Buffalo Grove's Craft chooses Xavier
Buffalo Grove's Kam Craft has been the epitome of "one for all, all for one" with his style of play on and off the basketball court. So, it was no wonder that he chose to become a Musketeer.
Craft, the Northwest suburbs' top-rated high school basketball prospect, announced late last week that his is committing to play at Xavier University.
Craft had 12 Division-I offers including Iowa, Marquette, Loyola, DePaul, UIC, Iowa, Maryland and North Carolina State. The four-star recruit also drew interest from Illinois, Virginia, Purdue and Wisconsin. After official visits to Iowa, Marquette and Xavier, Craft knew that being a Musketeer was tailored best for him.
"It was the best fit for me," said Craft, a 6-foot-6 senior. "I was never on a timeline." I went on three official visits and saw everything I wanted to see. I went to Xavier from June 4 through the 6th with my dad. I really liked Cincinnati. My dad though it was good fit for me too."
Craft is ranked 95th in the country in ESPN's top 100 recruits of the class of 2022. He is ranked second in the state of Illinois in that class behind Whitney Young's A.J Casey.
Playing at Xavier, Craft will find a style of play that should suit him perfectly.
"When I was down there, their style of play my game fit very well," Craft said. "I really liked coach (Travis) Steele. He lets his guys play loose and I like that. He doesn't micromanage and it is definitely a guard-based conference."
Buffalo Grove coach Keith Peterson also thinks that Xavier is the right place for his top player.
"He has been excited about Xavier for two years," Peterson said. "They definitely did their research on him. They had a plan that I thought was perfect for Kam and his abilities. He wanted to go away, but not too far. I think it is great."
Peterson said that playing at Xavier and in the Big East will have a lot to offer for Craft.
"The success that Xavier has had, and their culture really fits him," Peterson said. "Guys like Kam understand the importance of the team, and Kam has definitely showed that the last three years. Plus, he will get to play in all those great venues. Like Madison Square Garden, Chicago and Omaha."
With the hair, the long, lean look and the socks, Craft is the Pete Maravich of the Mid-Suburban League. He plays an up-and-down game, gliding like a gazelle as he dribbles. He has the eyes of a hawk as he can find the open man and make a quick pass. And his shooting, especially from outside the arc, is uncanny.
"I have heard that from multiple coaches," Craft said. "I never saw (Maravich) play, but I have heard that from many people as well."
This should be a huge high school season for Craft.
He averaged 27.1 points during the shortened season last year, along with nearly 4 assists and 7.5 rebounds. He enters this season with 1,694 points and should pass Brian Allsmiller's 2,073 points to become the leading scorer in BG history.
Craft could also pass Rolling Meadows' Max Christie to become the all-time leading scorer in MSL history. Christie set that mark last season, with 2,100 points.
But neither of those accolades matter to Craft.
"I'm really focused on my senior year and playing with my friends," Craft said. "I want to win a conference title and win a regional. The rest will take care of itself."