Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Recent Recruiting News

Today saw 2 big name Indiana prospects come off the board in the Class of 2012 as Obij Aget and DeJaun Marrero both made their college commitments.

Aget, a 7'1'' Center from La Lumiere has decided to play for Coach Steve Alford and the University of New Mexico Lobos. He will be joining another 7'1'' big man in the 2012 class, Chier Ajou who is currently doing a post-graduate year at Culver Military Academy. These twin towers should make a nice impact for the Lobos who are coming off of a 22-13 season. Both are a bit of a project, but anytime you have a 7'1'' frame to work with the potential is there for something special.

The other big name commitment of the day came when 6'6'' Power Forward DeJaun Marrero verbally committed to play at DePaul University. The star from Bowman Academy was also considering Ball State, Iowa, Dayton, Missouri, and Missouri State. Marrero is known as a high energy player who is a beast on the boards, even though he is undersized. He is a versatile defender and finishes very well around the basket. He was a big part of the 2010 2A State Championship team at Bowman, and is coming off a season that saw him average 22.2 points and 15.4 rebounds. DeJaun should be able to play a big role right away for the Blue Demons who have struggled in recent years while playing in the powerhouse Big East Conference.

Another commitment just became known to us as 2012 Warsaw H.S. guard Jordyn Coon committed to Bethel College, an NAIA school in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Yesterday an Indiana prospect made the news not for receiving a scholarship offer, but for getting one taken away. 6'3'' Shooting Guard Eron Harris of Lawrence North H.S. got his offer from Wisconsin pull yesterday afternoon. This was quite a surprise as he was one of the most highly sought after recruits after putting together a huge AAU season. He had announced that he was going to deciding between Wisconsin and Dayton. Now one would have to assume that Dayton holds a big advantage in his recruitment and I wouldn't be surprised if he commits when he visits the school on September 9th. However, Harris also holds offers from Kent State, Ball State, Evansville, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Tennessee Tech, and Buffalo.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Updated! Class of 2012 Rankings

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: Kentucky, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, IUPUI, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon State, Alabama
Interest From:
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
Committed: Depaul University
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.
Committed: West Virginia University
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. New: Wisconsin has pulled their scholarship offer, set to visit Dayton on Sept. 9th.
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
Committed: University of New Mexico
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.
Committed: University of Evansville
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.
Committed: Kent State University
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, Tennessee Tech
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 force 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: Western Kentucky, Iowa, 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, IUPUI
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.
Committed: Youngstown State University
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: 6'9'' Power Forward, Bowman Academy
Committed: Robert Morris University
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.
Committed: University of Detroit
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!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Purdue Elite Camp and Other Recruiting News

There were two big Elite Camps today, Purdue held theirs at North Central H.S. while IPFW had theirs up in Fort Wayne. Both camps brought out lots of great talent from around the state. Here are some of the standouts that I noticed today while watching the PU camp.

Grant Evans: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Wapahani H.S. (2014)
Grant can flat out shoot the rock. Today, he showed the ability to put the ball on the floor some too with a couple of good drives to the basket. His best asset is still his catch-and-shoot game though. Grant has a very quick release and a sweet lefty stroke. Right now his overall game reminds me a little of former Marion wing, and current player at NC State, Scott Wood. Both are good athletes who could really shoot the ball.

Jalen Coleman: 6'2'' Point Guard, Cathedral H.S. (2015)
It is amazing that a player who has yet to play a high school game can stand out while playing against some of the best players in Indiana. However, that is exactly what Jalen did. He showcased good athleticism while running the floor, very quick with the ball in his hands. I like his pull up jumper when in transition, but outside shooting is an area of his game that he will need to work on. Jalen should make an impact at the varsity level right away this winter.

Sean Sellers: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Greensburg H.S. (2014)
Continues to impress me each time I watch him play. Along with Grant Evans, Sean is in the running for the best shooter in the Class of 2014. He also has a nice mid-range game. He is a good rebounder on both ends of the court, could become even better when he adds some muscle.

Other guys who played well...

Kendall Rollins: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Pike H.S. (2014)
Tayler Persons: 6'0'' Point Guard, Kokomo H.S. (2014)
Trevon Bluiett: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Park Tudor H.S. (2014)
Jaquan Lyle: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Evansville Bosse H.S. (2014)

There was some news from the IPFW Elite Camp today as well...

Alex Etherington, a 6'6'' wing from Hamilton Heights (2013), picked up his first offer today from the Mastodons. The 'Dons also offered 2013 Forward, Richard Freeman of Lawrence Central. It was his first offer as well.

While on his visit to Valparaiso today, 6'5'' Small Forward Clay Yeo (2013) picked up an offer and promptly committed to play there.


Thursday, August 25, 2011

Updated! Class of 2013 Rankings

Here is an updated look at the Class of 2013. It may not have the star power that the classes of 2012 and 2014 have, but there are still a lot of Division I prospects. Indiana, Purdue, andMichigan commits make up 6 of the top 10.

