Recently, Creighton shocked everyone by landing Arthur Kaluma. More accurately, the Bluejays shocked everyone but themselves. Creighton is coming off its first Sweet 16 since 1974. For perspective, that was four months before Richard Nixon resigned because of Watergate. The Steelers had yet to win a Super Bowl in franchise history. Willie Mays had retired the previous fall.
Long time ago.
But the Bluejays are riding momentum from the tourney run, and the Kaluma commitment may just be the start. Three weeks ago, Zion Cruz got an offer from the Bluejays. The 5-star guard is one of the best players in the northeast, ranked top-20 nationally. Mike Woodson is trying to woo him to Indiana. He’s grown a reputation as a clutch player, and SU has been recruiting him for awhile. But he also has a number of high-major offers, including traditional football schools down south he’s interested in. He’ll be taking an official visit to Auburn, and reportedly wants to tour Georgia and Florida State.
The Bluejays are also in on Chance Westry, a 4-star combo guard from California’a famous Sierra Canyon, best known as Bronny James’ school. The Orange have been connected to him since the days of Dior Johnson, as one of the prospects that would join the party.
Creighton’s commitment from Kaluma was surprising to many because traditional powerhouses Syracuse and Arizona were also highly involved. For some context, since Creighton’s ’74 Sweet 16 run, the Orange has been there 21 times with 6 Final Fours and a national championship. SU has put players into the first round of the NBA Draft almost annually for decades. Since ’74 Arizona has 18 Sweet 16 appearances, four Final Fours and a natty. Deandre Ayton was the top pick overall just three years ago. Creighton muscled their way to a victory in Kaluma against programs with big time resumes.
But The Fizz wrote about how Creighton should be taken seriously in the Kaluma recruitment, and the same should be said for Cruz and Westry. The Bluejays have solidly built a perennial winner in Omaha, and now they’ve proven they can land the big dogs on the recruiting circuit too.
