(2022) - CG Zion Cruz to DePaul

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Andrew Slater reporting we've offered 5-star combo guard Zion Cruz who will attend Oak Hill Academy after transferring from Hudson Catholic (NJ).  Rated #20 overall by 247 and the #5 SG.

247

Rivals

MaxPreps

Hudl

USAB Summary

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-basketball-recruiting-hoosiers-offers-class-of-2022-5-star-guard-zion-cruz/?fbclid=IwAR1efB5MhneTeZ-LZ5jtD0seKrB6qXrr9fBvg6Kw-jrS-pDPqLCRb4v76Po

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

https://indiana.rivals.com/news/2022-introduction-zion-cruz

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Not terribly informative but for your reading pleasure anyway.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/q-a-with-top-25-rising-junior-zion-cruz

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Brad Underwear and Illnoise offered.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

In July, Cruz transferred from Hudson Catholic in NJ to Oak Hill Academy.  Today he announced he's leaving Oak Hill to play for The Patrick School (NJ).

Am I the only one bothered by these kinds of transfers?  Barely had time to find his way to the gym at Oak Hill.

[WayneFleekHoosier 51,579]

5 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

In July, Cruz transferred from Hudson Catholic in NJ to Oak Hill Academy.  Today he announced he's leaving Oak Hill to play for The Patrick School (NJ).

Am I the only one bothered by these kinds of transfers?  Barely had time to find his way to the gym at Oak Hill.

Can I blame our society and instant gratification culture?  Or not?  
 

Have had these types of discussions on this board over the years.  It’s a 50/50 split of instant gratification culture vs player’s rights and future and taking control of their surroundings.  

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

New Jersey high school season getting underway this week.  Cruz had 23 pts. (10-18 FG); 6 reb; 2 stls in an exhibition game earlier today.   First official game is Friday.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Season opener Patrick School 55-49 over Upper Room Christian.  Cruz 14 pts.; 2 reb; 2 asst.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Patrick School over Mater Dei 69 - 42.  Cruz 16 pts; 4 reb; 2 asst; 1 stl.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Past weekend games.

Zion Cruz, a 6-3 junior, completed a double double with a game-high 27 points and 10 assists to lead the Patrick School to an 85-53 victory at home over Olympus Prep.

Cruz with 9 pts in a 66-57 Patrick School (4-0) win over Don Bosco Prep.

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Patrick School (4-1) lost to Bergen Catholic (5-4) 60-53.  Cruz the leading scorer for Patrick with 14 pts. but it wasn't an overly impressive performance.  Through 3 quarters he had just 2 points and had only taken 6 shots not what you might expect from the #1 ranked '22 player in the State of New Jersey.  Even though he scored 12 in the 4th Q several buckets were simply a result of being in the right place for long rebounds.  It was not a case of a player taking over a game.  Overall, he was 6-13 FG; 2-5 on 3s; no foul shots; 4 reb; no assists; 1 stl; 2 blks; 3 TO.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

The Patrick School (5-1) defeated Gill St. Bernard(2-2) 78-67.  Cruz a season high 30 points on 11-17 FG; 5-9 on 3s and 3 reb.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Jerry Meyer on Zion Cruz  --  no mention of us.

Zion Cruz, the No. 19 ranked prospect in the 2022 247Sports Composite, is certainly talented. He has a smooth athleticism at 6-5 that gets him to the rim. In addition he has a crossover move with a quick, gliding left to right dribble that is a go to move when needing or looking to get a shot. And he will keep the defense honest with his shooting behind the arc. His ball handling and passing are solid but don’t yet have a difference making element to them. On the defensive end he has the size to hold his own on the boards and guard multiple positions.

So Cruz is a talented player with versatility and also the potential to fill out physically. But right now he does not have a strong physical presence on the floor and doesn’t play with the edge to drastically effect winning and losing. His physical strength and overall aura of his game is where he has the opportunity to progress.

Georgetown, Florida State, Kansas, Oregon, Seton Hall and Syracuse are some of the schools that are involved with Cruz.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Eric Bossi on Cruz participating in the New York City Invitational:  Zion Cruz who ranks among the top 25 players nationally in 2022 needed some time to settle in and didn't dominate the game.  But, he showed some flashes.  In particular, Cruz has good size at 6-foot-4 and when he takes one or two hard dribbles to a spot and explodes off the floor, he's got as good looking a pull-up jumper as there is in the junior class.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Zion Cruz showed a lot of character leading PSA Cardinals to a comeback win over BABC.  Struggled badly for the first 3 1/2 quarters, getting nothing to fall, but kept with it and scored the final 14 points on some tough iso drives and jumpers to finish the game.  Scored 27 of his 28 pts. in the second half  --  17 in the 4th Q.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Eric Bossi after the conclusion of the Pangos camp.

One of the players that I wanted to focus in on was top 20 ranked Zion Cruz. Fresh off of a visit to Auburn that he raved about; the product of New Jersey was among a group of players that I hadn’t yet seen play all that great during the spring. However, recent reports had been that Cruz was really turning things up and I wanted to see how he handled Pangos.

After three days, it was a great showing for Cruz. I thought he bounced back well with effort and his ability to score in bunches. He made enough deep jumpers to keep defenders honest. He was an athletic and creative finisher at the rim and I felt that he played with great energy and did a good job of being vocal. Even in drill sessions, Cruz was locked in. He could have maybe been a little more unselfish with the ball, but given the setting of an All-Star camp, sometimes there’s a little bit of an if you give the ball up you won’t get it back mindset, so I’m not too terribly concerned there.

Bottom line, Cruz performed like a top 20 ranked guy. Oregon is up next for an official visit.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

We stopped recruiting Cruz possibly even before Woody was hired but nonetheless, today he announced he's re-opening his recruitment.   Auburn, UNC, & Creighton were his final three schools.  This is purely a FWIW because with Hood-Schifino's commitment I wouldn't expect us to make another run at him.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 91,461]

Offered during the reign of  Archie.  Committed to DePaul  today.