Updated August 25, 2011

1. Zak Irvin: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Hamilton Southeastern H.S.
Committed: University of Michigan
Zak has a great overall skill set, very good mid-range game and can shoot it from the outside as well. He is a great athlete and has good length. Handles the ball well which lets him play a type of "point forward" position. He has had as good of a July as just about anybody in the country in my opinion, I really enjoyed watching him play.
2. Bryson Scott: 6'0'' Point Guard, Northrop H.S.
Committed: Purdue University
A very aggressive, scoring point guard. He is a great athlete who doesn't mind getting into the paint and going up against the big guys down low, he has good strength which allows him to finish against bigger defenders. One of the best defenders in the class. He is a streaky shooter from 3-point range, that would be his main area that he must work on. Great at attacking off the dribble.
3. V.J. Beachem: 6'6'' Small Forward, New Haven H.S.
Committed: University of Notre Dame
Beachem is a long and very skilled perimeter player. He has great all-around offensive ability. He can shoot the ball as well as create for himself off the dribble. I really like the diversity of his offensive game. He will need to get stronger and focus on making himself more of a lock-down defender on the defensive end, however his overall talent makes him deserving of one of the top spots in the 2013 Class. His ceiling is probably the highest out of any of these prospects.
4. Collin Hartman: 6'6'' Small Forward, Cathedral H.S.
Committed: Indiana University
Collin has the prototypical body type to play the 3 spot. He is a very good outside shooter and rebounds the ball well. Also, he handles the ball well and can distribute well enough that he could even play the 2 in college. I watched him play quite a few times this summer, both at the Adidas Invitational and Best of the Midwest. I was very impressed with how well he shot the ball, and with the range he displayed. He was hitting 3's out to 25 feet. He has been getting physically stronger, but will need to continue working hard in the weight room to take his game to the next level.
5. Demetrius Jackson: 6'1'' Point Guard, Mishawaka Marion H.S.
Offers From: Michigan, Xavier, Michigan State
Interest From: Illinois, Indiana, Notre Dame
Jackson is quick and athletic, can really break down the defense off the dribble. He is very smart on the court and distributes the ball well, good floor general. He will need to continue improving his shooting ability to really take his game to the next level, but showed some signs of improvement when I saw him at the Kentucky Hoop Fest this summer.
6. Devin Davis: 6'6'' Small Forward, Warren Central H.S.
Committed: Indiana University
Long and very athletic wing player. He handles the ball well for his size and likes to attack the rim off the dribble. Great rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. Devin plays the game with a great motor, never stops working. The overall tools are there for him to be a big time star at IU, but he must improve his jump shooting and become more of an offensive threat to really become an all-around player.
7. Basil Smotherman: 6'6'' Small Forward, Heritage Christian H.S.
Committed: Purdue University
Great competitor, attacks the glass and gets rebounds at both ends of the court. The lefty has a nice shooting stroke and likes to play around the perimeter. He showcased a could mid-range game at the Best of the Midwest, knocking down some nice pull-ups off the dribble.
8. Zavier Turner: 5'8'' Point Guard, Pike H.S.
Offers From: Evansville, Georgia State, St. Louis, Loyola, Ball State
Considering: Indiana State, Butler
Great floor general, elite quickness and seems to always find the open teammate. Sure, he is small, but his quickness and strength allow him to still be effective against taller defenders. I have really feel in love with watching Zavier play this summer, he is very fun to watch and he is just a great player. Because of his lack of size, he may end up a the mid-major level, but he is the type of player that could take over March Madness and lead a "cinderella" team.
9. Leo Svete: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Penn H.S.
Offers From: Drake, Western Michigan, Bucknell, Loyola, Evansville, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, BYU
Interest From: Wake Forest, Florida, NC State, Virginia Tech, Ball State, Kent State, Notre Dame, Florida State, Iowa
He is a versatile offensive player who could play the 1-3 spots. He is a great jump shooter, very nice mid-range game. He is improving his game going to the rim, but needs to keep working in that area to take his game to another level. Leo is a very hard worker and I expect him to have a big rest of the month which could bring in a couple more offers.
10. Austin Hatch: 6'6'' Shooting Guard, Canterbury H.S.
Committed: University of Michigan
Thoughts and prayers are with this young man right now after the horrific tragedy that recently occurred. A little under the radar around the state, Austin is a very good outside shooter and uses his size and strength to be a match-up problem for defenses. He rebounds very well from the guard spot. As a true shooting guard, you have to like his size. We all hope that Austin can achieve a full recovery so we can watch him play basketball yet again. With the drive and determination of this kid I am sure that anything is possible.
11. Brenton Scott: 6'0'' Point Guard, Northrop H.S.
Offers From: IPFW, Ohio, Indiana State, Ball State
Interest From: Butler, Purdue, Xavier, Illinois
Very solid overall point guard. He is a little more of a distributor than his brother Bryson. He is a very good 3 point shooter and a great defender. Not as big of a recruit as his brother, but still will be a very good mid-major point guard.
12. Jaylon Brown: 5'11'' Point Guard, Fishers H.S.
Offers From: American, Ohio, Toledo, Evansville
Interest From: Butler
Jaylon has really jumped onto the scene after this summer. He is very explosive and quick, his relatively small size does not hold him back. I expect he will have a strong junior campaign this winter for Fishers.
13. Mo Evans: 6'0'' Point Guard, Cathedral H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From: IUPUI, Wright State, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Ball State, Evansville, IPFW, Loyola
I had not seen him until this July, and Mo quickly became one of my favorite players to watch after seeing him at the Adidas Invitational and Best of the Midwest. He is the best passer in the state in my opinion, and also a great ball handler. He is very quick and runs the transition game as well as anyone. Not a great shooter, but gets his teammates lots of easy baskets.
14. Nick Davidson: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Andrean H.S.
Committed: Valparaiso University
