Bruce Weber high on new Kansas State signee Xavier Sneed

Bruce Weber often defends the basketball players he signs by arguing they are underrated and overlooked by recruiting services, but that is not the case with Xavier Sneed.

The newest member of the Kansas State basketball family is universally loved by recruiting experts.

A four-star small forward and top-100 national prospect, according to Rivals.com, Sneed is a talented 6-foot-5 scorer from the St. Louis area who most expect to make a big impact as a freshman next season. Weber agrees.

“He gives us a high-level athlete,” Weber said Wednesday. “A top-level recruit.”

Sneed signed with the Wildcats on Wednesday after orally committing in late September. James Love, a two-star center from Plantation, Fla., has also committed, but he plans to wait until Saturday to sign at a party with family and friends.

K-State will have two remaining scholarships to use for its 2016 recruiting class. Weber said he will likely search for a physical power forward and a combo guard to round out the class.

Sneed gives the Wildcats a strong start. He chose K-State over Illinois and Xavier. He is the second highest-rated recruit — No. 92 nationally — Weber has signed since joining K-State, behind only former forward Malek Harris.

Weber said Sneed would have also been recruited as a football player, but he opted to focus on basketball as a high school senior.

“He’s a slasher, a runner and he shoots the ball really well from three,” Weber said. “That is one thing he really has improved. We feel good. It’s a top-level prospect, and you get somebody halfway close. St. Louis isn’t too far away.

“He’s just a good young man — very good student, very good family — one you feel glad to have in the program.”

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 9:45 PM with the headline "Bruce Weber high on new Kansas State signee Xavier Sneed."