The commitments just kept coming last week for Marquette head coach Shaka Smart. With four 2025 players committed to the Golden Eagles, Marquette has the No. 8 recruiting class in 2025, according to Scout.
Marquette sizzling on recruiting trail
Ian Miletic was the first to commitment in the 2025 class on June 12. Miletic is a smooth 6-foot-7 small forward with a left-handed stroke and is the top-rated player in Illinois according to Scout. The lanky Rolling Meadows, Illinois hoopster is a borderline top 100 four-star player, ranked 103rd nationally per Scout. Since Miletic has come aboard, Shaka Smart and staff has three more to verbally commit, two of them in the top 100.
Miletic said in a Chicago Sun-Times article the relationship aspect of the recruiting process stood out to him and pushed him to Marquette.
“That stood out to me right away – the relationship aspect of it,” Miletic said. “They really invested in me and took the time to get to know me as a person and not just as a player. Over time, that’s what pulled Marquette away from other programs.”
Marquette stays on a roll with its 2025 recruiting class with aggressive guard @AdrienStevens3 making his commitment official.
Since June, #mubb has also secured commits from @Ian7Miletic, @nigel_j24 and @m_phillips_07.
— Ben Steele (@BenSteeleMJS) August 13, 2024
Nigel James committed on July 16 and is a top-100 recruit according to Scout. James is a 6-0 point guard from New York. He chose the Golden Eagles over Rutgers, Georgia and Georgia Tech. In an On3 article Jones described himself as an all-around point guard. In what is a common theme with Shaka Smart-recruited players, James said the relationship was key for him: The relationship with the coach and the relationship the team has. I want to play for a coach that lets their guards go, and that has a trust and a belief in me. My biggest thing though is going to be the relationship.”
The most recent commitment is from Adrien Stevens, the 94th ranked player in the class per Scout. Stevens is a combo guard (6-4, 195) and a four-star recruit. Stevens was very heavily recruited by Smart. He chose Marquette over Florida State, Villanova, Florida State and Tennessee, among others.
Stevens on why he chose Marquette in a Phenom Hoop Report: “I chose Marquette because of the relationships that I have built with the people that are there. The coaches have done a great job at getting to know my family and I, and I have great relationships with some of the players that are there. Coach Smart has believed in me since day one and Marquette is a place I believe where I can become the best version of myself both on and off the court.”
With Adrien Stevens's addition, the Marquette 2025 recruiting class now ranks 8th 👀 in the @247Sports rankings. #mubb pic.twitter.com/aTHot4MJtF
— Dom Winters (@GoldenEagles247) August 13, 2024
The most unheralded of the prospects is Michael Phillips II. Phillips II committed a week before Stevens. The three-star Raleigh, N.C. , wing has the skillset that so often outshine their ranking at Marquette. While a bit underrecruited, Phillips is a 6-6 small forward who has flown under the radar. Marquette seems to get one of these guys a class who aren’t heavily rated when committing before blowing up on the recruiting trail.
I'm excited to announce that I am officially reclassifying to my original class of 2025! I'm confident this is the best move for my academic and athletic growth
I am thrilled to announce my commitment to Marquette University to further my basketball career. Go Golden Eagles! pic.twitter.com/wNpiPoaoDI— Michael Phillips II (@m_phillips_07) August 6, 2024
Marquette restocking talent in 2025, could class get even better?
As I said, the class ranks 8th overall currently on Scout and Smart may not be done yet. Marquette are in the mix for a top-50 recruit – Cam Ward. Ward announced his top-10 schools and Marquette was one of the schools on the list.
The Golden Eagles are fresh off a Sweet 16 run last year, but lost Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro from that squad. Marquette is still expected to be very good in the 2024-’25 season, but Kam Jones and Stevie Mitchell will be gone following the year. Fear not Golden Eagle fans because Shaka Smart looks like he’s reloading some of that talent with a top-10 recruiting class currently for 2025.
