Saturday, July 30, 2011

Zak Irvin to Make College Decision

Tomorrow marks the final evaluation day for college coaches, however recruiting news will hardly be coming to a halt. Now that players have had a chance to audition for hundreds of schools, coaches will begin to make moves to filling any needs by extending scholarship offers to these high school prospects. Early August is also a time that many Senior-to-be prospects make their verbal commitments so they can get their college decision off their chest before the start of their senior year of school. One guy that we know will be off the board as of tomorrow is talented Hamilton Southeastern junior-to-be, Zak Irvin.

The 6'6'' wing man has had a huge month of July which has propelled him to the top of the 2013 Indiana Recruiting Guide's rankings as well as onto the radar screen of many of the top programs in the country. Zak has decided that he will announce his decision tomorrow, picking between Michigan and Butler. One of these two schools will be lucky to have the services of one of the premier 2013 prospects in the country.

Best of luck to Zak with his decision tomorrow! Follow him on Twitter @zirvin21 to see what he decides!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Adidas Super 64 Recap and Recruiting News

Indiana's AAU teams had a pretty good showing out in Las Vegas this week at the Adidas Super 64 tournament. Our state was represented by 7 teams in the 15U-17U divisions. In each of those 3 age divisions we had a team advance to at least the Final 4 of the Championship Bracket. In the 17U (2012) bracket Indiana Elite-Team Indiana shook off a rough pool play which saw them go 0-3, and won 4 straight to reach the Final 4. In 16U (2013) play, Eric Gordon All-Stars reached the final game before falling in a hard fought game to KC Pump N Run. The EG10 squad was playing without Indiana commit Collin Hartman who was sidelined with a back injury. Indiana Elite 1 represented the state in the 15U (2014) division by reaching the Final 4 where they lost by 3 points to the eventual champion, Las Vegas Prospects.

Other teams playing out in Vegas were Eric Gordon Central Stars (17U-2012) who went 4-1 overall, Indiana Elite Stars (16U-2013) who finished up 3-2, Eric Gordon All Stars (15U-2014) also went 3-2, and Indiana Elite Hoopmatics (15U-2014) finished at 3-1 overall.

In some recent recruiting news...

Tyler Alderman, a 6'8'' Center from Fisher H.S. picked up his first Division I offer from Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

Ryan Weber, a 6'6'' Small Forward from Roncalli H.S. received an offer from Boston University. He also was offered by Youngstown State recently. He now holds 6 offers, Drake, IPFW, Gardner-Webb, and Lamar are the other teams.

Matt O'Leary, a 6'7'' Small Forward from Terre Haute North H.S. got his third DI offer, adding Loyola to his list. Jacksonville and Lafayette have also extended offers.

Kellon Thomas, a 5'11'' Point Guard from Southport got his 12th offer today after Kent State offered him.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

New! Class of 2012 Rankings-Updated 8/29/11

The Class of 2012 is probably one of the most talented, deepest classes Indiana has seen in a while. With a plethora of Division I prospects, including some of the top prospects in the nation, this class could rival that of any other state. When there is this much talent it makes ranking the players pretty difficult, and I ended up having to put legitimate Division I prospects in the 40's. That being said, here is the Indiana Recruiting Guide's updated look at the top 50 prospects for the Class of 2012.

