10:42 AM Thu, Apr 20, 2006 | Permalink
Kevin McNamara  Email
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Jeff Xavier, the former St. Raphael's All-Stater who's gone on to shine at Manhattan College, will transfer to Providence College this fall. Xavier, a 6-foot shooting guard, must sit out the 2006-07 season but will have two years of eligibility with the Friars. He will be the first Rhode Island native to play at PC in coach Tim Welsh's tenure.
Xavier told The Journal that he spoke with Welsh on Wednesday night after receiving a release from his scholarship at Manhattan. Welsh instantly offered him a spot in the Friar program, and Xavier quickly accepted.
``I always wanted to play at Providence,'' Xavier said.
Xavier was seen by college scouts as a bit small for major conference play coming out of Rhode Island's high school league. However, his deep shooting range and deceiving strength helped him trump his size limitations. As a sophomore, Xavier was the Jaspers' second leading scorer (16.6) and made a team-high 77 threes. He was named second-team All-Metro Atlantic Conference and was a third-team All-New York City selection.
Manhattan coach Bobby Gonzalez left to take the Seton Hall job two weeks ago. The move opened up an opportunity for Xavier to look at other options, and PC was his first, and only, choice. He said he did not want to follow Gonzalez to Seton Hall.
More on Jeff Xavier's decision in Friday's Journal.
- KEVIN McNAMARA
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We just added another guard?? We signed 3 guards for sept.?? We already have 2/3 guards on the roster! Where is the inside game and rebounds to come from in two to three years? I don't understand what Welsh is trying to do? Or perhaps Welsh will not be around to worry about the imbalance he is creating. jim 61
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Did you ever see Villanova play with all their guards? College hoops, at least big east is all about guards.
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hey jeff xavier is going to be the top gaurd in the country in about a year he will be scoring 22ppg and 6 assists and three steals a game.he is a pure shooter with unlimited range he should be a real joy to watch in the big east. what he did when he played maryland was just a taste of what he is capable of doin welsh made the smartest recruiting move of the year. as long as he gets playing time
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xavier will be without a doubt, the toughest guard to defend in the big east. as soon as he buries some threes the defense will play him for the shot and then he will drive right by them to the hole. he is simply impossible to defend right now. its gonna be fun to watch.
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