Robert Hite represents a possible fit for Xavier's final basketball scholarship. What he also would rate to XU fans is a moral victory.

        Among early rankings, the Winton Woods guard is the top player in Greater Cincinnati — rated as high as 50th by CNNSI.com. XU hasn't landed the top-rated local recruit since the 1980s; it's believed Byron Larkin (Moeller, 1984) was the last such signee.

        Since Bob Huggins took over at Cincinnati, the top player has often gone to Clifton: John Jacobs, Keith Gregor, Bobby Brannen, Ryan Fletcher, Eugene Land and (indirectly) Damon Flint. Others have signed elsewhere.

        Winton Woods coach Dave Lumpkin said XU has made a big push for his 6-foot-2 shooting guard, who averaged 18.5 points last year.

        “They've never wavered in their stance; they want Robert,” he said.

        Lumpkin said Hite is no longer considering UC and is down to five finalists: XU, Dayton, Georgetown, Tennessee and Miami (Fla.). He plans to visit all five this month and make a fall decision.

        Hoop Scoop publisher Clark Francis already rates XU's four-man recruiting class among the nation's top 15. “And if they get Robert Hite, that would put them in the top 10,” Francis said.

        XU is still eyeing other possibilities for that scholarship, including Hite's teammate, 6-6 swingman DeForrest Riley (14 ppg). Lump kin said Riley will visit Penn State and also is considering XU, Miami (Ohio), Stanford, Yale and Tulane.

        WEST HONORED: ESPN analyst Dick Vitale has named his preseason All-Americans, and XU junior center David West is on the second team. That follows the announcement by Playboy that West was on its 10-member All-American team.

        “I think he's putting himself in position, with the season and the numbers he's produced, for people to take notice of him,” XU coach Thad Matta said.

        XU has had just one player named Associated Press All-American: Larkin, a third-teamer in 1988.

        FREY REHABS: Senior forward Kevin Frey is slowly rehabilitating from surgery performed July 16 on his left ankle. He was bothered by bone spurs each of the last two seasons.

        He has begun swimming exercises and does rehab work daily with team trainers. Matta said he is hopeful Frey will begin individual instruction drills in about a week.

        PRICE TO FDU: Lloyd Price, who left Xavier after last season, has enrolled at Fairleigh Dickinson in Teaneck, N.J. This is a change from earlier this summer, when Price told Delaware State coaches he would be transferring there.

        Under the Division I transfer rule, Price will sit out this season and have one year remaining.

Xavier Stories

Hite could give XU a top 10 class Two leave XU women's team

UC's biggest game ever?
Bowden: Boone is 'our manager'
Griffey + Dunn = 100 homers?
Process of elimination nearly over
Pirates 7, Reds 0
Fan's-eye view of the Reds
Pickering (6-5, 290) makes big impression
Pirates pitcher ends long wait
Reds box, runs
Mack, Pope among Bengals cuts
NFL won't give in to locked-out refs
SULLIVAN: Miami freshman enters school of hard knocks
Michigan 31, Miami 13
Louisville 36, Kentucky 10
Muskingum 22, Mount St. Joe's 0
Thomas More 24, Anderson 21
Crowded leaderboard at Kroger Senior Classic
Kroger Senior Classic scores
Kroger Senior Classic tee times
DAUGHERTY: Walk a mile in Almonte's shoes
Auto racing insider
Baseball Insider
Best and worst of week in sports
Channel 19 provides more coverage
Five Questions with Ray Edwards, Cyclones coach
High School Insider
Cincinnati soccer highlights
Cincinnati high school results
N.Ky. high school results
Ohio-bred wins Bassinet Stakes
Amelia 27, Meadowdale 6
Beechwood 30, Lloyd 12
CovCath 34, Dixie 21
Elder 26, Cleveland Glenville 6
Holmes 45, Holy Cross 15
Newport 18, Dayton 13
Warren Harding 55, Moeller 0
Prep Football Insider
Cincinnati football schedule
Northern Kentucky football schedule

• Return to Xavier front page...