September 17, 2004 Jim Time with Spalding's Marquis Sullivan by James Quinn MDVarsity.com Magazine Staff Archbishop Spalding’s 6-0 senior wing guard Marquis Sullivan, the leading returning scorer for the Cavaliers, has narrowed his list of possible college destinations to four schools and will verbally commit soon and sign during the November early NCAA signing period. Spalding Head Coach Mike Glick believes that the resident of Westminster, Maryland, “…will really have a very good senior year. We will be counting on Marquis and our other returning senior starters to replace most of the scoring we lost with Rudy (Gay) graduating.” Prep All-American and University of Connecticut recruit Rudy Gay averaged 23 points a game for the Cavaliers last year. Sullivan was Spalding’s second leading scorer at 10 ppg. Spalding won the MIAA “A” Conference Tournament, was the runner-up in the Baltimore Catholic League Tournament and went 29-8 overall in 2003-2004. The Cavaliers were ranked no. 2 in the Baltimore Sun, no. 12 in the Washington Post, and no. 29 in the USA Today national rankings. Sullivan, who will be in his third year on the Cavalier roster, ended his junior season in fine fashion as he put up two outstanding scoring performances in the post-season Alhambra Tournament. “Marquis scored 28 points against DeMatha at Alhambra and 26 points in our game against St. Joe’s Prep of Pennsylvania. He had a great Tournament up at Alhambra,” said Coach Glick. Although Rudy Gay was clearly the Cavalier’s “go-to-guy” last year, MdVarsity.com saw Sullivan put on some very impressive performances last year as a junior. In the BCL Tournament at Goucher College, Sullivan scored 22 points in a win over Calvert Hall. Late in the regular season in a game that Gay missed with a minor injury, Sullivan led the Cavaliers to a tough, hard fought win over Towson Catholic. In the TC win, Sullivan and fellow guard Justin Castleberry put the Cavaliers on their backs and scored virtually all of the key Spalding baskets. Unlike most 6-0 guards, Sullivan is a wing guard– not a point guard or a “combination guard”. “Marquis is a wing guard, a shooting guard. He may only be 6-0 tall, but he doesn’t have any trouble getting his shot. He is a pretty strong 180 pound guard and a good athlete. He can shoot the fade-away shooter or jump over defenders to get his shot. He can find the open spots in a defense and get his shots,” said Coach Glick. “Marquis isn’t just a shooter, he is a ‘scorer’. In fact, he might be the best pure scorer among the guards I’ve ever coached. I’m not talking 6’9” guys like Rudy (gay), I mean backcourt players. Marquis might be the best pure scoring guard I’ve ever had. I think Marquis could be a 15 point a game scorer in college.” As much as Coach Glick praises Sullivan as a player, he is equally effusive of Marquis as a person. “Marquis is a great kid. He comes from a great family. He is a good student, he is a full (academic) qualifier. When Marquis was in the eighth grade, he was the top eighth grader in the Baltimore area. Marquis and his parents picked Spalding for our academics. Marquis’ parents and grandparents made a real commitment when they picked Spalding because it is about an hour from his home in Carroll County to Spalding and they had to drive him each way. Marquis played on our junior varsity as a freshman and he scored 24 points a game and led us to the BCL JV regular season and tournament championships. He didn’t play a lot on the varsity as a sophomore, but really had a great junior year. I think he’ll have a very good senior year. With Marquis, Lawrence (Dixon, a 6’5” forward), and Justin (Castleberry, a 6’2” guard), we have three D-I college players in our senior class.” Sullivan’s four possible college destinations are Niagara, Loyola, Robert Morris and Stetson. SPALDING NOTES: - Sullivan’s grandfather is former Baltimore Colt star Roy Hilton. Hilton was an outstanding lineman for the Colts in their glory days of the 1960’s and 1970’s. We have met Mr. Hilton at a couple of Spalding practices and he is an interesting gentleman to talk to. - Spalding guard Justin Castleberry has already verbally committed to Bucknell. Forward Lawrence Dixon is getting recruited by a number of D-I colleges- including Holy Cross, where former Spalding assistant Coach Andy Sachs is now an assistant coach for Head Coach Ralph Williard. Dixon, Castleberry, and Sullivan are all strong students.