Creighton’s hiring of Patrick Sellers as an assistant coach should definitely help the new Big East school recruit in the Northeast.
Sellers is a former UConn and Hofstra assistant who is well known in the New York/ New Jersey area, from which Creighton will need to draw players.
“I think it plays a part of a familiar face the kids can put a name on,” Expressions Elite coach Tyron Boswell told SNY.tv. “He’s from UConn and Northeast kids have watched UConn throughout their adolescent year. So it helps, along with coach being a great guy and a great evaluator of talent.”
Creighton is recruiting 2014 Expressions stars Jared Terrell and Abdul Malik Abu, as well as 2014 wing Terry Larrier of The Bronx. There is plenty of competition for those players, but it can only help having a Northeast guy on staff to help recruit players of that level.
Creighton tried to get involved with Christ the King shooting guard Jon Severe, but Mr. New York basketball ultimately chose Fordham over West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Rutgers.
Creighton also made a run at former Rutgers guard Eli Carter, who ultimately chose to transfer to Florida.
Creighton returns Doug McDermott, the likely Big East Preseason Player of the Year, and should be among the favorites in the new league next year.
If they can build upon that success by recruiting effectively in the New York/New Jersey area, the Bluejays will be a true force in the Big East going forward.