By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Apparently the loyalty behind the "X" tattooed onto David West's bicep goes beyond his playing days at Xavier.

The All-American and national player of the year was key in Xavier's recruitment of Stanley Burrell, an Indianapolis Ben Davis senior guard who will join the Musketeers in 2004, after he spends a year at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va.

That is the same prep school West attended before he arrived at Xavier, which is why XU coaches asked him to talk to Burrell during his campus visit this week. West entered Hargrave unready for major-college basketball but came out with the ability to contribute immediately his freshman season at Xavier.

The talk with West helped Burrell make up his mind, and he committed to Xavier with the understanding that he would go to Hargrave next season.

"I just told him about my experience there," said West, who did not particularly enjoy the rigors of military school but realizes he is a better player because of it. "I was honest with him. I can only speak for myself, and it helped me grow as a person."

Burrell chose Xavier over Indiana State, Cleveland State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Other schools had fallen off the recruiting trail because it seemed Burrell might not be academically eligible for Division I basketball next season, Ben Davis coach Scott White said. But White said it now appears Burrell will achieve a high enough grade-point average to qualify.

Burrell, 6 feet 2, 185 pounds, may play shooting or point guard at Xavier. He led Ben Davis to a 15-9 record this season, averaging 21.8 points and three assists a game.

Burrell joins Darryl Garrett of Detroit Denby as Xavier's incoming recruits for 2004.