One of the best shooters in the state, especially off the catch. He gets to the foul line a lot, and is a great free throw shooter. He isn't a great defender, needs to work on getting a little quicker. Still, Nick's offensive shooting ability alone makes him a good prospect.
15. Richard Freeman: 6'7'' Power Forward, Lawrence Central H.S.
Offers From: IPFW
Interest From: Butler, Central Michigan, Fordham, Iowa
Very long, athletic big man. He has a very good mid-range game for his size, but will need to develop more of a back to the basket game in order to become more well rounded. Right now he is more of a face up guy, a solid mid-major prospect. I saw him at both the Adidas Invitational and Best of the Midwest, looked good rebounding the ball and showed that he can handle it a little bit as well. His recruiting could really jump up with a good end to the summer.
16. Mike Crawford: 6'5'' Small Forward, Tipton H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From: Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Wright State, Gardner-Webb, Loyola, Wichita State
He handles the ball well for his size, and also has a very good inside game. Good outside shooter as well. All-around offensive threat. Have really enjoyed watching him play this month and he is a guy that will continue to get on the radar screen of some bigger colleges. Offers should start coming pretty soon.
17. Darryl Baker: 6'1'' Shooting Guard, Southport H.S.
Offers From: Vanderbilt
Interest From: Indiana, Louisville, Purdue, Xavier
Darryl is a very good overall athlete who likes to attack the basket. His strength allows him to finish through contact when he gets into the paint. He needs to improve his outside shooting consistency. I have seen a lot of him over the course of this summer and he seems to disappear offensively at times. He is good enough off the dribble to take over and I would like to see him do that more often. Eligibility concerns continue to swirl after his transfer to Southport.
18. Franko House: 6'5'' Small Forward, Concord H.S.
Offers From: Western Michigan, Evansville
Interest From: IUPUI
Very versatile big guy who has good athleticism for his size. He shoots the ball well from the outside and can even bring the ball up the court if needed. Any program who needs a guy who can play the 3-5 spots at a high level, Franko House is your guy.
19. Alex Etherington: 6'6'' Small Forward, Hamilton Heights H.S.
Offers From: IPFW
Interest From: Ball State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan
He is a long and athletic wing with the prototypical body type to play the 3 spot. He doesn't mind to slash to the basket and score down low, and is also a pretty solid rebounder. He doesn't shoot it quite as well as his brother yet, but once he does he could really shoot up the rankings. Alex should have a huge high school season now that he will be the #1 option.
20. Markese McGuire: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Elkhart Memorial H.S.
Offers From: Evansville, Mercer, Northern Illinois, Illinois-Chicago
Interest From: Ohio
Handles the ball well enough that he could play the point as well as the 2-guard. He is pretty strong and can finish through contact when attacking the basket. Pretty good outside shooter too. I think he would be a very good low to mid-major player.
21. Blake Simmons: 6'4'' Small Forward, Castle H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From: Evansville, Illinois
Simmons is an all-around offensive player who plays with a high basketball IQ (son of Evansville's Head Coach Marty Simmons). He shot the ball very well from 3-point range when I saw him at Best of the Midwest. Rebounds pretty well too.
22. Joe Fagan: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Bishop Chatard H.S.
Offers From: Duquesne
Interest From: Ball State, Wright State, Bowling Green, Bucknell, IUPUI, IPFW, Gardner-Webb
Very good outside shooter. He has a tendency to disappear for periods of time, so he mainly just needs to be a little more aggressive. Works hard on the court. He holds one DI offer right now, and I could see him getting lots of Division II interest.
23. Clay Yeo: 6'5'' Small Forward, Triton H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From: Ohio, Evansville, Valparaiso
For as thin as Clay is, he finishes well around the rim and has a pretty solid mid-range game. Right now he gets most of his points from flashing in the middle or slashing along the baseline, but if he can develop an outside game he could really become tough to stop.
24. David Hill: 5'11'' Point Guard, Cathedral H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From: Evansville
Solid all-around point guard. Great at distributing the ball and limits turnovers. He doesn't look to score much for himself, and probably needs to become a little more aggressive if he wants to pick up more Division I interest.
25. Milos Kostic: 6'8'' Power Forward, Bishop Noll H.S.
Committed: Northwestern University
Milos surprised some people when he announced his commitment last winter. He was a bit unknown around the state, and is still a little bit of a mysterious. After a relatively quite sophomore season, I expect he may break out this year as he will be the go-to-guy at Bishop Noll.
26. Trey Patterson: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Pike H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From:
Solid ball handler, looks to penetrate off the dribble and get to the rim. He is strong and can finish through contact inside. I like his aggressiveness on the offensive end, and can be a good defender as well. Good low Division I or Division II prospect.
27. John McCloud: 6'6'' Power Forward, Lawrence North H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From: IPFW, James Madison, Kent State, Miami Ohio, Western Michigan, Central Michigan
I have seen quite a bit of John at both the Adidas Invitational and Best of the Midwest. He runs the floor well and gets quite a few easy buckets in transition. He has good hands and finishes well around the rim. Good rebounder on both ends of the court. Can be a solid low-DI guy.
28. LaBradford Sebree: 6'3'' Small Forward, Kokomo H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From:
I like the strength of this athletic wing player. He is very strong going to the basket off the dribble and can finish through lots of contact. As he continues to work on his outside shooting he will become even harder to stop on the offensive end. I see him as a DII prospect at this time, but he could probably play low-Division I as well.
29. Hulian Terrell: 6'6'' Center, Lawrence North H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From:
Good length. He is a good area rebounder and can block some shots defensively. Hulian has good hands in the post and finishes well around the basket. Probably a Division II guy at this time.
30. Darius Latham: 6'5'' Power Forward, North Central H.S.
Offers From:
Interest From:
Darius is a pretty high level football recruit, but he has not ruled out playing basketball at the college level. He moves well for as big as he is, and has good hands and very good footwork. Would be a very solid Division II player.

