Zeke Marshall

[GoZips]

We love Zeke. He certainly has the skill set the Zips sorely need in the post.Zeke is Akron's ticket to becoming a true elite mid-major like Gonzaga and Drake and Butler.Zeke would be surrounded by exceptional players such as incoming Anthony Hitchens of state champion Chillicothe.The McKnight brothers, any number of talented under class men, and a lot more all point to a grand Akron future.One thing only do we need Zeke to do. Get Mrs. Beth McKnight's lasagna recipe eat repeatedly. Standing next to Nik Cvetinovic , an incoming freshman you met, revealed that Zeke is lasagna deficient.

[RootforRoo44]

One thing only do we need Zeke to do. Get Mrs. Beth McKnight's lasagna recipe and eat repeatedly. Standing next to Nik Cvetinovic , an incoming freshman you met, revealed that Zeke is lasagna deficient.

haha....i can tell you that this UA student LOVES the thought of a player like ZEKE playing at the UofA.I think Akron could be set ablaze with "ZEKE MANIA"

[UAZipster0305]

As a current graduate student at Pitt and a former undergraduate and graduate student at UA, I can objectively say my experiences at UA were far superior. UA's campus and facilities are much nicer and I found the faculty to be better teachers who are more concerned with the students. Pitt's only advantage is that it performs more research (which shouldn't matter to an undergraduate varsity athlete).

[zipsbandman]

This is coming from a student at the University. I love this school! He would get a solid education here. It is an exciting time to be here. A new football stadium is being constructed. New classroom buildings and dorms are going up, and the campus continues to expand. Our president is a big supporter of the athletic program and will do what it takes to make us a force.This is a young zips team that is stocking up on talent. We are ready to break through, and someone like Zeke could just be what the zips need. In a conference like the MAC, someone as gifted as Zeke can dominate. EVERYBODY is talking about him. He would be an immediate fan favorite here. Two things we as fans expect from a student athlete:A. get a degree and a quality educationB. BEAT K.E.N.T

[Zip Watcher]

I'm thrilled that a player of the caliber and character such as Zeke is considering the Zips for the next step of his education and basketball experience. I think it's a credit to Keith and his staff that the program has the support and stability to attract such top shelf individuals as Zeke.I'm certainly not a player or insider, but I have been a fan a long time and have attended the men's basketball functions for several years. My wife and I traveled to Alaska for the TOW tournament this past November.One of the things that keeps my interest in the program at an all time high is the clear commitment that Keith & staff have to the academic aspect of things. At the summer golf outing benefit for example, the academic accomplishments of his teams is usually one of the first topics he brings up, and I believe one of the things he is most proud of. As are the fans. It's important to most of us that Keith recognizes that it's the UNIVERSITY of Akron .. not just some semi-pro hoops team in Akron. That's a big deal.Finally, as someone who did not attend UA, but employs several people who did / do .. I'll say that the preparedness and practicality of the UA graduate is really good. I believe it to be one of the best kept secrets in the midwest .. focused mostly on the undergraduate student. Go Zips

[Z.I.P.]

I really believe that a great '5' player like Zeke could transform Akron into what we've been talking about perhaps since Keith took the reigns, which is what we call "The Gonzaga of the East". Since Zeke is being recruited by both Akron and Pittsburgh, I am in a semi-unique position of having met and gotten to know both my former Akron classmate Keith Dambrot, and former University of Hawaii assistant coach Jamie Dixon -- and I honestly believe these are two of the finest and genuinely nicest people I've had the pleasure of meeting in college athletics. Zeke is in good hands with either Jamie or Keith. HOWEVER, I would sure love to someday come home to see the Zeke Marshall jersey hanging from the rafters inside the University of Akron's huge downtown arena, above the Keith Dambrot Court.

[Blue & Gold]

Let me just say that what impresses me most about the Zips fans that Zeke would be playing in front of, and what I am most proud about when I tell people that I am a Zips fan, is that we honestly care about our players as individual human beings. By far our biggest concern is the personal development of our young men. Of course we love to win and we love it when one of our players has a great game - that's just a whole lot more fun than losing. But win or lose, we cheer, pull & root for the fellas 'cause we care about them and love them as young people - young people who are going to have bad games right along with good games; young people who are going to make bad decisions right along with good decisions. Also, the team chemistry that the Zips' squad has is really something special. I attribute that to coach KD's personality and recruiting philosophy and the type of person (not player) that he recruits. These young men on the Zips' basketball team are elite athletes to be sure (All-Ohio and All-Pennsylvania caliber players), but more importantly - much more importantly - they are the nicest, friendliest, and sincerely humble group of guys you'd ever hope for your son to be associated with. I don't know Zeke, but apparently KD feels that his personality would blend naturally with the other people he's brought in to be a part of this rising program - so that speaks volumes of Zeke's character. So, as apparently Zeke is a high-quality young man - not just a tall young man - I sincerely wish him the absolute best in his future, where ever that may be!GO ZIPS!

