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Marquette gets commit from ’17 forward

Steve Wojciechowski

Steve Wojciechowski

AP

Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski is building an impressive frontcourt in his 2017 class.

The Golden Eagles secured a pledge from three-star Minnesota big man Theo John, he announced Tuesday night.

John selected Marquette over offers from Cal, Purdue and Illinois, among others. Perhaps the biggest threat to Marquette were the in-state Gophers, who pushed hard for John but weren’t able to secure his commitment. Minnesota offered six in-state players in the 2017 class, but did not get a commitment from any of them.

“The Gophers are a great organization,” John told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "(Coach Richard) Pitino is really turning the program around. I have a lot of respect for what he and his staff are doing. They’re going to be successful in the next few years. I just felt like Marquette was the better decision for me both academically and basketball-wise.”

In John, the Golden Eagles are getting a player that has made his mark on the defensive end.

“Theo John is a solid addition for Marquette,” NBCSports.com recruiting analyst Scott Phillips said, “and gives them a big man who has some upside. John is a solid positional defender and he’s been better with his post moves over the last year.”

The 6-foot-9 forward joins Ike Eke, a three-star forward from Detroit, as the first two members of Wojciechowski’s 2017 class, which will help ease the loss of senior big man Luke Fisher, who enters his final season with Marquette after starting every game as a junior.