MILWAUKEE -- There were no surprises for Marquette University on signing day, as all five recruits who had verbally committed to the Golden Eagles officially signed their letters of intent to play for coach Buzz Williams.
Local products Deonte Burton and Duane Wilson join JaJuan Johnson and John Dawson as signees from the high school ranks, while Jameel McKay comes to Marquette from junior college.
Scout.com ranks Marquette's signing class as the seventh-best in the country and the best of the current teams in the Big East Conference. Incoming conference member Memphis has the fourth r-anked class.
Burton, a 6-foot-4 forward from Milwaukee Vincent High School, is ranked by Scout.com as the 55th best player in the nation and the 13th best at the small forward position. He was the first commit for Williams' 2013 class, giving his verbal all the way back in September 2011.
"Deonte was the first in this class to commit and I have a distinct memory of his family and coach in my office when it happened," Williams said in a statement. "The love and support for Deonte by his parents and coach was as transparent as I had ever seen in that type of setting. His loyalty has been shown every day since then and I am humbled by that."
Wilson, from Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay, Wis., is a 6-foot-2 point guard who Scout ranks 71st overall and the 14th best point guard in the class of 2013. He committed to Marquette last March.
"We are extremely excited and thankful with Duane's signing," Williams said. "I will always remember his commitment coincided with Dominican winning the state championship, along with our team's run in the NCAA tournament, and believing that it was an omen of things to come. I genuinely admire who Duane is, and how his parents have raised him. He has played all over the country and has been able to participate in some of the elite events, which is an experience that is difficult to replicate."
Coming to Marquette from Memphis, Johnson is the highest-ranked prospect in the class. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard is Scout's 34th best player and eighth-ranked shooting guard.
"JaJuan is quiet by nature, but very intelligent," Williams said. "He comes from a basketball family and has been coached at a high level year-round throughout his career. He is able to absorb and execute coaching in an efficient manner. We welcome him with open arms and are excited about the player and teammate he will be."
A standout at Indian Hills-Ottumwa Community College in Iowa, McKeey is a graduate of Milwaukee Pulaski High School. The 6-foot-8 power forward is a four-star recruit. Scout national recruiting analyst Brian Snow ranks McKeey as the best rebounder of all Big East commits.
"Above all his personal goals though, Jameel wants to win more than anything else," Williams said. "We have had unprecedented success with transfers, and one of the core reasons, is they have a thankful heart for the opportunity, but an unyielding desire to have team success. Jameel fits into that category perfectly."
The only non-four-star recruit in the class, Dawson will come to Marquette from Colvis, N.M. A 6-foot-2 combo guard, Dawson is good off the dribble and a consistent outside shooter but was unranked by Scout.
"Throughout our tenure here, we have been fortunate in finding guys off the beaten path who as their careers progressed, became integral parts of our program," Williams said. "I believe John is the next in that group. Our relationship with him is the newest in the class, but because of who John is as a person, it all evolved very quickly."
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