Please send any feedback to ramseyb14@hanover.edu. Follow the Indiana Recruiting Guide on Twitter @INrecruitguide.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Class of 2015 Players to Watch

Now that the graduating class of 2015 has entered the halls of their respective high schools for the first time, it is time for the Indiana Recruiting Guide to release a list of names for you to keep your eye on. I will not rank players in this class until after their freshman season so as to see how they handle the high school game. Obviously it is still early in these kid's careers so it can be put a finger on what type of player they will become. Here is a look at some of the top Freshman that I have seen or heard about.

Jalen Coleman: 6'2'' Point Guard, Cathedral H.S.
Chandler White: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, Fort Wayne Carroll H.S.
K.J. Walton: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, Brownsburg H.S.
Sean McGee: 5'10'' Point Guard, Fort Wayne Northside H.S.
Matt Holba: 6'6'' Small Forward, Chesterton H.S.
Brennan Gillis: 6'6'' Power Forward, Ben Davis H.S.
Brandon Hardesty: 6'6'' Forward, Franklin Community H.S.
Michael Benkert: 6'4'' Small Forward Center Grove H.S.
Hyron Edwards: 5'10'' Point Guard, East Chicago Central H.S.
Chris Nunn: 5'8'' Point Guard, Liberty Christian H.S.
Michael Tucker: 5'8''Point Guard, Eastbrook H.S.
Rashaan Jackson: 6'2'' Small Guard, Warsaw H.S.
John Jager: 5'9" Point Guard, Bloomington South H.S.
Everitt Duncan: 6'3'' Small Forward, Evansville Harrison H.S.
Stanley Duncan: 6'3" Small Forward, Evansville Harrison H.S.
Ryan Fazekas: 6'5" Power Forward, Marquette Catholic H.S.
Bronson Kessinger : 6'5" Power Forward, Corydon Central H.S.
Ken Davis: 5'9'' Point Guard, Bloomington North H.S.
Joey Morlan: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Blackhawk Christian H.S.
Josh Speidel: 6'6'' Power Forward, Columbus North H.S.
Caleb Landrum: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Huntington North H.S.

Please let me know if there are names that need to be added to this list. I focused all my attention on Class 2012, 2013, and 2014 this summer so I have not seen many 2015 guys yet. You can contact me at ramseyb14@hanover.edu

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Darryl Baker to Southport

Well what I thought was going to be a quiet Sunday evening at home became a little bit more busy after some developments in the Darryl Baker transfer saga. As early as a month ago I had been hearing from a source in the Jeffersonville area that the talented 6'3'' Shooting Guard (2013), was going to be enrolling at La Lumiere School. Then, about 10 days ago the source said that he had talked to Darryl and that the plan was to go to Southport. I was trying to confirm the report, but after speaking to Southport Head Basketball Coach Wes Peek I decided to not run the story. Coach Peek said that he was not at the school for the first day of class, instead he had gone back to Jeffersonville. So, I figured that the whole thing must have not had any truth to it. However, this morning I got a message from my source and he told me that Darryl told him that he would be at Southport on Monday. It looks like it may actually be final this time! Coach Peek has confirmed that Darryl was at the school on Friday, but nothing is official as of now. I will stay on top of this story until the transfer becomes official.

In other news...

6'8'' Power Forward Joe Reed of Center Grove H.S. verbally committed to IPFW. Reed also considered American and Illinois-Chicago, both of whom had offered. The athletic post man saw his recruiting shoot up after a very good month of July with the Eric Gordon Central Stars.

