fans have been clamoring for a true post player, and Burton appears to fit the bill. He is a true low post scorer, and understand how to use his big body to gain advantages in the post. He is also an incredibly skilled rebounder. Burton wont "wow" anyone with his athleticism, but he is a steady, and potentially dominant bruiser in the post. He currently holds offers from San Diego St and UCF, but his recruitment will pick up by the end of the summer.

Anthony Marshall, Rivals-109 Scout-55: Marshall is a 6'3 CG from Las Vegas, Nevada. Marshall has been on the Zag radar for a long time, as the coaching staff began recruiting him during the beginning of his junior year. Marshall is an elite athlete, with very long arms and elite athleticism. On the offensive end, he is not a great shooter, but will use his strength and athletic ability to get to the rim and finish. It is also refreshing to hear that he is a great student and a true gentleman off of the court. Marshall is a personal favorite of mine, and I think he will be able to play both the PG and SG at the next level. Marshall holds offers from GU, Colorado State, Miami, Virginia, UW, and WSU. He has also mentioned UNLV while Kansas and Kentucky have been showing interest.

Jeff Reid- Rivals-NR Scout-85: Reid is a 6'5 SG/SF from Topeka, Kansas. Reid has been on the Zag radar for a long time as well, and even took an unofficial visit to Spokane last season. He is a very good scorer, with underrated athletic ability. He can throw down very strong dunks, and can shoot the ball at a very high level. He is a very unselfish teammate, and plays for a strong KC Pump 'N Run team, that won the recent Jayhawk Invitational. Kansas State is the only listed offer for Reid, but much of the Big 12 and Big 10 is showing interest.

Sam Dower- Rivals-139 Scout-NR: Dower is a 6'9 PF from Osseo, Minnesota. Dower really emerged over this summer as a high level post player. He is lefty who plays with an very high motor, and is a very good athlete. He finishes well at the hoop with a hook shot, but tends to drift out to the perimeter. He is not yet a consistent performer, but flashes good ability. Dower currently holds offers from Saint Louis, UWGB, UWM, Montana, and Northern Iowa. However he has emerged as a high major prospect, and has been recieving interest from the likes of Marquette and Minnesota.

Marshall Henderson, Rivals-NR Scout-NR: Henderson is a 6'2 PG from Hurst, Texas. Henderson is a score first PG, who is known for his deadly shooting ability. Henderson can shoot from well beyond the 3 point line, and is a solid shooter off the dribble and in the lane. He has been described as an above average passer, but might not have enough PG skills to play the position at the next level. Henderson is not an elite athlete, but his ability to shoot more then makes up for this. Henderson currently has a top 3 of Gonzaga, Utah, and Bradley.

Final 8 set for Cactus Classic

The Final 8 teams are set for tomorrow's conclusion of the Arizona Cactus Classic. It was a very tough Round of 16 for GU recruits, as many of the main targets had their tournament run ended.

In one of the best matchups of the night, Tyler Honneycutt and the Pump N Run Elite went up against the Northwest Panthers. The Panthers feature two of the best players in the state of Washington, with Arizona commit Abdul Gaddy, and his teammate Avery Bradley. In a closely fought game, Pump N Run had no answer for Bradley, who scored 31 points in a 72-71 victory for the Panthers. In the loss, Honeycutt continued his steady all around play, contributing 15 points to go along with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. This tournament should clearly establish Honeycutt on the national recruiting radar.

Anthony Marshall and the Las Vegas Prospects had no better luck, as they fell 65-61 to California Supreme. Marshall continued to do a little bit of everything on the court, as he had 16 points to go along with a team high 9 rebounds. He shot 50% from the field, and it is becoming clear that Marshall can do a little bit of everything on the court. His versatility is what has made Marshall such a high priority recruit in the eyes of Gonzaga.

The last game of the night featured two big bodies that have caught the eye of the staff. Ricardo Ratliffe and his Boo Williams team edged out Josh Smith and the Seattle Rotary Select 69-66. Ratliffe continued his very steady play by scoring 13 points to go along with 1 rebound. Josh Smith was not very effective as he managed only 9 points and 4 rebounds, and was burdened with foul trouble throughout the game.


