Taylor to Meet Marquette Coach

The latest news in the Tyshawn Taylor saga is that new Marquette coach Buzz Williams will meet Friday with Taylor and legendary St. Anthony coach Bob Hurley.

"He's going to come to Jersey City Friday and talk to us, and as far as we're concerned he's being re-recruited by Marquette because we really don't know this guy that well," Hurley said Tuesday.

Hurley said Williams would likely speak with Taylor at school during lunch and then visit later with Hurley at his office.

Taylor initially chose Marquette when Tom Crean was the head coach, but Crean recently left to take the Indiana job. Hurley said Taylor doesn't have that same relationship with Williams.

"They've just talked on the phone, not the close scrutiny you would have of the man who was going to be your coach," Hurley said. "It was more of a different relationship so that's where we have to try to figure out if this other relationship will work."

Hurley has previously asked Marquette officials to release the 6-foot-3 Taylor, a first-team All-State selection, from his Letter of Intent, although that has yet to happen.

Florida, Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, St. Joe's and Houston have all reached out to Hurley, yet Taylor cannot visit any of those schools until he is released from his LOI.

"We really can't do anything yet," Hurley said. "We're still waiting. We made a list of schools but we're waiting to see how this goes Friday."

Comments

[George Weah]

Zag---

Even with this news, Taylor seems a long shot to attend Marquette. What are thoughts from reporting this story and from being around both Hurley and Taylor last couple of years?

Thanks.

[Adam Zagoria]

I've gotten a number of concerned emails from Marquette fans, and can understand their feelings. I think Coach Hurley is primarily upset with the process whereby a coach can leave a school, but the kid must remain committed. I don't think he holds anything against Marquette, per se. That said, he has repeatedly said Marquette must now "re-recruit" Tyshawn, starting with Friday's pivotal meeting with Coach Williams in Jersey City. If that meeting goes well, and Tyshawn feels comfortable, then Marquette could have hope of keeping him. If not, or if Hurley and Taylor decide another school, like Virginia or Georgia Tech, is a better fit, then he could be gone.

[TommyC]

Zag,

Great work by you. In regards to Hurley, I believe Marquette fans are not as upset that Taylor would now choose another school (that happens), but more so with the way Bob Hurley agressively painted Marquette as the villian here. Similarly, we're not angry that Tom Crean left for Indiana, but are upset in the manner in which he choose to do it (his spin control has a ton of holes in it). With the unwarranted, ugly picture Hurley painted of Marquette, what is Taylor or another recruit in that area going to think of Marquette now? Bad press for Marquette, because our coach left us high and dry without notice? I'm a Marquette fan from South Orange and have always been a fan and financial supporter of St. Anthony's, but Bob Hurley was out of line here. I think a sincere, public apology to Marquette and its fans is the right thing for Bob to do, and knowing the class act Bob is, I'm hopeful he will. Go Marquette!

[Chilltown]

TommyC I don't understand what you are talking about! What did Hurley say so bad about Marquette as oppose to what he said about the system of binding LOI? Taylor IS QUESTIONING should he go to Marquette now and Hurley is speaking on his behalf!! I didn't see ONE negative thing Hurley said about Marquette. In fact, I hear the other recruits are questioning their decision since Crean left as well...Is that Hurley's fault. I just think some of you are upset at Hurley when it's more the situation Crean left the school in.

[TommyC]

Chilltown, Hurley clearly stated he was upset with Marquette for not immediately releasing Taylor from his LOI. There's no disputing that. The only other recruit looking for a release is Nick Williams from Alabama who committed to Crean as a sophomore. However, his HS coach hasn't been so vocal, because Nick hasn't been released yet. He surely didn't pin it on Marquette. I think if you reread Zag's reports from the beginning of Taylor's recruitment to Marquette, you'll see. Bottom line, Hurley hasn't done Marquette any favors, which is unfortunate.

[Chilltown]

Hurley would be upset if one of his players were being held hostage to LOI when the ULTIMATE reason (or person) he committed to has changed...it wouldn't matter if it were NC, Florida, or Joe Blow U! He's upset because of the NCAA rules...in fact if you've read other articles on the subject, it's not between him and Marquette or him and Crean...it the situation with the binding LOI where the head coach is not held to the same regard. As far as Hurley speaking up and not Nick William's coach...no offense, but who is he? Who is more likely to get his message heard by the NCAA board as well as the AD at Marquette? Hurley is ONLY speaking up for Taylor's behalf and THERE still is a chance Taylor will stay. This happens EVERY YEAR in college sports so what makes you think Hurley has a vendetta against Marquette?

[TommyC]

Held Hostage??? You're clearly missing the point. We're talking DAYS here, not months. These days coaches leave like this often, and everyone seems to respect the grace period of a week or two for the new coach to be hired before requesting a release. I do believe Hurley didn't intend to target Marquette with his frustration at the rule, but his words said otherwise. He jumped the gun assuming it would take months for us to find a coach. And with all due respect you don't have all the facts. Nick Williams nearly won Alabama's Mr. Basketball and was rated as high as the #32 best player in this year's Senior class. I didn't see Michael Beasley's HS coach spouting off with Huggin's sudden departure last year. He waited for the new coach to be hire within a few weeks, met with him and then made the best choice for Beasely. Hurley should've done the same.

[1oldshu]

Why is Marquette, nestled out and up in Wisconsin, in the Big East Conference again? Thanks Adam.

[jpudner]

As a Marquette grad, I certainly appreciate Hurley's concern about LOIs in general, but I do believe it is unfortunate he jumped on it so fast. I certainly would have understood if the search had dragged out for a few weeks, but MU hired Williams just 6 days after being stunned by Crean's departure. Many Marquette fans in fact have been very critical that MU didn't take longer to look for a big name coach, but they should get credit for moving this fast just for this reason - so the current players as well as the recruits - could know the situation as soon as possible and re-evaluate. We sort of felt like Hurley had a very valid point to make nationally, and we just happened to be the first school to to present an opportunity, even though we were being very reasonable in moving fast enough that TT was not left hanging. We really hope he comes to MU and follows our string of guards into the NBA, but if he doesn't I don't think the 10 days between Crean leaving and the new coach sitting down with him at lunch will have set him back in any way.