Xavier Rathan-Mayes picks FSU
Florida State procured a commitment from Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Scarborough, Ontario/Huntington Prep), the nation's No. 24 senior in the ESPN 100, on Saturday night. The Canadian shooting guard committed to the Seminoles over Illinois and Connecticut.
The Seminoles have ties to Mayes, whose father, Tharon Mayes, starred for Florida State from 1987-90.
Biancardi: FSU adds big-time scorer
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton has shown he can connect with top recruits, and the commitment of ESPN 100 guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes is further proof of that, writes Paul Biancardi. Story 
Rathan-Mayes is in his second season at Huntington (W. Va.) Prep, one of the nation's top prep squads. As a junior, Rathan-Mayes averaged 14.6 points, 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 44 percent from 3-point range
Florida State had been considered the favorite for Rathan-Mayes, but he visited the Seminoles and Illinois officially and was on Connecticut's campus last year. Rathan-Mayes is regarded as one of the top scorers in the country and one of the better deep shooters.
There's an interesting side note to the commitment story. Rathan-Mayes' travel teammate is Andrew Wiggins (Toronto/Huntington Prep), the No. 1 junior in the ESPN 60. Wiggins' father also played for the Seminoles, and Wiggins and Rathan-Mayes are very close. FSU is a player for Wiggins.
"It's crazy," Rathan-Mayes said in an interview last summer. "(Our fathers) playing together and they played on the 76ers together, as well. Me and Wiggins growing up together and playing on the same AAU team, now on the same high school and maybe going to college together -- that's pretty special.
"We lived about 15 minutes from each other (in Canada), but our dads were always together. We hung out all the time and played ball at the rec center."
Rathan-Mayes is Florida State's initial commitment in the Class of 2013. He's tabbed as the replacement for senior guard Michael Snaer, one of the ACC's leading scorers.
- Senior National Recruiting Analyst for ESPN.com
- Scouting service used by more than 225 college teams
- Covering basketball recruiting for 15 years
SPONSORED HEADLINES
MORE MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL HEADLINES
- Vanderbilt blocks Jeter from transferring to Pitt
- Pittsburgh highlights Legends Classic field
- Boeheim: Melo needs better supporting cast
- Ex-Rutgers coach Rice receiving counseling
MOST SENT STORIES ON ESPN.COM
- Insider: Can Michigan win the Big Ten?
- Telep: Latest on No. 13 junior Theo Pinson
- Insider: Ohio State's added perimeter depth
- Ford: Winners from the NBA draft combine
- Biancardi: Who is the nation's top point guard?
