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Wichita State gets a recruiting bump after Final Four appearance

Louisville v Wichita State

Getty Images

Getty Images

Gregg Marshall has made a solid living in his time at Wichita State out of developing talent that was under-recruited or under-valued at some point in the players’ career.

Marshall made a habit of scouring the junior college ranks, getting some of the best talent out of that pipeline — Carl Hall and Cleanthony Early are proof of that.

Now, fresh off the programs’ first Final Four appearance since 1965, the Shockers are able to go into gyms and homes with the firm handshake, a strong voice and a scholarship offer that will be well-received by elite recruits, according to the Wichita Eagle.

“(WSU coaches) know what works and they’re not going to change it,” Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Eric Bossi told the Wichita Eagle. “It’s going so well there because they’ve figured out a plan and it works. It’s not like you see a lot of four- and five-star guys listing them, because they’re not going after those guys.”

Marshall and his staff started that trend before they made the Final Four, really, nabbing Scout.com Top 100 player Fred Van Vleet in the class of 2012. He was an important part of their Final Four run.

And even though Marshall has been in the JuCo game for some time now, he brought Steve Forbes onto his staff this season. Forbes spent the last two years as head coach at Northwest Florida State College, leading the Raiders to back-to-back NJCAA title game appearances and coaching elite players such as National JuCo Player of the Year Chris Jones, who is now at Louisville.

But as far as the high school ranks are concerned, Wichita State is now a serious player at prep powers such Prime Prep (forward Omar Sherman) Greater Atlanta Christian (Isaiah Wilkins) and has cashed in, getting commitments from players at South Kent (Conn.) School (Zach Brown). Marshall has also kept his JuCo roots solid, getting a pledge from Vincennes forward Darius Carter.

Marshall had it going early, but it’s clear now just how much a hot March can help a team in the Shockers’ situation.

Follow @David_Harten