By Dustin Dow
Enquirer staff writer
Dayton Chaminade-Julienne's Derrick Brown orally committed to Xavier Sunday after visiting the school over the weekend.
The 6-foot-7 senior is Xavier's second oral commitment in the class of 2005 and is the first player to orally commit to first-year head coach Sean Miller. Brown chose Xavier ahead of Wake Forest, Dayton and North Carolina State.
Brown is expected to announce his decision this week.
Toledo St. John's senior B.J. Raymond orally committed to Xavier and reaffirmed his commitment when Miller was hired to replace Thad Matta in July.
Brown had strongly considered the Musketeers before Matta took over at Ohio State. When Matta left Xavier, Brown said he was uncertain of his interest in XU, but within three weeks Miller and Xavier were back at the top of Brown's list.
"Even though he got wooed by other schools, the conversation always came back to XU," said Brown's AAU coach Mike Price. "But if you consider what Xavier has done lately, I think they fit in with those programs."
Brown played summer basketball for Cincinnati AAU and averaged 15.5 points as a junior for Chaminade-Julienne. "He's going to bring a lot of what Justin Doellman and Justin Cage brought in their first year," Price said. "He's got great potential and very athletic with the ability to play the three or the four."
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E-mail ddow@enquirer.com
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