Alexander kicks off 2017 class

Creighton recruiting fans have been talking about how important the 2017 recruiting class is for the program for a while now. Creighton as things sit today will have five scholarships to fill. Saturday the Jays took a huge step in making 2017's recruiting class one to remember when they received a verbal commitment from top-150 guard Ty-Shon Alexander. The 6'3" 4-star guard from Virginia is ranked 86th nationally on Rivals top-150. Alexander is ranked as high as 50th nationally by other recruiting services making Alexander one of the highest rated recruits Creighton has ever gotten a commitment from.

"The recruiting process was a quick process," said Ty-Shon's father Eric. "Creighton offered Ty-Shon on August 23rd and he visited last month and just fell in love. At first we were a little skeptical of the idea of Ty-Shon playing in Nebraska but we love the coaching staff, coach Murphy showed us around the school and once Ty-Shon saw the arena he just fell in love. Ty-Shon did some research about Creighton and the kind of fans they have because he plays better in front of bigger crowds."

Many prognosticators saw Ty-Shon as a player that would be playing close to home in the ACC. He was recruited heavily by Clemson, Virginia, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech but ultimately chose the Bluejays for a variety of reasons.

"I fell in love with the school when I visited," said Ty-Shon Alexander. "I love the environment, I like that Creighton is a private school, the facilities are amazing, I'm going to get a good education and I love the team. My mother says it reminds her of where she is from. "

Ty-Shon visited with his father last month and enjoyed the visit so much that he encouraged his mother and AAU coach and former UNC guard Jeff McInnis to check it out for themselves.

"I've been around the NBA for 13 years and I was surprised that the Creighton facilities have a very NBA feel to them," said McInnis. "I really liked the campus and the school has everything a kid could need. It is just on the kids to perform and put in the work. Creighton is a smaller school that plays big time basketball. Ty-Shon is a student athlete and Creighton gives him every advantage needed in both of those areas. I questioned the timing of his commitment at first but Ty-Shon just didn't feel the same way about other schools compared to how he felt about Creighton. He's a laid back kid but he was just so excited about Creighton."

Ty-Shon Alexander gets most of his high rankings from his ability to shoot the basketball and the fact that Creighton shoots a lot of 3's made Creighton attractive to him.

"Ty-Shon is known for his shooting ability and his basketball I.Q.," said Eric Alexander. "He's a very high level shooter and coach McDermott actually compared Ty-Shon's shooting ability with his son Doug's. Which is a pretty high compliment since Doug is one of the best shooters in the world. In fact when Ty-Shon was on campus he and Doug McDermott had a little shooting contest."

"Creighton is getting a steal in Ty-Shon Alexander," said McInnis. "He's really an underrated player and one of the top players in the class. He has a great basketball I.Q. and he's a very hard worker. He will do big things at Creighton and be one of their best players of all time."

Ty-Shon is very excited to play in front of a packed house at the Century Link Center and hopes to attend Creighton's home game against Seton Hall on Saturday, January 30th. Alexander is the 2nd player in as many months out of North Carolina to choose to play for the Creighton Bluejays. He joins 2016 guard Davion Mintz in what looks to be a very good back court for years to come.