Markese McGuire, a 6'3'' Shooting Guard, from Elkhart Memorial H.S., has received an offer from Evansville.

Jared Drew, 6'6'' Small Forward, from Cathedral H.S., is off the board to St. Louis. Good pick up, and the first in their 2012 class, for Coach Majerus.

Coming this week...

Over the course of this week I will be updating the Class of 2012, 2013, and 2014 Rankings for the final time until high school basketball season begins. If you would like to see a certain player in the Indiana Recruiting Guide rankings please email me at ramseyb14@hanover.edu or get ahold me on Twitter @INrecruitguide. I will also release a 2015 Watch List which will feature 10 or so of the top Freshman in the state.

J.T. Yoho, a 6'5'' Shooting Guard from Eastern Greene H.S., will be making his college decision tomorrow at 12:30. He is choosing between Bowling Green, IPFW, and Wright State. I will have the decision, along with a brief right up immediately following his announcement.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Top Un-Committed Seniors, DII/DII/NAIA Level

Here is another installment of the Indiana Recruiting Guide's look at the top prospects left on the board. In this article we will be looking at players that would fit in at the Division II, Division III, and/or NAIA level. As with the players who are looking to land at a Division I program, there are many prospects left in Indiana that college coaches at these levels could sign to help their team.

Division II

1. Steve Hawkins: 6'8'' Power Forward, Bowman Academy
Steve is pretty raw overall, but he is a good shot blocker and rebounder which, along with his size, will grab the attention of schools at the college level. His best bet may be to go the JUCO route so he can get stronger and polish his offensive skills, then he could contribute right away at the DII or possibly even low DI level. However, coming straight from high school I think that he is a Division II prospect based on his size and athletic ability.
2. Brad Hartman: 6'7'' Power Forward, Union County H.S.
Brad is an athletic big man who runs the floor well and has a nice soft touch around the basket. He can extend the defense with his mid-range game which features a consistent shot out to 15-17 feet. Brad needs to get stronger to be more of a force on the glass and defensive end of the floor, but he has the overall tools to be a very good player at the next level. He has a Division I offer from Jacksonville, but I do not see him being a contributor at that level. I do like him at a DII/NAIA program though.
3. Tyler Corey: 5'11'' Lawrence North H.S.
Played with and against some of the most talented players in the country in July with his AAU team, Indiana Elite/Team Indiana. Tyler is a strong point guard who can handle the ball well and makes smart decisions, does not try to do too much. I would like to see him look to score a little bit more at times because he has the strength to get to the basket and finish inside. Could contribute some minutes right away at the DII level.
4. Rashad Richardson: 6'4'' Small Forward, Lafayette Jefferson H.S.
Rashad had a very good showing at the Top 100 Showcase. I like his length and athletic ability. He is an pretty good shooter, but could improve in that area. He is another guy who could become a much better player if he went to a Junior College for a couple years, but either way is probably no more than a DII prospect.

Division II/NAIA Prospects
These players are right on the line between these two levels.

1. Adam Botts: 5'11'' Point Guard, Muncie Central H.S.
Adam is strong for his size and a very good leaper as well. He surprised me this summer by throwing down dunks in warmups. I think he will be ready to play right away at the college level, and his height will be the only thing that makes college coaches at the DII level think twice before grabbing him up.
2. Riley Rapp: 6'1'' Shooting Guard, Guerin Catholic H.S.
Rapp is a great student and a very hard worker. He is a good outside shooter which college coaches can never have enough of. He isn't the greatest athlete and isn't too big either which keeps him from being a bigger prospect. However, he has visited Yale and I suspect that many programs at the DII/NAIA level would love to have a kid like this.
3. Keith Cochran: 6'10'' Center, Bluffton H.S.
He has garnered some interest from low-Division I programs such as Western Michigan and Mercer, but that is mostly based on his size. I think that he is more of a DII/NAIA prospect. Coaches at that level should get on him right away as it isn't too often that a kid of this size comes to that level.

NAIA Prospects

1. Petey Balls: 6'0'' Point Guard, Lawrence North H.S.
I really like this kid as an on-ball defender, he will be a lock down type of guy at the next level. Petey handles the ball well on the offensive end and is a good passer too. Just a solid all-around point guard for an NAIA program.
2. Cody Woodbury: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Winchester H.S.
Cody is strong and a good athlete. He has a good mid-range game. Needs to improve his ball handling, but seems to be getting better each time I see him.
3. Trevor Thompson: 6'10'' Center, Ben Davis H.S.
Another guy that demands attention based on his size alone. He just doesn't move well enough or have the skill to go much higher than the NAIA level. Still, because of his size I think he would be a good player at that level.

