Top 50 Center Mac Etienne Puts Marquette Men’s Basketball In His Final Four

DID YOU KNOW? We’re still in the fall signing period for the Class of 2021 in men’s basketball! That runs through Wednesday, and on Monday afternoon, we got a little bit of news about the Class of 2021.

No, there’s not a new commitment and new letter of intent in the McGuire Center office. Mac Etienne, a top 50 prospect in the Class of 2021, announced his final four schools, and yes, Marquette is in the group. The Golden Eagles are joined by Illinois, Miami, and UCLA.

Etienne, a 6’10”, 220 pound center who attends Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, is currently ranked #43 in the country according to the 247 Sports Composite system. Back when Marquette offered him a scholarship in June of 2019, Etienne barely registered as a recruit of national importance. By the time he made a junior year official visit for Marquette Madness a year ago, he had vaulted all the way up to #67 in the country. Etienne has just kept climbing from there, so that’s pretty good news. He’s the #7 center in the recruiting class and the #1 player in New Hampshire..... which just means that he’s the highest ranked out of the four top 125 prospects in Brewster’s senior class this year.

Jake Weingarten got a chance to talk to Etienne about his final four, and here’s what he said about the Golden Eagles:

“Marquette was the first school to come to an open gym for me and they were also my first high-major offer. In addition, I have a great relationship with Coach DK and Wojo. And with Theo [John] leaving it would be a great fit.”

In addition to that blurb, Etienne also said “I’ll probably commit within the next month,” so I feel we can just lengthen that out to say “before the end of the year” just to leave the door open a bit.

Eric Bossi at 247 Sports also talked to Etienne about his final four. Here’s the quote for Marquette:

“Marquette was the first high major school to offer me and was the first school to come to any of my open gyms for me. I have built a great relationship with (Dwayne Killings) and (Steve Wojciechowski) and I can see that Jose is loving it there and with the playing opportunity they have for me it would be a great fit. I’m also happy I was able to take an official visit there.”

The Jose that he mentioned there is, of course, Jose Perez, the Gardner Webb transfer that will be siting out the 2020-21 season. Bossi also notes that Etienne did use a junior year official visit to go to Illinois back before the pandemic eliminated that type of thing from happening.

Onwards to the scholarship chart!

As you can see, Marquette is still sitting with three scholarships projected to be open for the Class of 2021, even with Kameron Jones and Stevie Mitchell signed up already. If you remember from our discussion at the start of the fall signing period, then you’ll have realized that if Etienne were to pick Marquette, then he would instantly become the top prospect in the recruiting class for the Golden Eagles.

Etienne himself pointed out that the coaching staff is aiming him at stepping right in for Theo John next season. While John’s development at Marquette has been terrific to watch, I can’t help but wonder how switching him out for a top 50 prospect would change the dynamic of how Steve Wojciechowski’s teams operate on the floor. It’ll still be a while before we find out if Etienne is making a final decision, so now we sit and wait.