By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The three retired Xavier basketball jersey numbers in Cintas Center received an upgrade Thursday.

Tyrone Hill's No. 42, Byron Larkin's No. 23 and Jo Ann Osterkamp's No. 32 were hung in a more prominent position in the arena. And in between Larkin's and Osterkamp's jerseys hangs the fourth number that will be retired before Saturday's game against Temple: David West's No. 30.

The school will make the official announcement today, but after this season, no Xavier men's player will wear No. 30 again.

West was notified of the decision Wednesday but won't discuss it until after Saturday's ceremony. His family has known for a couple weeks but didn't tell him.

"We were sworn to silence," said his father, Amos West, in Garner, N.C. West's parents and other family members will travel to Cincinnati for the Senior Day ceremony.

"I think my mom and dad are looking forward to it," West said. "They're probably more caught up in it than I am."

West will be honored along with fellow senior Ryan Caldwell before their final game in Cintas Center. The jersey number will be retired before the game, which begins at noon and will be televised on ESPN.

West is the first Xavier player to have his retired while he is still a member of the team. Larkin, Xavier's all-time leading scorer, was the first to have his number retired in 1990, two seasons after he completed his eligibility. Hill's number was retired in 1996, six years after he left school. Osterkamp finished her career in 1984 and had her number retired in 2002.

"This is very special for David," Larkin said. "It's going to be a day he will remember for the rest of his life. He has had a lot of great games, but this will be right there at the top with all of that."

Earlier this season, West became Xavier's first preseason Associated Press All-American. He is aiming to become the first postseason first-team All-American and is up for National Player of the Year honors.

He enters Saturday's final regular-season game averaging 20.5 points and 12.1 rebounds.

Last year, West was named an AP second-team All-American, the first for Xavier. Larkin made the AP's third team in 1988.

West will finish his career as the school's No. 2 all-time leading scorer behind Larkin (2,696) and at least the No. 3 all-time leading rebounder. He needs 69 rebounds to match Bob Pelkington, who is second with 1,325. Hill, currently with the Philadelphia 76ers, is Xavier's all-time leading rebounder with 1,380 career rebounds.

E-mail ddow@enquirer.com

Next up

What: Xavier vs. Temple

When: Noon Saturday

Where: Cintas Center

TV: ESPN