Division III

1. Michael Lenz: 6'0'' Point Guard, Brebeuf Jesuit H.S.
I got to see Lenz play at the Adidas Invitational and was very impressed. I like his decision making and ball handling ability. I think he is the best of the guards that I have listed at the Division III level.
2. Grant Meyer: 6'0'' Point Guard, Silver Creek H.S.
Fell in love with watching this kid play this summer. He is super quick and one of the best defenders in the state. Great ball handler also. Has good strength, may be able to even play at the DII/NAIA level, but would be an instant impact player at a DIII program.
3. Ben Gardner: 6'0'' Point Guard, Carmel H.S.
Nice lefty shooting stroke. Good outside shooter, one of the games I watched this summer he went for around 25 points. He will be very good player at this level.
4. Keegan Kincaid: 6'1'' Point Guard, Switzerland County H.S.
Another guy that I really enjoyed watching play. He was on the same Team Southern Indiana AAU squad as Grant Meyer, and is a similar player to the extent that they are both quick and very good defenders. Keegan is a better 3-point shooter, but can be a little loose with the ball sometimes.

All of these prospects are very talented and it was tough to decide what level they would best fit at. Take note that guys that I put at the DIII level for example could play at a DII or NAIA school if the right fit came along, but I think that they will get the most interest from the DIII level and could contribute right away at those schools. Please contact me if you would like more info at ramseyb14@hanover.edu.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Top Un-Committed Seniors DI Level

Now that many high schools are starting up again basketball season will be upon us before you know it. With that, many of the top prospects in the class of 2012 are coming off the board. However, college programs of any level that are still looking to fill a spot or two can find some very talented players. Here is a detailed look at the top players remaining broken down by college prospectus.

Division I Prospects

1. Gary Harris: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Hamilton Southeastern H.S.
This is the obvious choice for the #1 slot. Harris was ranked #11 in the country in the latest ESPN rankings. He can essentially take his pick as to where he will play college basketball, currently Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, Louisville, and Notre Dame are after Harris the hardest and seem to be at the top of his list, though he has not officially named any finalists. Michigan and Ohio State are other schools that have offered and may be in the mix, and Kentucky has been showing some interest.
2. DeJaun Marrero: 6'6'' Small Forward, Bowman Academy
Marrero is a versatile, inside-outside player that causes serious match up problems for opposing defenses. He plays with a great motor and is an elite rebounder for his size. However, he is a bit of a "tweener" which will cause more of a problem at the next level than it does in high school. Marrero lists these schools as the main ones that are in the running for his services Illinois, Indiana, Xavier, Purdue, Ball State, Minnesota, Memphis and Dayton, all have offered. Kansas and Tennessee have recently begun to show interest as well. He has stated that there are no clear front-runners at this time, but he may be shortening his list of possible suitors in the near future.
3. Eron Harris: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Lawrence North H.S.
Even though he is un-committed, his recruitment is not necessarily open. Eron has named Wisconsin and Dayton has his Final 2 schools.
4. Patrick Ingram: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, North Central H.S.
Ingram has seen his recruitment pick up after a very solid summer circuit. He picked up an offer from Iowa and was just recently offered by Georgia State. His teammate from the Eric Gordon Central Stars, Nick Osborne, just committed to Loyola, so one could assume that they are in the mix (they have offered him). He also just got back from a visit to St. Louis and they are considered a front-runner for the strong guard. Southern Illinois and Ball State have also offered.
5. D.J. Balentine: 6'1'' Point Guard, Kokomo H.S.
He is another member of the EG10 AAU squad that had a great summer. Nick Osborne has already been on the phone with Balentine, as well as Ingram, give a recruiting talk on behalf of Loyola, who has offered. Missouri State, Evansville and Wright State have all offered the talented guard this summer, and Indiana State and IPFW are also in the mix.
6. Jared Drew: 6'6'' Small Forward, Cathedral H.S.
Boston College has recently become interested in this athletic wing player. He has a multitude of offers and told the Indiana Recruiting Guide just a couple of days ago that he has cut his list to 5, but he is not ready to release the list. Loyola, St. Louis, Lamar, IUPUI are some of the schools that have offered that are after him the hardest.
7. Kellon Thomas: 5'11'' Point Guard, Southport H.S.
Kellon just shortened his list to a Final 5 of Florida Atlantic, IPFW, IUPUI, Kent State, and UC-Davis. I know that he is a top priority of the IUPUI staff.
8. Obij Aget: 7'1'' Center, La Lumiere School
I know that I am not as big a fan of Obij as lots of people so I may get some grief for putting him #8 on this list. Obviously, when you are 7'1'' and have the athleticism that he has you are going to get tons of big time Division I offers, however I question how productive he will ever become. His recruitment is pretty much wide open still. He visited New Mexico this weekend and holds offers from schools such as Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, and Mississippi.
9. Edward Seay: 6'9'' Power Forward, Merrillville H.S.
Seay is a little under the radar, but I fell in love with this kid at the Top 100 workout. His length and athleticism are big assets. He is a great shot blocker and is developing a good offensive game as well. He does not have any offers at this point, but Northern Illinois, Dayton, Loyola, Western Michigan, and Illinois State are interested. Coaches from Michigan have also been keeping tabs on him. He may be a year or so away from being a big-time contributor, but any mid-major school still in need of a big man should get on him right away.
10. J.T. Yoho: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Eastern Greene H.S.
Yoho does not overwhelm you with athleticism, but he sure can score it. His size allows him to get some mis-matches and he is a great shooter from both mid-range and from outside. Bowling Green, IPFW, Gardner-Webb, and Wright State have offered and he is currently visiting all of those schools before making a decision. Will be a good pure scorer at the mid-major level.
11. Jermaine Meyers: 6'0'' Point Guard, Culver Academy
Very good all-around point guard. He could contribute some minutes right away at the low to mid-major level. Meyers has offers from Ball State, Drake, Indiana State, Ohio, and Valparaiso. IUPUI has begun showing interest as well.
12. Elijah Ray: 6'6'' Power Forward, Bowman Academy
I really like this kid. He is a very strong body but is also a good athlete. Ray is probably one of the best rebounders left on the board, so any low or mid-major in need of rebounding help, don't let the 6'6'' frame scare you and get after him. He is a top level student as well, showcased by the interest he is receiving from schools like Harvard, UC-Irvine, and Illinois. His only offers are from Indiana State and Valparaiso.
13. Joe Reed: 6'8'' Power Forward, Center Grove H.S.
Reed benefited from a great month of July, he now holds 3 DI offers from Toledo, American and Indiana State. Interest has been coming in from Ball State, IUPUI, Illinois-Chicago and Northern Illinois. He has stated that he would like to make a decision by the end of the month, but may make a couple of more visits first.
14. Ryan Weber: 6'6'' Small Forward, Roncalli H.S.
Ryan is a versatile wing player with good strength that allows him to play either the 3 or the 4. He has offers from Drake, IPFW, Gardner-Webb, Lamar, Youngstown State, and Boston.
15. Jalen Pendleton: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Evansville Bosse H.S.
He only has one Division I offer, from Indiana State. I really like him on the defensive end and is an overall good athlete with good strength. He needs to work on his perimeter game, but I see him as a good low-DI prospect.