Updated August 29, 2011

1. Gary Harris: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Hamilton Southeastern H.S.
Offers From: Indiana, Louisville, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, IUPUI, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon State, Alabama
Interest From: Kentucky
Gary is a very strong and athletic perimeter player. He really likes to attack the rim and has a good mid-range game. Good defender. As he continues to improve his 3-point shooting he will become an even better prospect. His overall talent is amazing considering that he is still on 16 years old! He has begun to narrow down his college choices, but is still not letting much be known to the media. I think he will make an instant impact wherever he decides to play his college ball.
2. Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell: 5'11'' Point Guard, Park Tudor H.S.
Committed: Indiana University
He is one of the quickest guys in the state, especially when handling the basketball. Yogi looks to penetrate the defense and score, which he usually does at will. He will need to keep working on his outside shooting, but he has been improving in that area. After watching him at the Adidas Invitational I came away impressed with how he had improved his shooting. Should make an impact right away for Coach Crean and the Hoosiers.
3. Jeremy Hollowell: 6'7'' Small Forward, Lawrence Central H.S.
Committed: Indiana University
He had a huge month of July and has asserted himself as one of the elite prospects in the country. I watched him score at will throughout the Adidas Invitational, showcasing good range on his 3-point shot. Hollowell handles the ball well for his size, and uses his length and athleticism to be a match-up nightmare for defenses. Until this summer a knock on him had been his lack of aggressiveness, but from what I have seen of him that is no longer a problem.
4. Glenn Robinson III: 6'6'' Small Forward, Lake Central H.S.
Committed: University of Michigan
The son of former Purdue great, Glenn Robinson, Glenn III has a great body type and runs the floor very well. He can handle the ball and score off either the catch or the dribble. He has added probably 15-20 pounds of muscle since the winter and that has really helped him out on the court. He was arguably the best player at the Top 100 Showcase this summer and had a very good July. I expect him to become one of the top contributors at Michigan within a few years.
5. Hanner Perea: 6'8'' Power Forward, La Lumiere School
Committed: Indiana University
Hanner may have the most potential of any player in this class. However, his skill is still pretty raw and may be a couple years away from being a force in the Big 10. He is very strong and athletic which gives him the ability to guard many different positions. He is a great rebounder and uses his athleticism to block some shots. Also, Hanner gets up and down the floor well and can score in transition. It seems like every game I watched of his he threw down at least 1 or 2 ESPN worthy dunks, however that is about all he would do on the offensive end. Still a great talent and could give IU some good minutes off the bench right away.
6. Ron Patterson: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Broad Ripple H.S.
Committed: Indiana University
Ron has a little more of an "old-school" offensive game. He isn't the best athlete in this class, but he finds many different ways to score. He has good strength which allows him to finish through contact when attacking the basket. He is a good, not great shooter and will need to continue to develop in that area. Ron has been sliding down the national rankings, so I expect he may come out and have a huge season this winter by playing with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He shows some flashes of bad attitude which will need to be worked out before stepping foot in Bloomington.
7. Ronnie Johnson: 5'10'' Point Guard, North Central H.S.
Committed: Purdue University
Yes, he is small. However, Ronnie does not let his height stop him from picking apart a defense. He shoots the ball well from the outside with great range and is a great passer. Even though defenders are often taller than him by 3-4 inches, he is quick enough to create space and get open shots. He has been as impressive this summer as anybody else in this class. Ronnie is a winner who will take over the game when his teams needs it most.
8. Kellen Dunham: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Pendleton Heights H.S.
Committed: Butler University
He is the best shooter in Indiana's Class of 2012. Dunham moves very well off the ball, and is always ready to shoot. Has a very good offensive mind-set and overall basketball IQ. He isn't the greatest athlete, but works hard to get open and is smart enough to find a way to score. Also has a very quick first step when going to the basket. Very good pick-up for Coach Brad Stevens.
9. Raphael Davis: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, La Lumiere
Committed: Purdue University
Very good shooter, can really fill it up in a variety of ways. Davis is a great competitor and works hard on the defensive end of the floor. He is a good rebounder from the guard spot. Has a tendency to force the action at times, but overall, Raphael is good in-state recruit for Coach Painter and the Boilermakers. Davis has decided to transfer to La Lumiere for his final season.
10. Jay Simpson: 6'9'' Power Forward, La Lumiere
Committed: Purdue University
Great upside, his size and strength give him the ability to attack the rim and finish inside. Jay likes to catch the ball in the mid-range area and make short drives to the basket, he is very good at finishing through contact. Also, he has been shooting the ball out to around 15 feet. His main focus will need to be on staying in good shape and improving his overall conditioning. When in good shape, Simpson is an elite prospect.
11. Nick Osborne: 6'8'' Power Forward, Muncie Central H.S.
Committed: Loyola University
Great rebounder on both ends of the court. Also, Nick has the skills to face up to the basket and score with his mid-range game, or use post moves with his back to the basket. I really like his body-type and all-around skills. Probably the one of the 2 or 3 strongest players in this class, but it causes him to get into foul trouble sometimes. He will be a very good player right away at Loyola.
12. Austin Burgett: 6'8'' Small Forward, Avon H.S.
Committed: University of Notre Dame
Austin can play either the 3 or the 4 spot at the next level. He is a good 3-point shooter and runs the floor very well for his size. I like his versatility and that he can score in a variety of ways. Will need to get in the weight room and get a little stronger, but he still does a very good job on the boards at both ends of the court. Showed that he is a very good shot blocker at the Adidas Invitational.
13. DeJaun Marrero: 6'6'' Small Forward, Bowman Academy
Offers From: Xavier, Purdue, Ohio State, Memphis, Indiana, Illinois, DePaul, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Missouri State
Interest From: Kansas, Florida
Marrero runs the floor very well and is a great rebounder at both ends of the court. He needs to work on developing his shooting range, but already has a very good inside game for his size. A lot of his offers and interest came pretty early, and his recruiting has slowed down recently but he is still an elite prospect.
14. Eron Harris: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Lawrence North H.S.
Offers From: Wisconsin, Dayton, Kent State, Ball State, Evansville, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Tennessee Tech, Buffalo
Interest From: New Mexico, Xavier
Eron has totally blown up. He went from having just low to mid-major offers to being only of the most hotly sought after recruits in the state. He is very athletic and can shoot the ball very well. Very impressed with his play at the Adidas Invitational, and obviously many college coaches were as well. Has announced that he will be choosing between Wisconsin and Dayton.
15. Patrick Ingram: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, North Central H.S.
Committed: University of Iowa
Ingram is quick and athletic, likes to attack the rim. He has not been a go to player to this point in high school, but he will have to shoulder a bigger load this year as D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera is gone. He has had a huge month of July and I was very impressed with his play at the Adidas Invitational.
16. R.J. Hunter: 6'5'' Small Forward, Pike H.S.
Committed: Georgia State University
With his father, Ron Hunter, accepting the job at Georgia State, there was speculation as to if R.J. would remain at Pike for his senior season. R.J. is a long, lean wing player who can score in many different ways. He is a good outside shooter and can also put the ball on the floor and create his own shot. Has had some injury problems, but when he is healthy he is one of the top talents in the class.
17. Obij Aget: 7'1'' Center, La Lumiere School
Offers From: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri
Interest From: Indiana, Tennessee
Aget is a huge project, no pun intended. I really like his athleticism for such a long body, but he just doesn't have a lot of basketball skill right now. I am probably not as high on him as some people because I just don't see him developing into much more than a guy who can average 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks a game at the next level. His size alone demands collegiate interes
t, but I do not expect him to have a tone of success at the DI level.
18. D.J. Balentine: 6'1'' Point Guard, Kokomo H.S.
Offers From: Indiana State, IPFW, Loyola, Missouri State, Evansville, Wright State
Considering: Tennessee, Miami (OH)
Balentine is a very good shooter which allows him to stretch the defense and open up other teammates, or lets him penetrate and get to the basket. He is a big, strong body that can absorb quite a bit of contact when going to the basket. Showcased a very good pull up jumper in transition at the Adidas Invitational.
19. Bo Calhoun: 6'6'' Power Forward, South Bend Washington H.S.
Committed: Ball State University
Bo runs the floor well and scores on the block with many good post moves. Pretty good athlete who can attack the basket off the dribble when he faces up, or can knock down a mid-range jumper. He needs to add some strength to play the 4 spot at the next level and work on his perimeter shooting. Could possibly slide in and play the 3 some.
20. Michael Ramey: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Southport H.S.
Committed: Ball State University
Great outside shooter, one of the best strokes in the state which helped him shoot over 50% from beyond the arc as a junior. Ramey will need to develop more of a game off the dribble, but his shooting alone makes him a solid mid-major prospect.
21. Jared Drew: 6'5'' Small Forward, Cathedral H.S.
Committed: St. Louis University
Good in the open court and when running the floor. He has good length which makes him a solid defender, and he can guard multiple possessions. Jared has a good mid-range game, very good around the basket too. I was really impressed with his play this summer and expect him to be a nice player at St. Louis.
22. Kellon Thomas: 5'11'' Point Guard, Southport H.S.
Offers From: Georgia State, Loyola, IUPUI, IPFW, Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois, UC-Davis, Kennesaw State, Morehead State, Gardner-Webb, Belmont, Kent State, Stony Brook, Florida Atlantic
Interest From: Tennessee, Wright State, Western Kentucky, Butler, Wichita State
Kellon is a scoring point guard who is always looking to attack the basket. He is very strong for his size and finishes well inside. Can be effective from the perimeter as well. He has a tendency to get a little sloppy with the ball when closely guarded, but overall he tends to make things happen on the offensive end.
23. Antonio Drummond: 5'10'' Point Guard, La Lumiere
Committed: Southern Illinois University
Excellent ball handler with a quick first step. Runs the fast break well. Also a good defender. Offensively, Antonio must improve his outside shooting. Overall, I like his point guard skills and the way he commands the floor.
24. Alex Olah: 6'11'' Center, Traders Point Christian Academy
Committed: Northwestern University
Mobile post player who has a solid basketball IQ. Good passer and rebounder. Alex is still a work in progress and his offensive game is developing, but he can shoot out 15-18 feet. I think he will continue to develop into a nice low block player at Northwestern.
25. Chier Ajou: 7'1'' Center, Culver Military Academy
Committed: University of New Mexico
Was originally in the Class of 2011, but reclassified and is doing a post-graduate program at Culver. He will not play for their high school this coming winter.
26. Jacobby Bledsoe: 5'10'' Point Guard, Hamilton Southeastern H.S.
Offers From: Georgia State, Drake, Oregon State, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Creighton, Eastern Michigan, Evansville, Navy
Interest From: Dayton, Michigan State, Tennessee, Southern Illinois, Ball State
Very quick and a great ball handler. He creates well for himself as well as his teammates. Good defender. I was impressed with the progress he had made on his outside shooting ability when I saw him play at the Adidas Invitational. Can for the action a little bit sometimes, but for the most part he makes things happen on the offensive end. One of the better point guards in the class.
27. Edward Seay: 6'9'' Power Forward, Merrillville H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From: Northern Illinois, Dayton, Loyola, Jacksonville, Western Michigan, San Francisco, Illinois State
Seay had one of the best days out of anyone at the Top 100 Showcase. His length and athleticism for a big guy grabs the attention of any college coach in attendance. He is a very good shot blocker and rebounder. I like his offensive potential, he should develop into a very good post presence who can face-up and get around slower defenders. Interest around Seay should continue to pick up, I have heard through a source that Michigan has been following him.
28. J.T. Yoho: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Eastern Greene H.S.
Committed: Wright State University
Very crafty on the offensive end, he has a very good mid-range pull up jumper and is also a very good 3-point shooter. His size allows him to play the 2 or the 3 and he handles the ball well enough to even play the point if he has too. I was very impressed with his play at the Best of the Midwest. He will go in and score right away for a mid-major school.
29. Jermaine Myers: 6'0'' Point Guard, Culver Military Academy
Offers From: Ball State, Drake, Indiana State, Ohio, Valparaiso
Interest From: UNLV, IUPUI
Good floor general who lead Culver Academy to the state title game this year. Very heady point guard who can also score it. He will be a very good mid-major point guard from the day he steps on campus.
30. Jeff Laidig: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Penn H.S.
Committed: Belmont University
Elite shooter who is always read to get a shot off. Jeff moves very well off the ball and does not force shots like some shooters. His main draw back is not being a great athlete and he does not create for himself off the dribble. Similar player Spencer Turner of Bloomington South who will be a Freshman at Belmont this year.
31. Jalen Pendleton: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Evansville Bosse H.S.
Offers From: Indiana State
Interest From: Murray State, Middle Tennessee State, Evansville, IPFW, Ball State, Georgia State
Pendleton is a strong guard who uses his body well to get inside and score. He is a very good rebounder from the guard spot. I saw him play at Best of the Midwest and he is a very good on-ball defender. He likes to penetrate and finish in the paint. Will need to develop more of a perimeter game.
32. Rhett Smith: 6'7'' Small Forward, Sullivan H.S.
Committed: Indiana State University
Very nice combo-forward who can play either the 3 or the 4 spot. Good athlete who handles the ball well for a big guy.
33. Joe Reed: 6'8'' Power Forward, Center Grove H.S.
Committed: IPFW
He has really been picking up interest this month. I was very impressed with him at the Adidas Invitational. Joe runs the floor well and is a good athlete for a post player. He has a good face up game and good footwork in the post. As he continues to develop he should pick up a few more offers.
34. Elijah Ray: 6'6'' Power Forward, Bowman Academy
Offers From: Valparaiso, Indiana State
Interest From: Iowa, Harvard, Iowa State, Tennessee, Boston College, Marquette, Illinois, UC-Irvine
Very strong body, he has a great game down low for being a little undersized. Elijah's combination of strength and athleticism gives him an advantage on the boards against bigger opponents. I was very impressed with him at the Top 100. He will be a very good mid-major player.
35. Ryan Weber: 6'6'' Small Forward, Roncalli H.S.
Offers From: Drake, IPFW, Gardner-Webb, Lamar, Youngstown State, Boston
Interest From: Richmond, Northeastern, Furman, Stetson, Belmont, Indiana State, Eastern Kentucky
Ryan is very versatile, he could play either the 3 or the 4, but will probably be on the wing in college. He has good post skills offensively, and also a very good mid-range game. He has been working hard on his ball handling which will really give him an all-around offensive game.
36. Matt O'Leary: 6'7'' Power Forward, Terre Haute North H.S.
Committed: Loyola University
37. Steve Hawkins: 6'8'' Power Forward, Bowman Academy
Offers From:
Interest From:
38. Logan Irwin: 6'0'' Point Guard, Whitko H.S.
Committed: Stetson University
39. Harry Willis: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, Ben Davis H.S.
Offers From: Mississippi Valley State, Indianapolis (DII)
Interest From: Valparaiso
40. Todd Johnson: 5'9'' Point Guard, Elkhart Memorial H.S.
Committed: Northern Kentucky University (DII)
41. Tyler Alderman: 6'9'' Power Forward, Fishers H.S.
Offers From: SIU-Edwardsville
Interest From: Wright State, IUPUI, Indiana State, Ball State, Evansville
42. Dylan Langkabel: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Morristown H.S.
Committed: Northwood University (DII)
43. Brent Calhoun: 6'8'' Center, Warren Central H.S.
Offers From: Lamar, Appalachian State
Interest From: Evansville, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, IUPUI, Valparaiso, St. Louis
44. Adam Botts: 5'11'' Point Guard, Muncie Central H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From:
45. Kendall Waters: 5'9'' Point Guard, Muncie Central H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From: Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Eastern Kentucky
46. Brad Hartman: 6'7'' Power Forward, Union County H.S.
Offers From: Jacksonville
Interest From: Navy, Eastern Kentucky
47. Tyler Corey: 5'11'' Point Guard, Lawrence Central H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From:
48. Rashad Richardson: 6'4'' Small Forward, Lafayette Jefferson H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From:
49. Riley Rapp: 6'1'' Shooting Guard, Guerin Catholic H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From: Yale
50. Michael Lenz: 6'0'' Point Guard, Brebuef Jesuit H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From:


If you have any questions or comments feel free to email me at ramseyb14@hanover.edu. Thanks!

Adidas Super 64-Day 1

I have been following the Vegas tournament online from Tennessee where I am visiting my grandparents and playing lots of golf. However, it has been confusing because of the time distance between down here, my home in Indiana, and Vegas. The question down here has become, "well what time is it in VEGAS!?" The first round of games will be starting in a couple hours today so I wanted to get a quick recap of the Indiana scores from yesterday.

2012's
Indiana Elite-Team Indiana had a rough start to their tournament as they dropped both games yesterday. Luckily they are in one of the "Super Pools" so no matter what their record is in pool play they will advance to the Championship Bracket.

Double Pump Elite 53 Indiana Elite-Team Indiana 50
Eric Gordon Central Stars 75 KC Pump N Run 71
Dream Vision 17U 80 Indiana Elite-Team Indiana 65

2013's
The Indiana teams were involved in lots of close games in the 2013 division, but luckily they came out on top in 3 of the 4 games. Both of these teams are in Super Pools as well.

Eric Gordon All Stars 56 Wisconsin Playground Warriors 53
Indiana Elite Stars 55 KC Pump N Run 54
Eric Gordon All Stars 63 New Heights NYC 51
Atlanta Celtics 16U 64 Indiana Elite Stars 62

2014's

Indiana Elite One 69 Urban DFW Elite 48
Eric Gordon All Stars 74 Colorado Hawks 64
Indiana Elite Hoopmatics 80 Elite Nation 58

Today teams will continue pool play and seeds will be decided for the tournament play which begins tomorrow. For updates throughout the day follow me on Twitter @INrecruitguide.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Monte James-Penn H.S.

Obviously, the Indiana Recruiting Guide is a basketball scouting service. However, for just a few minutes we are going to delve into a fall sport, football. For all of the college basketball coaches who read this please pass it along to your school's football staff.

A few days ago I had the chance to catch up with a new friend of mine, Monte James from Penn High School. After getting a chance to learn a little bit about him I decided that this guy needed to get some more publicity and figured that I could help him out a little bit by putting together an article.

First off, this Senior-to-be is one of the nicest, most driven kids I have come across. He is very appreciative of every opportunity that comes his way and seems to be the type of guy that always makes the most out of any situation. Monte is a 6'3'' 290 pound Offensive/Defensive Lineman, primarily at the Tackle position. His speed is one of his biggest assets, and as a basketball guy myself, I can tell you that his footwork and size would be enviable in the low post. His combination of size, strength, and quickness makes it very hard for defenders to get around him when he is on the offensive side of the ball, and he is equally hard to stop on when on the defensive side.

Monte has worked hard to achieve a major goal of his...playing collegiate football. Recently, he has been assured that his dream will become reality. NAIA powerhouse, University of St. Francis has offered him, and he has also been offered a roster spot a Division III Manchester College. However, his sights are set upon the Division I ranks. As usual with Monte, his hope will most likely come to fruition. He is receiving some serious interest from Purdue, Valparaiso, Ball State, Indiana, Northwestern, Western Michigan and Indiana State. As I said before he is a very driven individual and he spoke at length with me on how thankful he is for every opportunity that has come his way through football. "Every day I get up and thank God for everything He has done for me and my family," he said.

I expect that before too long Monte will pick up a few Division I offers and will be well on his way of making his lifelong dream a reality, not just playing college football at the highest level, but also attending college. He said that he is looking for a school with a good "academic and coaching reputation." I have really enjoyed getting to talk with this young man and I am sure that nothing but great things will come in his future.

To the basketball fans that may read this, please pass this kids name along to your football friends, as they will be hearing the name a lot in the coming fall.

Monday, July 18, 2011

New Rankings

Over the next few days I will be working on updating the rankings for the classes of 2012, 2013, and 2014. I will also be adding a "watch list" of 2015 prospects. I would like input from our readers as to who you think should be where? Anybody that is too high or too low? Anybody that needs to be added that I don't currently have?

After watching over 40 games during the 10-day evaluation period I have found a few guys that will be added to each ranking, as well as seeing the improvements of some players that will warrant them moving up the rankings. Please send any comments to me at ramseyb14@hanover.edu or ask me on Twitter @INrecruitguide.

Look forward to new rankings the rest of this week!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Recruiting News and Notes

Now that the first 10-day whirlwind of AAU tournaments has come to an end, it is time to take a look at the recruiting news that has broke in the past couple of weeks. Also, there should be many more announcements to be made in the coming week or so as college coaches decide who impressed them the most during the evaluation period.

The first piece of news just came an hour or so ago, as the Indiana Recruiting Guide's #1 prospect in the Class of 2013, V.J. Beachem, picked up an offer from Notre Dame. Coach Mike Brey had been watching the 6'6'' Small Forward closely this month. Beachem has a long list of schools that are showing interest in his services, and I expect that the offers will come pouring in the near future. I had the chance to get in on an interview with the New Haven H.S. star after one of his games at the Adidas Invitational as he spoke about his recruitment. He mentions in the interview that the recruiting process is "speeding up" as to when he will make his decision. So, with his decision possibly coming soon many of the other schools that have shown interest will want to start offering so as to have a chance to land the talented wing.
Check out the video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnpe69HRQG0

Other more recent pieces of recruiting news include...
Patrick Ingram: 6'3'' SG, North Central H.S. (2013) has picked up an offer from Iowa. In the Indiana Recruiting Guide's article that previewed the July AAU circuit, I had noted that I expected Ingram to pick up an offer or two from some bigger schools, evening mentioning the Hawkeyes as a possibility.

Jalen Coleman: 6'1'' PG, Cathedral H.S. (2015) received his first offer, from Indiana University, before he ever has played a high school game. I had the chance to watch him play three times at the Best of the Midwest and came away very impressed with his upside. I am not a huge fan of offering kids this young, but if you were to begin this early Jalen would certainly be one of the first I would extend an offer to.

Other news that has come in the past 10 days or so...
Joe Reed: 6'8'' PF, Center Grove H.S. (2012) has had a very good month, and that solid play lead to him receiving an offer from Toledo. Reed is getting interest from many other mid-major schools, and I expect he will have another offer or two pretty soon.

Jared Drew: 6'6'' SF, Cathedral H.S. (2012) continues to add to his long list of offers by picking up one more from Missouri State. Loyola and Lamar are two of his other most recent offers. Coaches from Boston College, Tennessee, and Wichita State have been following him as well.

Eron Harris: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Lawrence North H.S. (2012) has probably been one of the fastest rising prospects in the state. Tennessee Tech has been added to his list of offers that include Evansville, IPFW, and SIU-Edwardsville. Bo Ryan from Wisconsin has been following him closely this month, as well as coaches from Xavier and New Mexico.

Jaylon Brown: 6'0'' PG, Fishers H.S. (2013) now holds an offer from American. Ohio, Butler, and Xavier have also expressed interest.

Jaraan Lands: 6'5'' SF, Brownsburg H.S. (2014) receiving early interest from many Big 10 schools, including IU, Purdue, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. Classmate Kendall Rollins: 6'6'' SF, Pike H.S. is also getting interest from IU and Purdue, as well as Wright State, Tulane, and Detroit.

