By Patrick Hayes

Former Saginaw Arthur Hill big man Jordan Hare committed to Rhode Island after being recruited by former coach Jim Baron. When Baron was fired and replaced by Dan Hurley, Hare still honored his commitment, and Andy Katz of ESPN.com reports that was partially a result of Hurley keeping former Baron assistant Preston Murphy on the staff:

Murphy had already recruited 6-foot-10 center Jordan Hare from Saginaw, Mich., for this season and Hare decided to honor the commitment after the coaching change. He said the hiring of the Hurleys (Dan and assistant coach Bob, the former Duke point guard) made it an easier sell to stay but having Murphy remain on staff made the decision easier.

“[Murphy] is a connection,” Hurley said. “He’s a daily reminder that we can be great. Having him around — and Bob (Hurley), with his name recognition — gets our foot in the door. Jimmy Carr’s years as a Big East assistant gives us a great mix of people.”

Murphy is a Saginaw native and his Michigan connections have paid off for Rhode Island. Kalamazoo guard T.J. Buchanan is on the roster and class of 2013 Romulus guard E.C. Matthews recently committed there.

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