Check back tomorrow as this exciting tournament wraps up another great year.

Great Cactus Classic matchup

As bracket play kicked off tonight in the Arizona Cactus Classic, Gonzaga fans were given a real treat, as 2 Zag recruits went head to head. Anthony Marshall, and his Las Vegas Prospects, went up against Marshall Henderson, and his Dallas Mustangs. Despite going 0-3 in pool play, the Prospects stunned the Mustangs with a 75-64 victory.

In the matchup of Gonzaga recruits, it was Anthony Marshall who shined brightest. Marshall put together a dominating performance, scoring a game high 25 points, to go along with a team high 8 rebounds. Marshall hit over 50% of his shots, and did not settle for the 3 pointer, as he has been struggling from beyond the arc throughout the tournament.

For the Dallas Mustangs, Marshall Henderson was not able to put together a great performance, as he struggled to shoot the ball on his way to an 8 point performance. Henderson shot 21% from the field, and only 10% from beyond the arc. He was pesky on the defensive end, as he ended the game with 3 steals.

The Las Vegas Prospects play later tonight and we will keep you updated on his performance and that of other GU recruits.

Las Vegas Prospects drop first game

Gonzaga recruit, Anthony Marshall, and his Las Vegas Prospects teammates kicked off their pool play earlier tonight at the Arizona Cactus Classic. In a high-scoring encounter, the Prospects were defeated by the Wisconsin Playground 81-73.

Anthony Marshall scored 15 points and chipped in 6 rebounds. He was also tied for the team lead with 2 steals. Marshall struggled from behind the 3 point line, shooting 1-6, but more then made up for that, by hitting 6 of his 7 shots from inside the arc. Marshall dished out 2 assists, to round out a very solid performance.

The Las Vegas Prospects will continue pool play tomorrow morning, as they take on the I-Can All Stars at 11:20 AM

Be sure to check back later in the night for updates on other Gonzaga recruits participating in the tournament.

Glowing review for Anthony Marshall

While GU continually pursues the best basketball players across the nation, it is nice to find a player that not only excels on the court, but also off it. It appears that GU target Anthony Marshall is indeed one of those rare people.

As stated earlier today, Marshall excelled at the Jayhawk Invitational, continually displaying his great athleticism and elite basketball talent. It was also revealed that Marshall is a scholar athlete who maintains a 3.5 G.P.A in the classroom. He was described as a gentleman with a good nature and character and is even said to provide a great example for his fellow peers.

Equally exciting for all GU fans is that Marshall named GU along with Miami, LSU, Washington, and UNLV when asked what schools were actively recruiting him.

Day Two of the Jayhawk Invitational: Marshall Shines

Day two has just been completed in Lawrence, Kansas for the Jayhawk Invitational. Gonzaga prospect Anthony Marshall of the Las Vegas Prospects had a big Saturday of basketball.

Marshall, the 6'3'' 185 pound shooting guard from Mojave High School led his Prospects to a victory over the St. Louis Raptors. Reportedly, Marshall was not having the best day shooting the basketball but was able to get into the lane and make plays in the paint. He also had a few excellent dunks. Marshall is a tough match-up because he is able to take his game inside out. He is well known for his driving abilities at the shooting guard spot and when his shot is falling he can also be a deadly shooter.

Stock status: Marshall's recruitment is just getting started right now. He has received a number of offers including Gonzaga but recently some high majors are starting to enter the picture. It will be interesting to see how Gonzaga chooses to go after him with Marshall Henderson and Jeff Reid also in the picture. Marshall could be a great asset to this team and would bring a much needed athletic guard once Jeremy Pargo leaves Gonzaga.

Things to Watch for in May

May used to be the beginning of a prolonged down time for college sports fans. Basketball and football were over, college baseball was coming to an end, the only thing really going on is the MLB. Today, that is no longer the case. May should be a very busy month for Gonzaga sports fans as recruiting is heating up in basketball and the baseball team is closing out a very successful season. Here are a few things to watch for as summer rolls around.