[GoZips88]

Well said, Blue & Gold.I saw Zeke, and family members with Coach Boals in the lobby of the JAR before the Can't State/Akron game a couple of weeks ago and couldn't help but wonder what they thought of the coaching staff and The University of Akron in general. It's an exciting time on the campus of UA right now. I attended UA in the 80s and I'm AMAZED at the transformation that has taken place under the leadership of Dr. Proenza and others. The campus is alive and growing by the day. As others have mentioned, a new football stadium is under construction as are new classroom facilities. New student housing is replacing and adding to older housing. New student union, new rec center, new field house, roads have been closed and green space added to help tie everything together as a campus - Dr. Proenza's vision and execution of his plan have been outstanding. My degree from Akron has served me well and both of our kids (9 & 13) are excited about attending someday (you can see by looking at the the avatar on this post that they love Zippy too!). Quality facilities, quality courses of study, and high-character leadership - yes, I'm proud of what I see going on at The University of Akron!Go ZIPS!

[Quickzips]

I think I speak for the rest of Zipsnation when I say we'd LOVE to see Zeke in Akron blue and gold. This program is really building momentum over the last couple years and Zeke could be one of those pieces that could push us over the top into some serious NCAA tourney runs. Speaking as a student who came here 5 years ago as an undergrad and just this year started on graduate work, I have to say you won't find a program and a school quite like Akron anywhere else. If you're paying attention when you step foot on campus you can really feel the school growing and the athletic programs are a big part of that. For me when I came to tour here as a high schooler that was the first thing that stood out. That by coming here you really are a part of something as opposed to just being plugged into a University that is already there and has no real vision for the future. I know I wouldn't be the only one to welcome Zeke into the Akron family with open arms. We're all looking forward to it.

[skip-zip]

Speaking of how we can help attract Zeke to Akron...Wouldn't it be cool if a bunch of us would go to one of his AAU games, all dressed in Akron gear, and starting chanting "We Want Zeke"!!!I'm sure he'd love it.

[Valpo Zip]

Speaking of how we can help attract Zeke to Akron...Wouldn't it be cool if a bunch of us would go to one of his AAU games, all dressed in Akron gear, and starting chanting "We Want Zeke"!!!I'm sure he'd love it.

I was thinking about that, using coach Rowdies to help coach James making Zeke a zip. However, i am rethinking it since Mrs Zeke's mom said that he doesn't like too much attention.On a side note, if my name was Zeke, i would love to become a zip. "Zeke the Zip" it is like as if it was meant to be. It definitely sounds so much better than Zeke the pirate or Zeke the hoakie, ewww that last one is ugly.

[UAZipster0305]

Speaking of how we can help attract Zeke to Akron...Wouldn't it be cool if a bunch of us would go to one of his AAU games, all dressed in Akron gear, and starting chanting "We Want Zeke"!!!I'm sure he'd love it.

I was thinking about that, using coach Rowdies to help coach James making Zeke a zip. However, i am rethinking it since Mrs Zeke's mom said that he doesn't like too much attention.On a side note, if my name was Zeke, i would love to become a zip. "Zeke the Zip" it is like as if it was meant to be. It definitely sounds so much better than Zeke the pirate or Zeke the hoakie, ewww that last one is ugly.

...or Zeke the Panther!

[johnnyzip84]

I'm glad to see Mrs. Marshall check in! Logistically, UA is a great fit for a Pittsburgh-area college student. Far enough away...but still close to home.

When I was an undergrad at UA from 1979-1984, I was probably one of MAYBE a dozen full-time, on-campus students who were from Western Pa (Mom still lives in Crafton, I'm a graduate of Canevin HS). Since then, numerous sports programs have successfully recruited the Western Pa area quite well, so that now there seems to be a much larger contingent in general on campus. I also have to throw in how the campus is INFINITELY more student-friendly and attractive at this point in time. I'm selling it to my 12 year old nephew in Bethel Park every chance I get!Best of luck throughout the recruiting process, and I would love to see another fellow Pennsylvanian on the Zip front line for years to come.

[GoZips88]

I received my computer science degree from Akron back in 1988. As I said in a previous post, that degree has served me well in my IT career here in the Akron area. I've been fortunate to work for two very good companies (J.M. Smucker company-6yrs; and FedEx-14 and counting) over the last 20 years and wouldn't trade the time I spent working on projects in the computer labs on campus for anything. Hope the staff is able to land Zeke.

[MDZip]

I'll defiitely give a plug for the CS program as well. It was a few years ago for me too, but I also got my Masters degree shortly after from a very high profile East Coast School (I did like the school so I won't denigrate them by saying the name) but Akrons program blew them away by far. I learned a ton more at Akron than I ever got out of the Masters program. I give them high marks.

[AwesomeDude]

As one of the leaders of the Rowdies when i saw Zeke walk through the door at the Can't game, i was like "We have a chance to see him in a Zips Uniform??!!!!" I punched my buddy in the arm and said that honestly. Not to mention Akron would have our own "BIG Z" Wow just knowing that we have a chance is making my throat tingle from all the future possible loud screams of "Z" coming from the rowdies. A WOO! Akron loves winning and it seems like Zeke does as well, because after all it is so delicious!