Matt Velazquez

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Less than 24 hours after a two-day visit to Milwaukee, SMU transfer Harry Froling, a 6-foot-11, 260-pound freshman center, has decided to join the Marquette men's basketball program and will enroll for the spring semester, according to multiple reports and confirmed by the Journal Sentinel.

Froling, who announced his decision to leave SMU on Dec. 12, must sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules. He will be eligible to play for the Golden Eagles at the end of the 2017 fall semester and will be considered a sophomore. The situation is similar to that of Marquette senior Luke Fischer, who left Indiana after one semester then sat out the requisite year, practicing with the team before becoming eligible to play midway through the 2014-'15 season.

“The program and facilities were unbelievable, and the knowledge and players-coaching staff was also a major draw card,” Froling told Evan Daniels of scout.com Tuesday.

“The strength and conditioning side of things was also leading edge. It is going to be a very hard and challenging experience and I believe that's what I need to take my game to the next level, no more just getting by the way I have for the last 18 years.”

Marquette emerged as a possible destination for Froling relatively late in the process. While back home in Australia during the holidays, Froling told his hometown newspaper in Townsville, Queensland, that his decision was between Oregon State and Dayton.

News of Froling's decision to visit Marquette came out Thursday, just three days before his arrival. During his stay, he stopped by the Bucks-Wizards game Sunday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, where two of his fellow countrymen, Thon Maker and Matthew Dellavedova, were in uniform for the Bucks.

“I was heavily involved with Marquette before I committed and signed with SMU and this is sort of third time coming that they have really expressed interest in me,” Froling told scout.com.

According to Froling, the fit at SMU just wasn't right, especially after making a "big sacrifice" of flying halfway around the world to further his basketball career in the United States. The former four-star recruit committed to the Mustangs while Hall of Famer Larry Brown was still the head coach. Brown left his position in early July, shortly after Froling's arrival on campus. The position was then given to Tim Jankovich, who was Brown's top assistant.

Froling was disappointed with his role under Jankovich. He averaged 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game, appearing in 10 contests. He scored four points and grabbed three rebounds in 12 minutes against Pittsburgh during the 2K Classic, a game that Marquette scouted ahead of its own 2K Classic opener against Michigan.

Before arriving at SMU, Froling drew international attention for his strong overall skill, which was better than most players with his large frame. At events like the 2016 Nike Hoops Summit, Froling displayed good footwork in the post, success in scoring outside the post on jumpers, turnarounds and three-pointers (he went 3 of 10 from long range at SMU) and an ability to create both off the dribble and through passing.

As a potential replacement for Fischer in the middle — he'll have to battle current sophomore Matt Heldt — Froling will be able to use his year out of competition to begin jelling with Marquette players in practice. He'll also have time to improve and expand his skills while also developing his body and becoming both stronger and quicker.

With the addition of Froling, Marquette has 11 scholarship players on its roster. With only three graduating players, eight are due to return next season and they will be joined by the Golden Eagles' three 2017 signees, 6-7 wing Jamal Cain, 6-9 forward Theo John and 6-10 forward Ikechukwu Eke.

Marquette has two scholarship spots remaining for the 2017-'18 season.