Xavier University Athletics
Men's Basketball Added Two Of The Nation's Top Prep Standouts On Signing Day
11.11.21 | Men's Basketball
Travis Steele is excited about adding Kam Craft and Tyrell Ward to the roster.
CINCINNATI --- Xavier University head coach Travis Steele has received signed National Letters of Intent from a pair of four-star prep standouts, Kam Craft, a 6-6 and 188-pound guard from The Skill Factory in Atlanta, Ga., and Tyrell Ward, a 6-7 and 185-pound guard from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md. Both players earned composite four-star rankings from 247Sports. Ward is ranked No. 36 among prospects by rivals.com, while Craft checks in at No. 56.
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"I am thrilled to add Kam Craft to our Xavier Family," Said Steele. "He is a tremendous young man that comes from a great family. He was a top priority for us the second I laid eyes on him. He has a reputation as a big-time scorer, but he is much more than that. He really knows how to play and make guys around him better. Kam is also a very good rebounder from the wing. Kam will have an immediate impact on our program."
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The Skill Factory, whose head coach is former Xavier Director of Basketball Operations Trey Scotti, is off to a 5-0 start behind Craft. Craft is averaging 21 ppg, 5.8 rpg. and 1.4 apg. this season, while shooting 61 percent, 17-of-28, from 3-point range. Craft played for a Chicago based AAU program named Meanstreets, which plays in the Nike EYBL.Â
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"Kam is a college-ready scorer today," said Scotti. "He has a knack for getting his shot, whether it's in transition or creating in the half court. You can run a lot of stuff through him. He is a very mature kid on and off the court. He excels in the classroom and is a great leader. He is super serious about getting better, whether it's getting stronger and improving his body or improving parts of his game."
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"I love the city," said Craft. "After getting a chance to see the facilities and spend time with the staff and players, it just felt like home. I know most people know me as a good shooter and scorer. I am working hard on my playmaking and other parts of my game."
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Before moving to Atlanta this year to attend The Skill Factory, Craft earned All-State honors the past two years at Buffalo Grove High School in Buffalo Grove, Ill. He averaged 23 points and seven rebounds as a sophomore, while being named Co-Mid-Suburban League Player of the Year, and followed that up with 27.1 points , 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a junior. Craft scored 1,694 career points at Buffalo Grove.
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"Tyrell Ward is a young man that has been on our radar for a very long time, and we are so excited to officially welcome Tyrell to the Xavier Family," said Steele."Tyrell attends Dematha Catholic, which is one of the best high school basketball programs in the country. He has terrific size for a guard and is very versatile. He can score it at all three levels. He is one of the toughest, most competitive guards in the country. I expect Tyrell to make an immediate impact on our program."
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Ward is coming off a tremendous junior year at DeMatha Catholic where he averaged 19.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg., 4.5 apg. and shot 46 percent from 3-point range. Ward played this past summer for Boo Williams, which plays in the Nike EYBL. Â
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"Tyrell is that rare, very talented offensive player who also competes fully and fiercely at the defensive end," said DeMatha head coach Peter Strickland. The sky's the limit for this ultra-competitive, position-less force. Xavier is going to love watching Ty' compete and succeed on and off the court.
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Ward said he can't wait to get to campus. "It was like a family when I spent time with the coaches and players," said Ward. "I really appreciated the recruiting approach by Coach Steele and his staff. I want to be a part of a winning program. I am a winner. That's my best quality as a player. I am working hard on improving my game, including my leadership skills."
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"I am thrilled to add Kam Craft to our Xavier Family," Said Steele. "He is a tremendous young man that comes from a great family. He was a top priority for us the second I laid eyes on him. He has a reputation as a big-time scorer, but he is much more than that. He really knows how to play and make guys around him better. Kam is also a very good rebounder from the wing. Kam will have an immediate impact on our program."
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The Skill Factory, whose head coach is former Xavier Director of Basketball Operations Trey Scotti, is off to a 5-0 start behind Craft. Craft is averaging 21 ppg, 5.8 rpg. and 1.4 apg. this season, while shooting 61 percent, 17-of-28, from 3-point range. Craft played for a Chicago based AAU program named Meanstreets, which plays in the Nike EYBL.Â
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"Kam is a college-ready scorer today," said Scotti. "He has a knack for getting his shot, whether it's in transition or creating in the half court. You can run a lot of stuff through him. He is a very mature kid on and off the court. He excels in the classroom and is a great leader. He is super serious about getting better, whether it's getting stronger and improving his body or improving parts of his game."
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"I love the city," said Craft. "After getting a chance to see the facilities and spend time with the staff and players, it just felt like home. I know most people know me as a good shooter and scorer. I am working hard on my playmaking and other parts of my game."
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Before moving to Atlanta this year to attend The Skill Factory, Craft earned All-State honors the past two years at Buffalo Grove High School in Buffalo Grove, Ill. He averaged 23 points and seven rebounds as a sophomore, while being named Co-Mid-Suburban League Player of the Year, and followed that up with 27.1 points , 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a junior. Craft scored 1,694 career points at Buffalo Grove.
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"Tyrell Ward is a young man that has been on our radar for a very long time, and we are so excited to officially welcome Tyrell to the Xavier Family," said Steele."Tyrell attends Dematha Catholic, which is one of the best high school basketball programs in the country. He has terrific size for a guard and is very versatile. He can score it at all three levels. He is one of the toughest, most competitive guards in the country. I expect Tyrell to make an immediate impact on our program."
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Ward is coming off a tremendous junior year at DeMatha Catholic where he averaged 19.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg., 4.5 apg. and shot 46 percent from 3-point range. Ward played this past summer for Boo Williams, which plays in the Nike EYBL. Â
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"Tyrell is that rare, very talented offensive player who also competes fully and fiercely at the defensive end," said DeMatha head coach Peter Strickland. The sky's the limit for this ultra-competitive, position-less force. Xavier is going to love watching Ty' compete and succeed on and off the court.
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Ward said he can't wait to get to campus. "It was like a family when I spent time with the coaches and players," said Ward. "I really appreciated the recruiting approach by Coach Steele and his staff. I want to be a part of a winning program. I am a winner. That's my best quality as a player. I am working hard on improving my game, including my leadership skills."
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