Recruiting Report: City's Mike Cheatham headed to Marshall - Terps, basketball, football and college recruiting news in the Baltimore area from Matt Bracken

Mike Cheatham toured Marshall's campus, met with coaches, and experienced everything else that is generally expected to take place during a college visit.

But when it came time for the City guard to depart from Huntington, W.Va., and return home to Baltimore last weekend, there was one last thing he needed to do.

“When I was about to leave [I committed],” Cheatham said. “The campus is good and the town is good. It’s like an overall [nice] environment there. So I can develop things on and off the court.”

A 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior, Cheatham also received interest from Drexel, Iona, Robert Morris and UNLV, among others. His commitment was a welcome surprise to the Thundering Herd coaching staff.

“They were pretty excited that I was coming because they really need some extra players to come in and produce for the team,” Cheatham said.

City assistant coach Tony Biggers said he’s had good relationships with Marshall coach Tom Herrion and assistants Mark Cline and Dino Presley over the years. The Thundering Herd coaches have all spent time recruiting Baltimore, so Biggers recommended they return to this area to check out Cheatham.

“The Marshall coaches came in, [and] Mike impressed those guys,” Biggers said. “They like him at both ends of the court. We’re not surprised at what the kid could do. I was telling Coach Herrion that they’re definitely getting a good kid. He’s a good kid. … To be honest with you, I really didn’t have an idea that he was going to [commit]. So it worked out for him. He’s happy, we’re happy.”

Cheatham played a major role for City’s 2010 Class 2A state championship team, earning a reputation as one of the area’s top defensive guards. Playing for Nike Baltimore Elite on the AAU circuit last summer, Cheatham continued to generate “a lot of buzz about him,” according to Biggers.

While the Knights came up short in their bid for another state title this season, Cheatham had plenty of individual success, scoring 16 points a game.

“His shooting,” stood out this year, Biggers said. “He’s a slasher, can get to the rack, is a very good defender. I think he’s an all-around player. I think sometimes he gets a little too unselfish. But he really put the team before himself, which showed good character. He’s got great character. Once he gets stronger, he’s going to be a lot better.”

Cheatham said the Marshall coaches envision him playing either guard spot as the team’s “floor generator.” Early playing time is a distinct possibility. There may even be an opportunity for Cheatham to share time in Marshall’s backcourt with former Randallstown standout Johnny Higgins.

Cheatham may do a year of prep school before matriculating to Huntingtown, but that won’t be determined for another few months. For now, he’s just excited to have found a school where family and friends can see him play on occasion, and a place where he thinks he can eventually deliver “a championship.”

“It feels good,” Cheatham said. “It feels like a lot of pressure off my shoulders, deciding what I wanted to do.”

Baltimore Sun photo of Mike Cheatham by Kenneth K. Lam / Dec. 21, 2010