The previous 15 names are guys that are for sure Division I prospects. The next 5 names are players that are right on the cusp between the Division I and Division II level.

Harry Willis: 6'2'' Point Guard, Ben Davis H.S.
He holds an offer from Mississippi Valley State (Division I) and Indianapolis (Division II). Valparaiso has also shown interest. I like him at the low DI level, his athleticism allows him to create for himself off the dribble and he has the potential to be a very good defender at the next level.
Kendall Waters: 5'10'' Point Guard, Muncie Central H.S.
Waters is a good all-around talent, but his lack of size and strength may keep him from the DI level. I think he could go in and contribute right away at a Division II program. He has interest from SIU-Edwardsville and Eastern Kentucky. DII coaches, call this guy if you need a point guard.
Brent Calhoun: 6'8'' Center, Warren Central H.S.
Brent had a very strong last week of July that lead to picking up 2 Division I offers from Lamar and Appalachian State. He isn't the most athletic guy, but he works hard on both ends of the floor. I think he will be a solid player off the bench at a low-DI program.
Tyler Alderman: 6'9'' Center, Fishers H.S.
Holds an offer from SIU-Edwardsville and has some interest from Toledo, Indiana State, and Evansville. I think he could be a stud at the Division II level so coaches should get on him right away. However, at a DI program he would be more of a project, he isn't very quick or athletic, but his big frame allows him to get the job done. He is a good kid with a solid work ethic.
David Heckman: 6'7'' Small Forward, Roncalli H.S.
David is probably more of a DII prospect. He has an offer from Findlay (DII), but is getting some DI interest from schools like Samford, Leigh, and Furman.

There you have it. 20 names of potential Division I prospects that have yet to make their college decision. If your program needs any more information on one of these guys please get ahold of me. I can be reached by email at ramseyb14@hanover.edu.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Recruiting News Update

The biggest news of the past few days would certainly be Muncie Central big man, Nick Osborne, announcing his commitment to Loyola last evening. The 6'8'' Power Forward is a double-double waiting to happen and should be a huge asset right away for their program. Nick has stated that he will be busy helping recruit his AAU teammates Patrick Ingram and D.J. Balentine. New Assistant Coach Jason Gardner, formerly an assistant at Cathedral has been busy with recruiting Indiana players, also gaining a commitment from 6'7'' Forward Matt O'Leary of Terre Haute North.

Southport Point Guard Kellon Thomas has cut his list of college choices down to a Final 5. Florida Atlantic, IPFW, IUPUI, Kent State, and UC-Davis were the schools that made his list.

Dylan Langkabel, a guard from Morristown, has committed to Division II Northwood University in Michigan.

