When Randy Holbrook fell for Xavier on his official visit in October 1999, it hurt that XU's coaches didn't offer him a scholarship.

        Twenty-one months and one XU coaching change later, Holbrook's feelings have been returned. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound center/forward from Odessa (Texas) College has a verbal commitment to XU for the 2002-03 school year.

        “The waiting really did make it more special,” Holbrook said. “Xavier was my No.1 choice from the get-go. It made me frustrated (in 1999), but my feelings about the school stayed the same.”

        Holbrook averaged 7.0 points and 4.8 rebounds as a freshman. He split time with two Division I signees in the frontcourt of a 27-7 team, while battling a back injury, but peaked with averages of 23.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in two games in the junior-college national tournament.

        PrepStars.com lists Holbrook among 13 junior-college “Players to Watch” for the upcoming season.

        “Somewhere down the line, this kid's going to make money playing the game,” Odessa assistant Matt Figger said.

        Holbrook would not have been academically eligible coming out of Kirkwood (Mo.) High. Then-assistant Jeff Battle told him XU was still interested for the future.

        After Thad Matta was hired as head coach in May, his assistants relayed their interest in Holbrook.

        XU, which also has a commitment from Angelo Smith of Indianapolis, has three more scholarships for 2002-03.

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