GROTON, Mass. — Alex Egbuonu teased his long-anticipated moment. Five hats were laid out on a table in front of him – each one a finalist for his college destination – and he kept the crowd of his classmates and faculty at Lawrence Academy guessing.
He picked up the Villanova hat. Not that one. Then the Auburn hat. Not them. Then he grabbed the Boston College and nearly put it on before putting it back down.
Then the moment finally followed, for the school that always seemed like destiny. He unzipped his jacket to reveal a shirt with the Marquette logo, and put on the hat that was sitting front and center to confirm his commitment to head coach Shaka Smart and the Golden Eagles. Surrounded by his family, he received a standing ovation before making a big embrace with Lawrence Academy head coach Mike Foustoukos. Then a fun scene ensued with his Spartans teammates to the side of the gym, where they swallowed him inside a celebratory mosh pit.
It almost seemed inevitable that the 6-foot-6 Egbuonu – universally recognized as a Top 100 recruit, including No. 51 by ESPN – would choose Marquette and a coaching staff he had a deep relationship with. Smart connected with Egbuonu on the first day of the contact period following his sophomore year, and he’s maintained a consistent relationship since. Smart has been a frequent visitor to New England over the last few years, often attending Egbuonu’s games at Lawrence Academy and BABC, his AAU program.