1. Late 2008 basketball recruiting- After missing on Jeff Taylor and transfer Taylor King, the Zags hope to pick up at least one more impact recruit to add to their already impressive 2008 class Speculations and rumors are all abound. Recently, 6'8'' Serbian Luka Basta visited Spokane and toured the campus. He is currently 18 and if he came here he would be a 2008 recruit. However, rumors have recently picked up that Bol Kong(right) could be the missing piece of the 2008 class. His former coach was recently hired at Idaho and claimed that he had been hearing Gonzaga as Kong's potential landing spot. Kong was a transplant from Sudan and now lives in Canada. He has struggled to get a Visa to play in America but if the reports are correct, that is the only thing separating him from Spokane.
2. 2009 Recruiting Developments- To be honest, Gonzaga is due for some good news recruiting wise. After just losing Brock Osweiler to ASU last night, it seems that Mark Few needs to make a push right away. With the departure of Osweiler, there is an obviously hole to fill at the power forward/center position. However, Gonzaga does not seem to be following any big banger that passionately right now. Rather, the Zags are focusing on guards such as Anthony Marshall, Jeff Reid, and Marshall Henderson. Being a betting man, I would assume that the obvious choice in this situation would be Henderson. He claims Gonzaga is one of his dream schools and has a Grant Gibbs feel about him in that both are obsessed with the school. He would also fill a big void because he is a lights out shooter who averages nearly 24 points a game and can really light it up from 3 point land. The only consistent shooter GU will have on the roster next year will be Steven Gray. Anthony Marshall will probably wait a little while longer as it seems that his stock is about to blow up. Reid (left) is also interesting because he has only been offered by Kansas State but Gonzaga has been watching him heavily and he has visited the campus so he could be a sleeper commit. These three appear to be brightest on Gonzaga's radar right now. But only time will tell.
3. Gonzaga Baseball Season Coming to an End- Fresh off their two game sweep of two-time champ Oregon State, Gonzaga baseball hopes to finish up their season strong. They have a three game series with San Francisco, then a match-up with Lewis and Clark College, followed by a game against heated rival Washington State. The bulldogs finally finish up their season at Loyola Marymount with a three game series finishing on May 18th. The Bulldogs hope to carry their momentum into the WCC championship and potentially earn a NCAA tournament bid. They lost last year in the WCC finals to perennial power San Diego. USD and Pepperdine are both very strong this year but Gonzaga has the defense and pitching to give either team a solid run.
Other stories of note include Jeremy Pargo and whether or not he will continue to pursue the NBA draft. We will also be watching the Crew teams as their seasons wrap up.

Gonzaga recruits at the Jayhawk Invitational

This upcoming weekend many of the finest basketball players of the 2009, 2010, and 2011 will be descending upon Kansas University for the Jayhawk Invitational. Two of the main prospects for the 09 recruiting class for Gonzaga will be there. I have to believe that Mark Few and/or the top assistants will be there to scout the great talent.


Anthony Marshall and his Las Vegas Prospect team will be there and he will be going up against the Atlanta Celtics in his pool. The Celtics are one of the premier AAU teams in the nation, and include Derrick Favors and Lance Stephenson who are two of the top 10 players in the 09 class.

Marshall's pool: Pool C- Atlanta Celtics, Las Vegas Prospects, KC Nuggets, St. Louis Raptors

Schedule: 5/2 @ 9:45 P.M- vs. Atlanta Celtics
5/3 @ 10:30 A.M- vs KC Nuggets
5/3 @ 2:15 P.M- vs St. Louis Raptors

Jeff Reid and his KC Pump 'N Run team will be there as well. Reid and Marshall are two of the top targets for Gonzaga and the class of 09' and both would be excellent additions to any team across the nation.


Reid's pool: Pool A- KC Pump 'N Run, Pump N Run Elite, Springfield Mustangs, KC Swish

Schedule: 5/2 @ 8:30 P.M - vs Pump N Run Elite
5/3 @ 9:15 A.M- vs Springfield Mustangs
5/3 @ 1:00 P.M - vs KC Swish

We will keep you updated on the schedules should either team advance to bracket play