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Home > Blogs > Flyer Connection: University of Dayton sports > Archives > 2009 > July > 17 > Entry
Flyers get commitment from Spearman
Eric Bossi, a recruiting analyst for Scout.com, heard about Brandon Spearman’s verbal commitment to Dayton and couldn’t help but convey his thoughts through a popular cyber-network.
“I just ‘Twittered’ and was saying what a great class Dayton has ‘signed.’ With him and Jesse Berry, who’s really underrated, and Juwan Staten, they’ve got some absolutely incredible kids in the backcourt,” Bossi said. “Flyer fans should be pretty excited about those guys.”
Spearman, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior-to-be, had offers from Illinois State, Bradley, Nevada, Baylor, DePaul, Iowa State and others. Marquette hosted him on a visit last month, and Arkansas and Boston College have been making overatures.
“If he waited to hold out for a, quote-unquote, big-name school, he could have ended up at a Big 12, Big East or Big Ten school,” Bossi said. “But he’s a really good example of someone who looked past the conference name in picking Dayton. They’re going to challenge for the conference title every year. Yeah, it may be considered by some a mid-major conference, but Dayton is really a high-major program.
“He did his homework and realized Dayton is better than a lot of Big Ten schools right now.”
Spearman, considered a four-star prospect (out of five) by Rivals.com, said he wasn’t interested in stockpiling college offers.
“I was looking for the right school that fit me, and Dayton fit me,” he said.
Spearman visited UD with his parents a couple of months ago. And his father credited UD coach Brian Gregory for making a convincing pitch.
“The head coach was a big part of the recruiting. He’s been on it for the last three or four months,” William Spearman said.
Gregory pointed out the academic record of the basketball program — all but one player who stayed four years since 1979 graduated — and that resonated with the Spearmans.
“That was a big factor,” William Spearman said. “We sat down with Beth (Flach), the academic advisor. She was great. She broke a lot of stuff down to us, and it was real big that they graduated everybody.”
Jason Kent, one of Spearman’s AAU coaches, said the Flyers are getting a skilled all-around player.
“He’s a great defender as well as a great scorer,” said Kent, a longtime college assistant. “He will play hard, tough defense, which is right up coach Gregory’s style.”
The Flyers’ recruiting efforts to this point couldn’t have gone much better. Juwan Staten is ranked as the 41st-best player nationally by Rivals.com and Spearman is No. 100. And while recruiting services are relatively new to the scene, UD has never had two top-100 players in the same class during the ratings era.
Chris Wright, a 2007 prospect, was the last player to earn that distinction. Before him, it was Brooks Hall in 1999.
Of course, UD would like to add local product Adreian Payne to that total. The 6-10 center, who is being wooed by Michigan State, Kentucky and West Virginia among many others, is expected to make his decision sometime before his senior season.
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Comments
By RR
July 17, 2009 4:52 PM | Link to this
Welcome Brandon, Work hard and you’ll reap the rewards and accolades of UD basketball and the UD fan faithful. By committing early you’ll let other recruits know how special UD is and how committed we are to do the final four dance!By Tom
July 17, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this
Welcome Brandon. We are so happy to have you on-board. Buckle up, we are flying high and this is going to be a great ride. Looking forward to seeing you in the Red and Blue. Go FLYERSBy ebhoopsnut
July 17, 2009 5:02 PM | Link to this
Way to go Brian! I look forward to seeing this class play together.By OSU Joe
July 17, 2009 5:07 PM | Link to this
Thanks Brandon, now State won’t get Staton or Payne because you spoiled it. BratBy John lacy
July 17, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this
While i held a fantasy this scholly would go to Justin Martin, Spearman is a great consolation prize. IF we get Payne, this will be the greatest incoming class the Flyers have EVER had and should be top 10 nationally. We are in for a 4-5 year period this program has never seen. Could a Final Four be in our future?By get real
July 17, 2009 6:25 PM | Link to this
Wow, UD may become the third best team in the Atlantic 10 with this get. Way to go little guys!By ESPN
July 17, 2009 7:07 PM | Link to this
Brian Gregory is not going to be at UD much longer. The BCS schools are going to pick him if he has another good year.By Harry the Horse
July 18, 2009 12:34 AM | Link to this
If all these kids land on campus, this could be the greatest recruiting class in the storied history of Dayton basketball. Finally a great coach and some of the greatest fans in the country are getting their due. And kids from across the country realize Dayton has great basketball tradition. And Dayton is UD basketball crazy.. Brian Gregory is a dream come true.. He when it is all said and done could be the greatest coach in UD history….By Matt
July 18, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this
I agree, Dayton has made great strides over the past year to become a powerhouse in the A10 but I wouldn’t hail Gregory as the “greatest coach in Dayton History”. His recrutiing has been amazing but his coaching has been average at best. The defense was great last year but he needs to implement a new offensive system that will complement the athletic players that he has.By UDfanSteve
July 18, 2009 3:44 PM | Link to this
Good recruit for UD,but how wil BG use that last scholly if Payne goes elsewhere? The 2009-10 season will have 5 players 6/9 or taller.WOW.they should never be outrebounded.Can’t wait till the Puerto-Rico tourney.I already have my room and flight…anyone else going?By Steve
July 18, 2009 7:56 PM | Link to this
Appears the Depaul fans are having heartache over Brandon leaving town.. http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-college-basketball/2009/07/daytons-2010-class-leds-to-questions-about-depauls-future.htmlBy UDfanSteve
July 19, 2009 1:23 AM | Link to this
If AP commits the city of Dayton will be buzzing like it never has before.The whole city will turn into ravenous basketball freaks which will soon spread thru the state and even the entire midwest.Dayton has already proved Big East teams are no problem,bring on the Big 10 and Pac 10 we will be ready with the firepower we once had in 1974.By UDBrian
July 19, 2009 1:45 PM | Link to this
Welcome Brandon, great job BGBy OSU Joe
July 21, 2009 8:10 AM | Link to this
Doug Harris, quit the BS propaganda. You damn well know that Dayton is a low/mid-major. Always has been, and always will be.By Cleveland Steamer
July 21, 2009 1:59 PM | Link to this
OSU Joe, AMEN,AMEN AMEN. I have a prediction……UD will NOT make the NCAA’s in 2010. They won’t win the A-10, or the A-10 tournament and won’t get an at large from the committee. Why you ask? The Flyers will crash and burn in Puerto Rico early in the season. They won’t hang with those big programs and that will set the tone for the rest of the season. AM I right?By Oaklman
July 21, 2009 9:20 PM | Link to this
You are not only wrong but a complete idiot ,Dayton will do great .the tone for the upcomming year has already been set ,,,Cleveland whoever ,get a grip ,,,,,,,,,,,,By Pharma27
August 23, 2009 6:38 AM | Link to this
Very nice site!