6'5'' Guard Leo Svete of Penn will be taking a visit to Florida on the 21st and 22nd of this month. Loyola recently offered the 2013 prospect as well. He now holds offers from Drake, Western Michigan, and Bucknell along with Loyola.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Best of July AAU Circuit

During this past month of July many Indiana basketball players saw their hard work come to fruition as interest and offers from college programs came their way. Over the course of the month there were a few players who really stood out above the rest and saw their recruiting really take off. Guys such as Lawrence North's Eron Harris and Southport's Kellon Thomas gained multiple offers during July, along with players who were not as highly recruited before like Matt O'Leary, Brent Calhoun, and Tyler Alderman burst onto the Division I scene. Others made their college commitments during the month, or directly after it, namely, Zak Irvin and Michael Ramey. Here is a deeper look into the top performers of the July circuit.

Class of 2012

This past month marked the last time that these Seniors-to-be would put on their AAU uniforms and served as one of their final auditions for college scouts. These guys made a big impression in July.

Eron Harris: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Lawrence North H.S.
He probably made one of the biggest leaps during the AAU season. Eron saw his recruiting interest blow up after a great tournament at the Adidas Invitational. He know holds an offer from Wisconsin, and has stated that he will be choosing between the Badgers and Dayton.

Patrick Ingram: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, North Central H.S.
Patrick was another Indiana player to brake into the Big 10 Conference after receiving an offer from Iowa. I really enjoyed watching this strong guard play, he as a very solid all-around game that would translate well to the physical Big 10. He also has offers from Indiana State, Loyola, Southern Illinois, and St. Louis to name a few.

Jared Drew: 6'5'' Small Forward, Cathedral H.S.
He continued to add to his long list of schools after a strong AAU circuit. Jared added offers from Missouri State, St. Louis, Lamar, and Loyola as well as serious interest from Boston College.

Kellon Thomas: 5'11'' Point Guard, Southport H.S.
This scoring guard had a huge month which lead to him adding more and more offers to his already sizable list. Kellon picked up an offer from Kent State recently. Stony Brook and Florida Atlantic also offered this past month.

Matt O'Leary: 6'7'' Small Forward, Terre Haute H.S.
After a strong month of July, four offers have come the way of this talented offensive threat. American, Furman, Loyola, Jacksonville all recently extended offers, and Lafayette has also offered.

J.T. Yoho: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Eastern Greene H.S.
Yoho was very impressive when I watched a few of his games at the Best of the Midwest tournament. I was obviously not the only person impressed with this big time scorer this month as he added 2 offers in July from IPFW and Wright State.

Brent Calhoun: 6'8'' Power Forward, Warren Central H.S.
Received his first DI offers this past month as Lamar and Appalachian State both rewarded his solid play in late July. IPFW is also interest in the big man.

Class of 2013

Zak Irvin was with out a doubt the most impressive player out of the Junior-to-be player in the state. He played his way into being named the Indiana Recruiting Guide's #1 prospect in the class. Zak also made his college decision, recently committing to the University of Michigan.

Jaylon Brown: 6'0'' Point Guard, Fishers H.S.
Really burst onto the scene this past month. Jaylon received scholarship offers from American and Ohio, as well as interest from Xavier, Butler, and Evansville. The explosive guard should have a big Junior season.

V.J. Beachem: 6'6'' Small Forward, New Haven H.S.
Beachem is the highest rated uncommitted prospect in the 2013 class now that Zak Irvin is off the board. The versatile wing had a big month which lead to picking up another offer, this one from Notre Dame. Butler and Purdue have also offered. He has said that it may not be much longer before he makes his decision.

Mo Evans: 6'0'' Point Guard, Cathedral H.S.
Even though Mo still does not hold any offers, interest around the talented guard took a swing upwards during July. He is currently getting serious interest from many mid-majors including Loyola, IPFW, Evansville, Wright State, and Ball State.

Class of 2014

Evansville Bosse combo guard Jaquan Lyle proved why he is considered one of the premier Sophomore-to-be prospects nationwide. He showcased great ball-handling and passing ability, which at 6'4'', gives him the ability to play point guard as well as off the ball. He said that both Michigan State and Ohio State are "close to offering" and he already has offers from Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, and Xavier.

Sean Sellers: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Greensburg H.S.
The lights out shooter was very impressive at the Best of the Midwest, scoring 20+ points in the 2 games that I watched him play. Big time Division I programs are keeping close tabs on this long, athletic wing, such as Michigan, New Mexico, Butler, and Purdue.

Class of 2015

Many of these Freshman-to-be are just beginning to get onto the radar screens of college coaches, however some of the top players are already garnering serious interest. Cathedral guard Jalen Coleman has picked up an offer from Indiana before ever playing a high school basketball game. Notre Dame is also very interest in the athletic guard.

A couple of other names to watch in this class are...

Chandler White: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Fort Wayne Carroll H.S.
K.J. Walton: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, Brownsburg H.S.

In other recruiting news...

Southport sharp-shooter Michael Ramey committed to Ball State.

Fishers big man Tyler Alderman received an offer from SIU-Edwardsville and also has picked up interest from Toledo. Toledo is also in the running for Center Grove's Joe Reed, he holds an offer from them.

2011 Indiana All-Star Chris Whitehead is headed to Weatherford College, a JUCO in Texas.

Jared Drew of Cathedral told the Indiana Recruiting Guide that he has narrowed his list down to 5, however he is not releasing the names just yet.