Todd Galloway, a speedy point guard from Baltimore, is dribbling against unseen opponents. If he wants to play for Xavier, the school he currently favors, he may have to choose it sight-unseen to beat other point guards to the punch.

        Such is the nature of recruiting today, when players commit earlier and earlier, and the pressure is on college coaches not to be stuck holding open scholarships for long.

        XU has three scholarships left and is actively recruiting four potential point guards. The drama surrounding Galloway, who mightwait until he can take an official visit (paid for by the school) in September, is being repeated with kids and colleges all over the country.

        “In Xavier's case, along with every other school, they want to get it done yesterday,” said Larry Cullinane, Galloway's coach at Middleburg (Va.) Notre Dame.

        “Everyone wants kids to take an unofficial visit, but in Todd's case, I know he can't afford it.”

        The 5-foot-11 Galloway, who averaged 16.7 points and 6.0 assists, is rated 47th by ESPN.com. His prime competition may be Newburgh (Ind.) Castle's Dedrick Finn, a 6-footer who averaged 20.5 points and 6.0 assists and is rated 96th by ESPN.com.

        XU is the only school Finn has visited, and Finn could pick his college any time in the next six weeks.

        “Michigan State is also up there, and I'd like to visit them, but I might not be able to before school starts,” Finn said.

        Finn said XU has offered a scholarship. Cullinane said he thinks Galloway is XU's top point guard target but he doesn't know if a formal offer has been made.

        XU also is in the mix for 6-2 Shawan Robinson of Raleigh (N.C.) Leesville Road, rated No. 100 by PrepStars.com. And heavily sought-after Robert Hite, the 6-2 guard from Winton Woods (48th by ESPN, 50th by PrepStars) who's considering XU, Cincinnati, Ohio State and others, could play either guard spot in college.

        XU might take only one or two of those four.

        “I hate to see kids make mistakes, or pick a school they haven't seen,” Cullinane said.

        “But there's a lot of pressure involved when you don't know how long a school is willing to wait for you.”

        FREY SURGERY: XU senior forward Kevin Frey underwent minor surgery on his left ankle Monday in Cincinnati. He was bothered by bone spurs each of the past two seasons.

        Frey is not expected to miss any of preseason conditioning.

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