Jaquan Lyle: 6'4'' SG, Evansville Bosse H.S. (2014) impressed me this month as much as just about anyone else I saw. He is a great ball handler and passer who also has good size. This allows him to play both the point, and 2-guard spot. He currently has offers fromIllinois, Indiana, Purdue, and Xavier. He said that both Ohio State and Michigan Stateare "close to offering."

Brad Hartman: 6'7'' PF, Union County H.S. (2012) picked up his first Division I offer from Jacksonville this week. The athletic big man is also getting interest from Navy andEastern Kentucky.

Matt O'Leary: 6'7'' SF, Terre Haute North H.S. (2012) got an offer from Lafayette recently. I was very impressed with his play at the Adidas Invitational. He can play and guard multiple positions, and I like his overall offensive game. Great shooter for his size. Any low or mid-major looking for a versatile player who can score it, get on O'Leary right away.

As more recruiting news comes in within the next few weeks I will continue to update you with more articles like this one. It is our goal at the Indiana Recruiting Guide to not only get this information to our readers as quickly as possible, but also give the most accurate information after confirming news with multiple sources. If you have any questions or want info on a certain players recruitment you can email me at ramseyb14@hanover.edu, or ask me on Twitter @INrecruitguide.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Best of the Midwest-Day 2

Another long day in the gym is in the books for me. Many teams and coaches are bringing the 10-day evaluation period to a close as they get knocked out of bracket play, tomorrow marks the final day of the first period. I began my day at the Noblesville Boys and Girls Club for a couple of games, then moved to the Fishers Fieldhouse. Here is the breakdown of the games I watched today.

Indiana Elite South vs. Predators-Ali
Final: 74-48 IE South
This game was a blowout from the beginning. Even with only six guys, and missing star Sophomore-to-be Troy Spears, IE South dominated the game from the opening tip. 6'0'' Point Guard Nick Crays of North Daviess (2013) was very impressive, draining 5 3's on the way to a game high 17 points. Blake Simmons added 13 points. Two interesting tidbits of random information from this game...I had a great conversation with IUPUI assistant coach Matt Whinrey, who by his own admission can't watch basketball without eating popcorn. Come to find out, Oral Roberts has some of the best popcorn one can come by. Also, with about 2 minutes remaining in the game, Indiana Elite coach Dan Dakich left the sidelines, leaving his team without a coach, to go do his radio show.

Eric Gordon All Stars 2014 vs. Spiece KY Gators
Final: 61-54 EG10
I saw EG10 2014 twice today, so I will go ahead and combine their first tournament game into this recap.
Eric Gordon All Stars 2014 vs. Spiece Hoosier Hoops
Final: 76-47 EG10
I was very impressed with 6'2'' Point Guard Jalen Coleman today. He is just a Freshman-to-be who will attend Cathedral High School. Jalen is a good ball handler and passer. Also, he is a great athlete, but really needs to work out his outside shooting. As he continues to develop he should become a star, and one of the top players in his class. Sean Sellers continued to shoot the ball well, going for 16 points on 4 3's in game 2. Coleman had 14, and 6'7'' Forward Perry Poindexter added 8. Point Guard Taylor Persons of Kokomo had a couple good games today, he is very good going to the basket and finishing through contact. Probably had around 30 points combined in the 2 games.

Indiana Select 2012 vs. Team Southern Indiana 2012 Red
Final: 67-55 Select
J.T. Yoho showcased an all-around offensive game, dropping 22 points to lead his team to victory. Blue River forward Kyle Gross added 10 points. I like the athleticism of Gross and he plays with a high basketball IQ, will be a good NAIA player.

Besides these games that I watched in full, I spent some time roaming the courts just checking in on certain players. Here is a rundown of a few guys who stood out, not including guys that I have written about everyday for the past 8 or so. This will be a list of guys that I had not had in my database before.
Joe Fagan: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, Chatard H.S. 2013 (Indiana Elite Stars)
Paul Furlin: 6'0'' Point Guard, Hamilton Southeastern H.S. 2013 (Indiana Elite Stars)
Greg Spina: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Martinsville H.S. 2013 (Indiana Elite Stars)
Garret Hall: Cathedral H.S. 2013 (Indiana Select)
Sean Howard: Lawrence North H.S. 2013 (Indiana Select)
Michael Morris: New Palestine H.S. 2013 (Indiana Select)

I also had a chance to check the end of the Indiana Select 2013 vs. Eric Gordon 2013 game. Quite a crowd of both fans and college coaches surrounded the court for this one, as the game was tightly contested throughout. Select had the ball with 2 seconds to go in regulation and a chance to win the game, but their inbounds attempt was stolen by Zak Irvin. In overtime, Indiana University commit Collin Hartman threw down a baseline dunk and drew a foul to give EG10 a 3 point advantage early in the extra frame, and they never looked back. Final score: EG10 79 Select 74. V.J. Beachem lead with 18 points, and Devin Davis and Zak Irvin had 14 a piece.

I have yet to decide if I will be going back over to Fishers in the morning, so I may be done with the first 10-day period. It was certainly a whirlwind, but very enjoyable. By my tally I have watched 43 games since it began on July 6th. For all your recruiting coverage, as well as updated rankings that will come soon, be sure to follow the Indiana Recruiting Guide on Twitter @INrecruitguide. Even during the "dead period" I will be staying active with stories and reports.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Best of the Midwest-Day 1

The first 10 day evaluation period of July is coming to a close. I heard many coaches telling each other "two more days! two more days!" The Best of the Midwest tournament is a great way to finish off the period as a majority of the teams are from Indiana. Here is a recap of the 6 games that I attended today.

Indiana Select 2012 vs. MBC Stars-Maroon
Final: 88-76 Indiana Select
Select jumped out to a big lead early in the game and held onto a 20 point advantage into the second half. However, they seemed to be trying their best to give it away late. Once MBC picked up with a full-court defense Indiana Select seemed flustered and committed many turnover. I believe the lead may have been cut to 5 at one point, but in the end some solid play by J.T. Yoho and Ben Gardner secured a victory for Select. Yoho, who was playing in front of coaches from Gardner-Webb and Evansville, put on an offensive show. He showcased an all-around game, stoking some 3's as well as scoring in the paint. He finished with a game high 30. Carmel's Ben Gardner has a great outside shot as well, and seemed to be the only ball handler who wanted to bring the ball up the court late in the game. He could be a starting point guard right away for a DIII program.

Team Southern Indiana 2012 Red vs. Camp Darryl Baker Royal 2012
Final: 59-54 TSI
This is my third or fourth time watching TSI Red this month, so I will not bore you with breakdowns of the same players once again. Today I saw a different TSI squad as they were without star player Darryl Baker. Once again I was impressed with the overall play of the guards, especially Keegan Kincaid (Switzerland County) and Grant Meyer (Silver Creek).

Spiece Indy Heat vs. Omaha OSA Crusaders
Final: 92-83 OSA in overtime
This is the type of game that would eat away at you as both a player and a coach. Holding on to a 3 point lead with less than 5 seconds to play in the game, Spiece fouled OSA so as to keep them from tying the game on a 3-pointer. The OSA player stepped up to the line and nailed the first free throw before missing the second. That is when things got crazy, with .01 seconds remaining, Spiece guard Trevon Bluiett committed a foul while going after a rebound. Two more free throws later and the game was in overtime, where Omaha OSA came away with the win. The loss cannot be blamed on star 2014 prospect Bluiett though, he lead the team with 19 points. Guards Trey Patterson and Jalen Norwood also had very good games.

Eric Gordon All Stars (2013) vs. Team Illinois
Final: 80-41 EG10
I love the collection of talent on this squad. Zak Irvin continued to make his case to be the #1 player in the Class of 2013 in Indiana by scoring 16 points in limited minutes. Indiana recruit Collin Hartman showcased great range on his 3-point shooting, draining three of them on his way to 13 points. Purdue recruit Basil Smotherman also had a good game, displayed a very good mid-range jump shot.

Spiece Higher Level vs. Camp Darryl Gray 2012
Final: 83-81 Camp Darryl
I was excited for a chance to 2013 guard Markese McGuire from Elkhart Central after he put on a show at the Top 100 event yesterday. In the first half he continued his sharp play, scoring 11 of his 16 points in the half. However, he cooled off in the 2nd as his team dropped a close game. He has a very good first step and a nice pull-up jumper. Definite low-major type guy. Also impressive were Eric Miller, a 6'7'' forward from Carroll-Flora and South Bend Riley guard Brock Cosey.

Eric Gordon All Stars (2014) vs. Omaha OSA Crusaders
Final: 70-65 EG10
I am just going to say it, Sean Sellers is a stud. The 6'5'' Greensburg wing poured in 28 points, draining 6 3-pointers, some from NBA range. He also showcased good ball-handling and rebounding skills. He is just a solid all around player. 6'0'' Kokomo Point Guard, Taylor Persons was also impressive, scoring 16 points. He is very strong and finishes well inside through contact. Very good driving along the baseline. Bryant McIntosh, a 6'2'' guard showed off a very pretty floater when attacking the basket on his way to 13 points. There is quite a collection of Division I talent on this team.

