It Does.

The Creighton Mens Basketball staff has been hard at work. Travelin’, visiting families, at clinics and tournaments, scouring the landscape for talent to add to our already talented team for 2022-23. Only days ago securing the commitment of 4-Star Center, Fredrick King. Heck, in adding the highest ranked frosh of this incoming class, I figured the Jays were done for 2022 recruiting. Was I ever wrong.

The Jays staff is still on the road, still at it. They have pulled out all the stops and are full bore in landing some additional talent. Mac and company are leaving no stone unturned as they know this coming season is a big one…potentially a landmark season for Creighton Basketball. All the major preseason polls have the Jays in the Top 10 nationally, and the rest have CU in the Top 15.

The Jays are intent on adding additional 3pt firepower and have shown interest in several transport portal players. CU has secured TCU SG Francisco Farabello already and are courting others. Heavy interest has been shown in SDSU’s (So. Dakota St.) Baylor Scheierman, a 6-6 sharpshooting wing. Scheierman is one of the most highly sought-after transfers with over 30 schools showing interest. He was a major player on the midmajor level…and should translate well to Power 6 level hoops. Creighton is in the mix and his final 10. There is a bit of drama afoot as his agent/handlers are pushing NIL contracts. His agent currently has 3 players with active NIL issues.

Quietly, on the last day for entry into the transfer portal, 2 players with former CU interest entered. Seton Hall’s Tyler Powell and UNC’s Kerwin Walton. Powell is supposedly leaning to St Peter’s, but no indication yet of Walton’s intent.

Seton Hall G/F Tyler Powell has entered the transfer portal. https://t.co/vtX0kYPo8X
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) April 30, 2022

North Carolina F Kerwin Walton has entered the transfer portal. https://t.co/poS2p1Vo6x
— Verbal Commits (@VerbalCommits) May 1, 2022

Kerwin Walton – UNC Athletics photo

Creighton heavily pursued Kerwin while in HS in Minnesota. Kerwin was a 4-star, 237.com #96, Rivals #93, and ESPN 4-star (23rd best SG) recruit in 2020. Jays were in his final 6. On April 27, 2020 Walton chose UNC. Kerwin had a sterling frosh campaign at UNC. New HC Hubert Davis diminished Kerwin’s use over time during the 2021-22 campaign. He rarely played during the last 3rd of the season.

Whether either Walton or the Jays show interest is still to be determined. He’s my pick.

Interesting times. We shall see what transpires.

4-Star Center completes the 2022 Recruiting Class.

BREAKING: FREDRICK KING has told me that he has committed to CREIGHTON.

He is the best big man left in the 2022 class. The Jays may have their deepest and most talented roster ever. #RDJ🔵⚪️👑 pic.twitter.com/mBUKcQmmq8
— CreighTakes (@CreighTakes) April 29, 2022

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Creighton University gif

2022 four-star international prospect Fredrick King, a 6-foot-10, 220-pound center, has committed to Creighton, he tells @On3Recruits.

Story: https://t.co/5QNpLdrvXt pic.twitter.com/hPObCUa8sI
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 29, 2022

The Creighton staff has been working hard this Spring to fill out the Class of 2022. Their hard work has paid BIG dividends, as Creighton landed one of the few remaining high-level recruits in Fredrick King. King is currently attending the NBA’s International Academy-Mexico. The Mexico City, MEX. facility is one of six worldwide. Fredrick has been enrolled there since January of 2021 and NBA scouts and a few college coaches caught sight of him last September in some competitive games. Because he has not played in the USA, Fredrick is unranked on most services. However, he is listed as a 4-Star Center by Rivals.com and the #70 player (4-star) by On3 Sports.

A Bahamas citizen, Frederick has only been learning/playing basketball since 14 y/o (3 years). He is a quick study, as many NBA scouts have him penciled in for continued observation as a future draft pick. At 6-10, 220lbs, King’s forte is currently defense, as would be expected, but his offensive game is rapidly developing.

Fredrick initially committed to Louisville last November. He decommitted after Coach Mack left UL. Creighton and others resumed recruiting him.

Fredrick committed to the Jays today on Instagram. His commitment was picked up by On3 Sports and Tipton Edits. See On3 link above (in tweet) for additional article info.

In games last September vs other NBA Academy squads Fredrick played extremely well.

Film of Fredrick King from the NBA Academy Games in Mexico. He's a mobile big man who is quick off his feet and plays with a exceptionally high intensity level, while possessing intriguing skill, poise, and maturity. King converted 77% of his FGs and 74% of his FTs in Mexico. pic.twitter.com/1660SoiGrQ
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) November 9, 2021

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Interview with Fredrick…

There is a 16+ page King thread on the Bluejay Underground, since he reopened his recruitment. Several links, numerous videos, comments, etc., can be found there.

https://www.bluejayunderground.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5882

This is an important pickup for the Jays as they are pegged as a Top 10 team by a majority of the major outlet pundits. Fredrick comes in and brings elite talent to the front court. He can play both positions and will spell Big Ryan in the pivot and/or play alongside at the PF. The added depth factor is huge for the Jays. Big Ryan and Arthur are the only 2 returning bigs with experience, thus adding depth with international experience is a plus.

Fredrick rounds out the 2022 Class. The other members are: CG Ben Shtolzberg -Rivals 4* (121) / 247 3* / ESPN 3* / On3 3* (142); PF Jason Green – Rivals 3* / 247 3* / ESPN 4* / On3 4* (107); and transfer Francisco (Frankie) Farabello SG/Wing from TCU.

Fredrick is not ranked on ESPN or 247. If ranked, Fredricks’s commitment moves the 2022 class up… If he was ranked 70th on 247 (as on On3) the class moves from 54th to 29th. If he was ranked 96th on 247 (as on On3 composite) the class moves from 54th to 31st. He is ranked on 70th On3 Sports (96th on On3 Composite) and the class on On3 moves from 67th to 48th.