What Shocker basketball fans can expect this week during the early signing period

The foundation of the 2019 recruiting class for the Wichita State men’s basketball team should be finalized this week, as Wednesday kicks off a week-long window in which prospective student-athletes can sign their national letter of intent.

WSU enters the week with verbal commitments from three players: 6-foot-8 forward DeAntoni Gordon, a three-star prospect from Mobile, Ala.; 6-foot point guard Noah Fernandes, a three-star prospect from Mattapoisett, Mass.; and 6-1 combo guard Tyson Etienne, a four-star prospect from Englewood, N.J.

All three are expected to sign their national letter of intent this week and hold public ceremonies announcing their commitment to the Shockers. Fernandes has his scheduled on Saturday, while Gordon and Etienne have yet to publicize details of their ceremonies.

Coaches are not allowed to comment on recruits until they sign their letter of intent. But when they do, expect WSU coach Gregg Marshall to have plenty of glowing things to say about this recruiting class that is a strong follow-up to his massive 2018 recruiting effort.

Here are some things to know about the future Shockers:

DeAntoni Gordon

Gordon was recruited as a power forward, but has added versatility and range to his game and can now be imagined playing the small forward position as well. He will play his high school senior season at LeFlore, where he led the team to a 28-7 record and the regional semifinals. Gordon was the team’s best player, averaging 15.4 points on 58-percent shooting, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.8 blocks.

He was recruited to WSU by assistant Isaac Brown. Gordon is rated universally as a three-star prospect; Rivals rates him the 38th-best power forward in his class; ESPN assigns him a 79 scout grade; and 247 Sports has him the No. 223 overall prospect. He verbally committed to WSU before his junior season and chose the Shockers over offers from UAB, Cal-State Northridge and New Mexico State.

“He’s great in transition,” his AAU coach, Kirven Lang, told The Eagle. “He’s got a good mid-range game. He gets the rebound and he’s going to start the break.”

Noah Fernandes

Fernandes was recruited to be WSU’s future starting point guard. Recruiting analysts raved about his competitiveness. “He’s going to impact Wichita State from Day 1 in some way, shape or form,” Corey Evans of Rivals told The Eagle. He bounced around the prep circuit in Massachussetts, averaging more than 20 points per game at Tabor Academy last season, but will play his postgraduate year at Woodstock (Conn.) Academy.

He was also recruited to WSU by assistant Isaac Brown. Fernandes is rated universally as a three-star prospect; Rivals calls him the 25th-best point guard in his class; ESPN assigns him a 77 scout grade; and 247 Sports rates him as the No. 168 overall prospect. He picked WSU over offers from Temple, East Carolina, Rhode Island, Massachussetts, Saint Louis and DePaul.

“(Coach Marshall) likes my toughness and my leadership and what I bring to the table,” Fernandes told The Eagle. “I think I have some intangibles that some other kids don’t really have. Coach Marshall has done a really good job recruiting point guards, so it was an honor for him to see that in me.”

Tyson Etienne

WSU made a late push for Etienne and came away with a recruiting victory over some big programs, as Marshall pulled the second-highest rated recruit in his time at WSU and just his fourth four-star. Etienne figures to be a playmaker for WSU at either guard position with the ability to create shots for himself or for others. Recruiting analysts also rave about Etienne’s competitive spirit and his natural ability to score.

The Shockers were able to land him thanks to new assistant Tyson Waterman. Etienne, who will play his prep year at Putnam (Conn.) Academy, is rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals and the No. 123 overall; 247 Sports rates him as a three-star and No. 169 overall; and ESPN has yet to evaluate him. Etienne picked the Shockers over offers from Oklahoma, VCU, Seton Hall, Auburn, Minnesota and St. John’s.

“You look at Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker and Landry Shamet and Cleanthony Early and all of those guys weren’t recruited super high and I feel like I’m not recruited super high,” Etienne told The Eagle. “Those guys came in underrated and had that chip on their shoulder with something to prove and I can definitely see how those players thrive under Coach Marshall. It’s a good thing knowing those guys came in and made their dreams into a reality.”