Sorry if tonights recap seems a little shorter than usual, I will admit that I am tired and ready to go to bed. I will be back in the gym all day tomorrow though!

Best of the Midwest

I am about to head to the Fishers Fieldhouse for the Best of the Midwest tournament. This will be the final tournament of the first 10-day evaluation period. I am sure that players and coaches are looking forward to a short break from the craziness. Here is a look at the games I will be attending today.

11:30- Indiana Select 2012 vs. MBC Stars-Maroon
12:45- Team Southern Indiana 2012 Red vs. Camp Darryl Royal 2012
2:00- Spiece Indy Heat vs. Omaha OSA Crusaders
3:15- Eric Gordon All Stars (2013) vs. Team Illinois
4:30- FH Elite Indy Bulls vs. Indiana Elite Stars
7:00- Eric Gordon All Stars (2014) vs. Omaha OSA Crusaders

Looks like I am set up to have another great July day in the gym!

For updates throughout the day follow the Indiana Recruiting Guide on Twitter @INrecruitguide.

Monday, July 11, 2011

IBCA Underclassmen Recap

Had a really good time at the Top 100 Underclassmen workout at Ben Davis High School today. Many of the states top players took a day off from the AAU circuit to show off their skills in this showcase setting. The players began by running through a series of drills including some 1-on-1 competition, a shooting station, and ball-handling. That was neat to see players participate in those type of workouts. A few observations after watching the station work...

Logan Irwin: 6'0'' Point Guard, Whitko H.S. 2012 (Stetson commit)
I have never seen somebody do 2-ball dribbling exercises the way this kid can. He keeps the ball very low to the ground and dribbles faster than anyone I have seen do the drill. That alone was fun to watch.
Zavier Turner: 5'8'' Point Guard, Pike H.S. 2013
He was maybe the most impressive player in the 1-on-1 station. Not only was he locking down everyone when he was the defender, but he seemed to score at will on the offensive end. Very quick, and can create space between him and the defender so he can get off an open jumper.
Jared Drew: 6'6'' Small Forward, Cathedral H.S. 2012
He had a ferocious dunk to begin his day. In the 1-on-1 station he took the ball at the left wing, made two or three hard dribbles to his right, then just took off and threw down a two-handed slam that left the defender on his backside.
Noah Shooting: This was one of the stations that the players went through. It was some high-tech device that measured the arc of your shot among other things. I am not even going to attempt to explain it, but if you like that kind of stuff look it up. It was pretty interesting.

After about 30-45 minutes of the drill work the guys broke into 12 different teams and played games for the rest of the evening. I will break the teams down by color.

Columbia Team (Numbers 1-10)
No player really stood out to me on this team today, however this squad did features the states leading scorer in Zach Richie from Oregon-Davis H.S.

Forrest Team (Numbers 11-20)
Austin Burgett: 6'8'' Power Forward, Avon H.S. 2012 (Notre Dame commit)
At the risk of sounding like ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, I really like his length. Also, he is a good outside shooter and has a good mid-range game. Good shot blocker defensively.
Glenn Robinson III: 6'6'' Small Forward, Lake Central H.S. 2012 (Michigan commit)
Very impressed with him today, this was my first look at Glenn this month. I like his athleticism and strength. He rebounds the ball well on both ends of the court and can handle it well enough to bring the ball up himself. Needs to continue to work on his shooting.
Keegan Kincaid: 6'2'' Point Guard, Switzerland County H.S.
This is kid is becoming one of my favorite players to watch this July. He plays very hard, is great defender and handles the ball really well. Just an all-around solid point guard.

Purple Team (Numbers 21-29)
V.J. Beachem: 6'6'' Small Forward, New Haven H.S. 2013
I really didn't watch a whole lot of him today because I had seen him a few times already this month, but when I did watch he knocked down a few nice outside shots. Without a doubt on of the top handful of players in the state for the class of 2013.
Mike Crawford: 6'5'' Small Forward, Tipton H.S. 2013
He didn't have quite as good of a day as I thought he might, but he certainly still played well. I like the way he handles the ball, he has the ability to grab rebounds and then go coast-to-coast and finish.
Elijah Ray: 6'6'' Power Forward, Bowman Academy 2012
Very strong and a big body down low. Rebounds the ball well, just may be a little undersized to play as a 4 man at the DI level. Still I was impressed with him today and is at least a very good DII player, and could probably play at a lower level DI.
Zavier Turner: 5'8'' Point Guard, Pike H.S. 2013
Each and every time I watch Zavier play I end up liking him more and more. He is quite possibly the quickest player in his class. Also shoots the ball pretty well. Obviously he is short, but that will not keep him from being a very effective point at the mid-major level.

Teal Team (Numbers 30-39)
Logan Jaehnen: 6'6'' Power Forward, East Central H.S. 2012
I have had the chance to watch Logan play a couple of times in the last week now, and each time he just keeps looking better. He is a tireless worker on both ends of the court. He has very good post moves and is good rebounder. Interest around him is beginning to pick up as he continues to impress many college coaches.
Zak Irvin: 6'6'' Shooting Guard, Hamilton Southeastern H.S. 2013
Zak has had just as good of a July as anybody in the state of Indiana. He is a great shooter, especially from mid-range. He length and athleticism allows him to get shots off on anyone, as well as guard 3 different positions. Definitely a high-major prospect.

Royal Team (Numbers 40-48)
Gary Harris: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Hamilton Southeastern H.S. 2012
This was my first look at Gary, one of the nations top prospects, this month. He is just an all-around scorer. He can shoot it pretty well, take the ball to the basket, or score off of offensive rebounds. Whatever court he was on he was followed by most of the big name coaches at the event. I look forward to seeing where he decides to go.
Edward Seay: 6'8'' Power Forward, Merrillville H.S. 2012
Of anybody at the Underclassmen event, Seay may have turned the most heads. A tall, long post player with good athleticism, he can fill a need for any mid-major that needs a 4 man. He is a good shot blocker and has a pretty good shot out to 15 feet. Look for a late surge of interest to pick up around him.

Gold Team (Numbers 51-59)
Jared Drew: 6'6'' Small Forward, Cathedral H.S. 2012
Drew had a very good day. He is very active on the offensive glass, great athlete. He has a good pull-up jump shot that he can shoot out to 3-point range. Has the ability to defend multiple positions. Still would not surprise me if he picks up a few more offers before July is over.
Blake Simmons: 6'5'' Small Forward, Castle H.S. 2013
Good outside shooter, Blake isn't an overwhelming athlete but he is very effective on the offensive end. He has a high basketball IQ and I think he will be a solid low to mid-major player.

Navy Team (Numbers 60-68)
D.J. Balentine: 6'1'' Point Guard, Kokomo H.S. 2012
I love his strength as a point, big body but still quick enough to guard the position. Also a very good shooter. He continues to impress me this summer and the interest around him keeps picking up.
Tyler Wideman: 6'8'' Power Forward, Lake Central H.S. 2014
It must be very hard for college coaches to not fall in love with him. He is a force in the post, a huge frame for just a Sophomore-to-be. He also moves pretty well for a big boy, and has great hands. Tyler keeps improving his offensive skill set. The most impressive play I saw from him yesterday was when he pulled down a rebounder, dribbled the ball up court, then pulled up for a 3 and drained it. Definite high-major player.
Jordyn Coon: 6'3'' Small Forward, Warsaw H.S. 2012
I have watched Jordyn play a couple of times before, but this was my first look at him this summer. He had a great day, showcasing good athleticism and long arms. After his showing yesterday he should get some interest from DII and NAIA schools.

Red Team (Numbers 70-79)
Sean Sellers: 6'5'' Small Forward, Greensburg H.S. 2014
I really likes Sean's overall skill set. He is long and athletic, can do score in many different ways on the offensive end. I saw him shoot the ball well from the outside, as well as have a few nice drives to the basket. Will really need to work hard in the weight room over the next year.
Collin Hartman: 6'6'' Shooting Guard, Cathedral H.S. 2013 (Indiana commit)
Great outside shooter with some serious range. He also rebounds the ball well on both ends of the court. One of the top 5 players in Indiana in the class of 2013, really like his all-around game.
Mark Mercer: 6'8'' Power Forward, Plymouth H.S. 2014
I saw him for the first time down at the Kentucky Hoop Fest on Saturday and was impressed and wrote his name down. Then yesterday he looked great again and I heard a few big Division I coaches talking about this kid. He needs to get stronger, but the length is there. He has good offensive skills, he can score down low and is a good outside shooter as well. Look for him to really blow up in the near future.
Logan Irwin: 6'0'' Point Guard, Whitko H.S. 2012 (Stetson commit)
Logan didn't have his best day (well, after two-ball dribbling that is) but he still finds a way to get others involved and be effective. He is a great on-ball defender and very good passer. Quickly has become one of my favorite guys to watch.

Kelly Team (Numbers 81-89)
No big time prospects at this time, and nobody really stood out to me as having a great day from this team.

Black Team (Numbers 90-99)
Jacobby Bledsoe: 5'10" Point Guard, Hamilton Southeastern H.S. 2012
Very good passer and ball handler, however he tries to force the action a bit too much sometimes. He is very quick and can also shoot the ball pretty well from the 3-point range. I like him as a low to mid-major point guard.
J.T. Yoho: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Eastern Greene H.S. 2012
Very good size for a guard. Great rebounder, can play anywhere from the point to a forward spot. Like his all-around game.
Basil Smotherman: 6'5'' Small Forward, Lawrence North H.S. 2013 (Purdue commit)
Smotherman played better today than I have seen him play all month. He showed his entire offensive game, knocking down some 3-pointers, as well as scoring in the paint. He will continue to develop into a very solid player at Purdue.

Maroon Team (Numbers 100-109)
Troy Spears: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Park Tudor H.S. 2014
Has a nice shooting stroke and handles the ball well, he could play some point as well as 2-guard. I like him as a defender as well. Already a very good player, I expect him to do nothing but get better and better.
Ryan Weber: 6'7'' Small Forward, Roncalli H.S. 2012
Very good outside shooter, can handle the ball well and pull up for a jump shot. His size lets him shoot over the top of many defenders. Good strength as well. Definitely could contribute to a low DI program.
Markese McGuire: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Elkhart Memorial H.S. 2013
Had as good of a day as anybody else at the showcase. Good all-around offensive player, can score from 3-point range, as well as off the dribble attacking the basket. He is a good athlete also and can grab some offensive rebounds. I was very impressed, Division I prospect.
Kellon Thomas: 5'11'' Point Guard, Southport H.S. 2012
Kellon is very, very strong. He is very tough to guard and when he gets into the paint he absorbs a lot of contact and finishes. He proved at the Top 100 that he is nearly unstoppable in 1-on-1 situations.
Grant Evans: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Wapahani H.S. 2014
He may well be the best shooter in the 2014 class in Indiana. Sweet lefty stroke. Also, Grant is continuing to develop more of a game off the dribble. He is quickly becoming a true scorer, not just a shooter. Expect interest around him to continue to grow.

Orange Team (Numbers 111-119)
Trevon Bluiett: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Park Tudor H.S. 2014
Great ball handler and outside shooter for his size. He is very good at taking a couple dribbles and pulling up from mid-range. Trevon's size allows him to play and defend 3 positions. He will be a big time Division I player.

That is a look at the top players and performers from each of the 12 teams. Besides these guys there were plenty of other very good players, many guys that I will be following (along with college coaches) as they continue with the AAU circuit. Here are some more names that deserve to be on the "Watch List."

Adam Miller: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Hauser H.S. 2012
Steven Bennet: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, New Castle H.S. 2013
Keegan Kincaid: 6'1'' Point Guard, Switzerland County H.S. 2012
Joe Reed: 6'8'' Power Forward, Center Grove H.S. 2012
Brad Hartman: 6'7'' Power Forward, Union County H.S. 2012
Leo Svete: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Penn H.S. 2013
Isaiah Jones: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, New Albany H.S. 2012
Aaron Brennan: 6'5'' Power Forward, Guerin Catholic H.S. 2014
Todd Johnson: 5'7'' Point Guard, Elkhart Memorial H.S. 2012
Nathan Rich: 5'10'' Shooting Guard, Columbus East H.S. 2013
Rashad Richardson: 6'4'' Small Forward, Lafayette Jefferson H.S. 2012
Keith Cochran: 6'10'' Center, Bluffton H.S. 2012
David Heckman: 6'7'' Small Forward, Roncalli H.S. 2012
Caleb Begle: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Jasper H.S. 2012

The Top 100 Underclassmen Showcase was a great event. Even though some of the top players did not attend there was still a lot of talent at Ben Davis High School, and many coaches were in attendance. Hopefully some players benefit from being there!

IBCA Underclassman Showcase-Preview

Today the Top 100 sophomores-to-be through seniors-to-be will gather at Ben Davis High School for a series of drills, as well as games in front of college coaches. The event runs from 2:00-8:00. Some of the top players will not be in attendance, such as Park Tudor's Yogi Ferrell, however most of the top prospects will be there.

I am most looking forward to watching 6'4'' Shooting Guard Gary Harris of Hamilton Southeastern. He is widely considered the top player in Indiana in the Class of 2012, and one of the top uncommitted prospects in the country. I have not had the chance to watch him yet this month because while I was at the Adidas Invitational he was not with his team, instead he went to Akron for the King James camp.

This is a great opportunity for players who have yet to make a college decision to impress the scouts in a showcase type environment. The workout begins with a series of drills, including transition offense and defense, a shooting station, rebounding, and ball handling. Then the evening will finish off with 3 rounds of games.

It will be interesting to see if anybody has a break out day and walks away with the college coaches buzzing. I am sure that there will be somebody who will begin to garner more interest after a good workout today. Look for guys such as Jacobby Bledsoe, Mike Crawford, Joe Reed, and Kellon Thomas to have big days.

I will put out a recap of the event later tonight when I get home. For updates throughout the event follow the Indiana Recruiting Guide on Twitter @INrecruitguide.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Kentucky Hoop Fest-Day 2

I was only in attendance for a short time today because I had to be back home in the late afternoon for dinner with some friends and family. However, I did have time to check out a few games over at the Basketball Academy in Louisville, its a really neat complex.

There were not too many players that stood out to me this morning as college prospects, however I was watching Sophomores-to-be, so I did store away a few names to check back with as they develop. One team that I did get a chance to see was Team Blaze which features talented guards Saikou Jallow and Grant Sims. Both are 6'2'' and play for Bloomington North. I think that they will both end up being Division I players. Right now, Sims is ahead of Jallow just because he is a better outside shooter and a little more athletic. However, I like the length of Saikou and think that he may have the most long term potential. Both guys rebound well from the guard spot and have very good court vision and passing ability. They are both kids to keep an eye on in the coming years. Other than those two prospects, I watched MBA 2014-Kreiger and Team Southern Indiana Red 2014. Neither of these teams had prospects at this time, but since they are young I have a few names I want to track. A couple kids on Team Southern Indiana White 2014 and Southwest Extreme made my "watch list."

I have enjoyed my last few days at the Adidas Invitational and the Kentucky Hoop Fest. Both are very good events with lots of talent. Tomorrow I will be at Ben Davis High School for the Top 100 workout. Follow me on Twitter @INrecruitguide for updates!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Kentucky Hoop Fest-Day 1

After spending the last 3 days in Indianapolis for the Adidas Invitational, I decided to go ahead and come down to Louisville for the historic Kentucky Hoop Fest. As I have been accustomed to doing lately, my day in the gym began by 8:00 a.m. and went until around 8:30 p.m. I had the chance to watch 7 games involving Indiana AAU teams, including a few that I had yet to see this summer. Here is a rundown of the games, as well as some players who impressed me with their performance.

Team Southern Indiana 2013 Red vs. Team Vigilance
Final: 56-46 TSI 2013 Red
Strong guard play was the key to TSI holding on to a victory in their first pool play game. The duo of Aidan McEwen and Jermaine Parrish displayed great ball-handling and passing skills. McEwen, a 6'3'' combo guard from Clarksville (2013) has great court vision, always looking up court for an open teammate. Also, he made some strong drives to the basket and finished through contact. Solid DIII or NAIA prospect. At just 5'11'', Parrish a Point Guard from New Albany (2013), is obviously smaller. However, he makes up for it in strength and quickness. He also showed some good hands on the defensive end. DIII player down the road.

Spiece Central-Mahurin vs. Minnesota Glory Elite
Final: 59-33 Spiece
Spiece Central dominated this game from the opening tip. They were lead by 6'7'' Forward of Rockville, Lane Mahurin who contributed 13 points. He has good length and can finish over the top of defenders down low. Division III prospect at this time. Sam Philpott, a 6'7'' Power Forward from Noblesville H.S. was also impressive. He has a nice mid-range game and is a good defensive rebounder. Probably a NAIA player. I also really like 5'9'' Point Guard from Fishers, Jon Flemming. He showcased great passing ability and is a good ball handler. Good defender as well, DII/NAIA prospect.

Indiana Elite Stars vs. Gainsville Wildcats
Final: 62-53 IE Stars
Before the July evaluation period began I wrote a little preview in which I said that I expect Mike Crawford, a 6'5'' wing from Tipton (2013) would have a huge month. Well, he made me look pretty good today as he scored 16 points on the way to an impressive victory over a tough Gainsville team. He showed off an all-around game, nailing a deep 3, driving to the basket, and scoring off a put back. He really can do it all offensively. Teammate Mo Evans, a 6'0'' PG from Cathedral (2013) impressed me once again.

Team Blaze Select 15U vs. Ohio Crossover
Final: 60-47 Blaze
Bloomington North should be set in the backcourt for the next 3 years. Guards Saikou Jallow and Grant Sims are both very good players, and have good size for their age. Jallow is a bit taller and longer right now. He displayed very good court vision and good rebounding ability from the guard spot. Sims is an all-around scorer. He ran the fast break well and finished lay ups in traffic. He is also a good outside shooter. Both will be Division I players down the road.

MBA Select 2013 vs. Wisconsin Wizards
Final: 70-26 MBA
This was my first chance to see MBA play this summer, I had been eagerly awaiting a chance to see talented 6'1'' Mishawaka Marian Guard Demetrius Jackson. He showcased good strength and quickness in the open floor, as well as his ability to create turnovers. Finished up with 20 points while playing in front of Michigan, Miami (OH), St. Bonaventure, Wright State, and Evansville. Also impressive was 6'4'' Shooting Guard Jake Thompson from Wawasee. He has a very pure shooting stroke and good ball handling skills. Could play the 1-3 spots. Good Division II prospect, maybe even low Division I.

Team Southern Indiana 2012 Red vs. West Virginia Wildcats
Final 64-52 West Virginia
Unfortunately for TSI, nobody was really that impressive. It was an all-around ugly game with lots of turnovers and missed shots. Michigan, Miami (OH), Wright State, Eastern Kentucky, Toledo, and IUPUI were all in attendance, but I don't they were too impressed with what they saw. 2013 Guard Darryl Baker showed off some good strength and the ability to finish in the paint, and guards Keegan Kincaid and Grant Meyer both played pretty well also. Both guards would be good Division II or NAIA players.

Spiece Select-Irwin vs. Florida Q6 All-Stars
Final: 56-45 Spiece
If all you had done was watch the two teams warm up you would have figured that Q6 came away with a 20 point victory. However, games aren't won in warm ups. Spiece came out with some aggressive defense and forced Florida into many missed shots. Stetson recruit Logan Irwin lead the way with 16 points. Very impressed with his play.

Another July day is in the books. Great day of basketball at the opening day of the Kentucky Hoop Fest, and will look forward to being back in the gym tomorrow!
Final

Friday, July 8, 2011

Adidas Invitational-Top Performers

I was able to watch around 20 games in the past two-and-a-half to three days, and got the opportunity to see a lot of the top talent that Indiana has to offer. Now that I have headed on down to Louisville for the Kentucky Hoopfest, I wanted to give a look back at the top players and performances that I saw in the last couple of days. Here are 8 guys that I was most impressed with.

Jeremy Hollowell: 6'7'' Small Forward, Lawrence Central H.S. (2012)
AAU: Indiana Elite/Team Indiana
Indiana University
He probably has had the best tournament of anybody in the state. In the two games of his that I have witnessed he scored 14 and 29 points, then went for 28 this evening. He is shooting the ball at a very high level, showing good range as well. In the past, a knock on Hollowell has been his lack of aggressiveness, however that is no longer the case. He has been much more aggressive off the dribble which has lead to his increased scoring. It looks like he is ready to play at the next level.

Eron Harris: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Lawrence North H.S. (2012)
AAU: Indiana Elite/Team Indiana
Interest around the long, athletic wing has been growing a lot in the past month or so. It has continued to increase after solid play through the first few days of the Adidas Invitational. Eron is a very good spot up shooter from the outside, and is getting better at attacking off the dribble. He is athletic enough to make that a huge part of his game. Also, he is a very good defender. His length allows him to create lots of problems for the ball handler.

Zak Irvin: 6'6'' Small Forward, Hamilton Southeastern H.S. (2013)
AAU: Eric Gordon 16U
He has solidified himself as one of the best, if not the best player in the state for the Class of 2013. Zak has showcased himself as an all-around stud, hitting a game winning 3-pointer, handling the ball well, playing great defense, showing a great mid-range, and the ability to be a leader of his team. He had already been hearing from schools such as Indiana, Michigan, and Butler, but now expect his recruitment to really blow up.

Zavier Turner: 5'9'' Point Guard, Pike H.S. (2013)
AAU: Eric Gordon 16U
Single handedly took over a game earlier today against Texas Select. With his team trailing by 5 points in the second half, Zavier took it upon himself to create turnovers and go coast-to-coast for some impressive layups as well as some nice assists. He has very good hands and is very quick which allows him to be disruptive on the defensive end. Offensively, he is strong, especially for his small stature. That size does not hold him back though, he finishes through contact and the rim and gets to the free throw line as well. Definite mid-major prospect, should start to get some even bigger looks as well.

Jaquan Lyle: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Evansville Bosse H.S. (2014)
AAU: Spiece Indy Heat 2014
Lyle is a very good ball handler with size, which allows him to play the point or off the ball. Personally, I like him more when he has the ball in his hands coming up the floor, he is a great playmaker. Rebounds very well from the guard spots. He is a top prospect nationwide in the 2014 class, and I expect he will have his pick as to what college to attend.

Mo Evans: 6'0'' Point Guard, Cathedral H.S. (2013)
AAU: Indiana Elite Stars
I will say it again, any low Division 1 school looking for a point guard in the class of 2013 please give Mo Evans a call. He is probably the best passer in the state, shredding the defense both in transition and in the half court set. He has good length for only being six feet tall, and is a strong ball handler. Really impressed with this kid who I didn't know much about coming into the tournament.

Patrick Ingram: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, North Central (2012)
AAU: Eric Gordon Central Stars
Very strong guard who can really rebound and defend. That is not his whole game though, he is a more than capable offensive threat as he showed by dropping 26 in a game yesterday. I really like his game and expect he will continue to get more and more interest as July progresses.

Ronnie Johnson: 5'10'' Point Guard, North Central (2012)
AAU: Eric Gordon Central Stars
Purdue University
North Central will certainly have one of the most explosive back courts in the state this coming season between Ronnie and Patrick. Purdue is getting quite a player here, he is a great outside shooter and clears space well to get his shot off against taller defenders. Good use of stutter-steps and step-backs, and can also drive around defenders and is strong enough to finish around the rim. Should contribute right away at PU.




Adidas Invitational-Day 3

Today's recap will be abbreviated because I only was at the gym until about noon. Decided it was time to finally head home for a while after spending the last 2 nights in Indianapolis for the tournament. Still, I was able to see three very good basketball games. After spending this evening resting up I hope to return to Indy to watch the final games tomorrow.

Indiana Elite Team Indiana vs. Compton Magic
Final: 84-78 IE Team Indiana
This was my second chance to see Team Indiana play, and once again they were impressive. Playing in front of Coach Crean as usual, 6'7'' Wing Jeremy Hollowell, an IU commit, had another very good game pouring in 29 points. He has played great all tournament and is proving his status as a Top 50 player in the country. However, 29 points was nothing compared to the 46 that 6'2'' Combo Guard Gabe York put up. He is leaning towards either Arizona, Marquette, or Washington. Another IU recruit Yogi Ferrell chipped in 17 points for IE, while Hanner Perea had his usual crowd pleasing dunk, or three, to finish with 9 point.

Spiece Indy Heat vs. Minnesota Pump N Run
Final: 68-67 Spiece
This collection of young talent continues to impress even while playing mostly older competition. 2014 Guard James Blackmon Jr., an IU commit, had 21 points to lead Spiece, while Jaquan Lyle contributed 13. I really like the way this 6'4'' combo guard from Evansville Bosse plays. He is a very good rebounder for a guard, and can also go coast-to-coast once he gets the ball. Definitely one of the top prospects nationwide in the 2014 class.

Eric Gordon 16U vs. Texas Select
Final: EG10 won by about 15, forgot to write down the score.
Texas Select had a 5 lead in the second half, but then Zavier Turner, a 5'9'' Point Guard from Southport took over the game. He displayed good hands on the defensive end and got some steals, then went coast to coast with his quickness, and finished at the rim through some heavy contact from much bigger players. Do not let his small stature fool you, Turner is very strong, and with out a doubt one of the best point guards in Indiana in the 2013 class. 6'6'' Wing Zak Irvin was very impressive once again. He is just an all-around stud, and is certainly making a case to be the best player in the state in the junior-to-be rankings.

I will be looking forward to getting back in the gym tomorrow, but it will also be nice to relax at home by the pool for a little while!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Adidas Invitational-Day 2

Well, I have spent two straight 12 hour days in various basketball gyms in Indianapolis and now my feet hurt, my hand hurts from writing, and I feel like my head is spinning from everything that is going on. Still, it has been a couple of the most enjoyable days I have had in a long time. Today, I had the opportunity to see 7 games involving AAU teams from Indiana. Here is the rundown of what I saw.

Eric Gordon 16U vs. Houston Select
Final: 73-72 EG10
Zak Irvin, a 6'6'' wing from Hamilton Southeastern H.S. (2013), stole the show in front of a slew of college coaches. He hit the game winning shot, a 3-pointer from the right corner, as time expired. He lead EG10 with 21 points, while Indiana University recruit Collin Hartman (2013) knocked in 4 3's in front of Coach Tom Crean. Irvin's stock has been rising for awhile now and it is finally ready to explode. I really think that this kid can play just about anywhere in the country.

Indiana Elite South vs. KC Pump N Run
Final: 72-61 Pump N Run
Coach Beilein from Michigan and Coach Crean were both on hand to watch 6'5'' Small Forward Troy Spears (2014) from Park Tudor H.S. He only had 5 points, but displayed a nice shooting stroke and good ball handling skills. 6'6'' Forward Franko House (2013) from Concord had 18 points. He is a big, strong body but is agile enough to cause big time match-up problems. He is a solid Division II prospect.

Indiana Elite Stars vs. Urban DFW Elite
Final: 84-74 IE Stars
Any low Division 1 school in search of a point guard in the Class of 2013, get on your phone and call Cathedral's Mo Evans. The 6'0'' PG may be the best passer in the state. He found every opening in transition and split defenders in the half-court. He also has good length for just being 6'0'' tall. 6'6'' Alex Etherington shot the ball well from 3, ending with 14 points.

Spiece Indy Heat vs. Michigan Mustangs
Final: 85-76 Spiece
This game was all about Derrick Walton from the Mustangs and Trevon Bluiett from Spiece. Walton, a 6'0'' guard had a game high 35 points, while Trevon a 6'5'' 2014 Forward from Park Tudor poured in 28 of his own. He displayed an all-around game, showcasing good ball-handling, shooting, and passing skills. 2014 Point Guard P.J. Thompson form Brebeuf Jesuit was also very impressive.

Meanstreets vs. Louisville Magic
Final: Don't know, left at half
I did not see much of this game, but what I did was very entertaining. First of all, some of these kids flat out do not look 15, I sure wish I was 6'6'', sculpted from marble, and had a goatee when I was 15. (Maybe I would still be playing basketball instead of writing about it!) Anyway, Jaraan Lands from Brownsburg H.S. was very impressive. He is receiving early interest from IU, Purdue, Xavier, Ohio State, and Wisconsin. Also, 6'8'' Power Forward Tyler Wideman looked good in the post. He was working hard to get position and displayed some of the softest hands I have seen. Great sign for such a young kid.

Indiana Elite One vs. Double Pump
Final: 76-52 Double Pump
I need to apologize to the IE One coach, I must be very bad luck. This is the second time I saw them this tournament and they have lost both games. 5'8'' Point Guard from Southport, Kellon Thomas displayed lightening quickness as well as good strength. He can absorb lots of contact and finish at the rim. He had 12 points, Jared Drew had 9, while IU recruit Ron Patterson added 7.

Eric Gordon Central Stars vs. MBA Select
Final: 77-70 MBA
Lots of coaches on hand to watch this game. Everyone on this EG10 besides Purdue commit Ronnie Johnson has yet to make a college decision, so that brings the coaches out in full force. Nick Osborne, a 6'8'' Power Forward from Muncie Central, scored 19 points and showed that he is one of the best rebounders in the state. I had predicted that he would have a big tournament, and he did have a pretty good two days. However, possibly most impressive tonight was 6'7'' Power Forward Joe Reed from Center Grove. Reed had 14 points and rebounded well, especially on the offensive glass. Interest should really start to pick up around him, good low to mid-major guy.

Day 2 is in the books. I will be back at the gym early tomorrow morning to watch Indiana Elite Team Indiana at 8:15, then heading to watch Spiece Indy Heat and then the 16U Eric Gordon squad. Should be another fun day as teams either win or go home. For complete coverage as it happens follow the Indiana Recruiting Guide on Twitter @INrecruitguide.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Adidas Invitational-Day 1

Wow! That was one long day of basketball, I watched 9 games today and was in the gym from 8:00 a.m. until about 11:00 p.m. Luckily, there is nothing I would rather be doing than watching basketball and talking with coaches and players.

If "star watching" is enjoyable to you, the Adidas Invitational is the place to go. Everyone who is anyone in the coaching world was on hand in one of the gyms being used to watch prospective players compete. Legends such as Coach K, Coach Roy Williams, Coach Cal, and Coach Calhoun were all in attendance. However, the crowd was not just full of the big names. Every level was well represented, all the way from high-majors on down to DIII and NAIA schools. I spent my day watching 7 different Indiana based AAU teams. Now, here is the abbreviated version of my day at the Adidas Invitational.

Game 1: Spiece Select 2012-Irwin vs. Florida Elite
Final: Florida Elite 63-34
I came away from this game very impressed with 2012 Whitko Point Guard, and Stetson recruit, Logan Irwin. It is always a refreshing sight when a teams best player is also its hardest worker, and that is exactly what Logan is. He is one of the best on-ball defenders that I have watched and caused many turnovers with that pressure defense. On the offensive end he is just as effective. He has a different looking shot, but it does go in a good amount of the time. I think that a place like Stetson is a perfect fit for him.

Game 2: Spiece Gym Rats-Baldwin vs. East Coast Fusion-Dalton
Final: East Coast Fusion 76-69
If any low Division II or NAIA school is looking for a solid power forward in the Class of 2012, I have found a sleeper. Tyler Arrowsmith of Churubusco High School is certainly under the radar, but if he puts many more games together like the one I saw today that won't last long. He poured in 21 points off of the low block, showing a very quick baseline drop step move that appeared to be un-guardable. I like his length and his array of post moves, really hope to see him playing at the next level.

Game 3: Team Southern Indiana 2012 Red vs. SDA Pump N Run 17U
Final: Pump N Run 74-61
Darryl Baker is a great player and certainly a Division 1 talent, but I found myself watching two other guys on this team even more than him. Those guys would be Keegan Kincaid a 6'1'' Point Guard from Switzerland County H.S. and Grant Meyer a 6'0'' PG from Silver Creek. Both are very strong and quick with the ball in there hands. Kincaid is a better 3 point shooter, and Meyer is a absolute lock down defender. Both have good athleticism and work hard which makes them very disruptive on the defensive end. Any NAIA or DII school that needs a point guard needs to make a call to either of these guys, they are the type of player that wins you games. Could probably play Division II ball in the right fit.

Game 4: D3 Pride vs. Minnesota Heat
Final: D3 Pride 70-46
I was starting to think that I was a jinx to the Indiana teams. Finally, D3 Pride picked up a victory with me in attendance, along with a slew of Division I coaches. Notre Dame commit Austin Burgett scored 17 points in front of his future Coach, Mike Brey. Also impressive was Point Guard Jacobby Bledsoe from Hamilton Southeastern. He displayed a smooth outside shot, as well as quick and explosive moves going to the basket. Also a solid defender. He will be a very good pick up for a mid-major team, I know Cincinnati was on hand to watch him today.

Game 5: Indiana Elite One vs. Team Eleate (AZ)
Final: Team Eleate (I failed to write down the score)
Terre Haute North Forward, Matt O'Leary was very impressive today. He showed the ability to knock down an outside shot, as well as the ability to get inside and finish around the basket. Point Guard Kellon Thomas from Southport also impressed me. He is very strong and can shoot the 3. Both guys would be very good pick-ups for a low to mid-major. Coach Tom Crean was in the stands to watch IU commit Ron Patterson. San Diego State, Boise State, Ball State, Missouri, and Lamar were all in attendance as well.

Game 6: Indiana Elite Team Indiana vs. Connecticut Basketball Club
Final: Indiana Elite Team Indiana 81-73
IU commit Jeremy Hollowell lead the way for IE with 24 points. He showcased a much improved outside shot, as well as increased aggressiveness going to the rim. Down the stretch Point Guard, and fellow IU recruit Yogi Ferrell was big, scoring many of his 15 points in the final minuets. In the next day or two make sure you check Youtube for the HUGE dunk that Hanner Perea threw down towards the end of the game.

Game 7: Eric Gordon Central Stars vs. Nashville Celtics
Final: 91-73 EG10
Coach Brad Stevens and Coach Matt Painter was in the crowd, as well as coaches from Tennessee, Liberty, and Stetson. Uncommitted Point Guard D.J. Balentine knocked down 3 3's on his way to 16 points. I suspect that he may pick up another offer or two in the coming weeks. Purdue commit Ronnie Johnson lead EG10 with 21 points.

Well there you have it. That was my very busy, yet fun, day in a nutshell. Now it is time to go to sleep so I can get up early and do it all over again. I will mainly be watching 16U teams tomorrow. Should be another fun day!

To receive updates throughout the day make sure you follow the Indiana Recruiting Guide on Twitter @INrecruitguide.