USSFA-Indy Summer Shootout Final

I finally made the trip over to Carmel this evening to watch some of the Indy Summer Shootout, and I am certainly glad I did. I was able to check out the final 3 quarters of the Broad Ripple vs. North Central game which was won by Broad Ripple, 76-73. Indiana University bound Ron Patterson lead all scorers with 28 points, while Purdue commit Ronnie Johnson lead the Panthers with 24. The loss can be taken with a grain of salt because NC was without both Patrick Ingram and Perry Poindexter. However, I was impressed with Broad Ripple and I think they should have a very successful season.

Now, onto the recap of the championship game between traditional powerhouse Lawrence North and Indianapolis Tech. The began, and ended with stretches of sloppy play, but both teams settled into a nice groove for the middle 16-20 minutes. Trey Lyles, an IU recruit, scored 32 points in a losing effort as LN took it to Tech by a score of 70-55. The victors were lead by Eron Harris who contributed 15 points to the balanced offensive attack. Here are some player recaps.

Trey Lyles: 2014 6'9'' Forward, Indianapolis Tech H.S.

Lyles simply put on a show. I came away assured that he is worthy of the #5 national ranking. For just an incoming Sophomore he has almost the total package. He proved to be a capable scorer both inside and out, he hit 3 3's and also had at least 3 or 4 buckets off of offensive rebounds. He is a strong kid and also has a very good looking shot. I expect him to really dominate this coming season.

Jeremy Tyler: 2014 6'1'' Point Guard, Indianapolis Tech H.S.

Even though he didn't exactly fill up the stat sheet today, most basketball fans would be able to see the potential of Jeremy Tyler. I really like his athleticism and he has a very smooth shooting stroke. He will really need to get in the weight room over the next couple of years, but despite his lack of strength he was active on the offensive glass and had a couple nice rebounds. Certainly a solid mid to high major prospect.

Eron Harris: 2012 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Lawrence North H.S.

Harris was very impressive tonight. I had said a couple of weeks ago that he needed to improve his outside shooting, well he came out in the second half and hit 3 3's in about the first two minutes. He continues to impress me as a slasher type guy, and his athleticism really causes problems for defenses. Interest has been picking up for him, and I expect it to continue to do so throughout the July AAU circuit.

Basil Smotherman: 2013 6'4'' Small Forward, Lawrence North H.S.

Smotherman is still being worked into the lineup at LN, so his role isn't totally defined at this point. However, he did a very good job on the defensive end and also got some really nice rebounds. Added 9 points, and looked good attacking the basket from the baseline, but just missed some shots. I think that once he gets used to the new teammates and a new system he will be just fine.

Petey Balls: 2012 6'0'' Point Guard, Lawrence North H.S.

I like this kid. He is a solid ball handler and and all-around hard nosed player. Seems to really have a knack for the offense when the ball is in his hands and looked to find open teammates, almost always making the right pass. Locks up on defense pretty well also. I could see him playing at a DII school with the right fit, but definitely could contribute at the NAIA level.

Recruiting News and Notes

Wednesday marked the first day that 2013 prospects could be contacted via phone by college coaches. For many Indiana prospects this day is spent with a constant buzzing coming from their mobile device as coaches try to be the among the first to contacts their prized recruits. Here is a rundown of some of the notable prospects and who they were in contact with on the first day of the phone contacting.

The Indiana Recruiting Guide's #1 Class of 2013 prospect, V.J. Beachem 0f New Haven heard from many schools: Butler, IU, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Florida, Notre Dame, Depaul, Cincinnati, Iowa, Stanford, Georgetown, Minnesota, Northwestern and Pitt. Must have been a busy day for him!

The #5 2013 prospect as ranked by us at the Indiana Recruiting Guide, Zak Irvin, also had a busy day Wednesday fielding phone calls. He heard from Baylor, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgetown, Indiana, Purdue, Tennessee, Xavier, and Marquette. Irvin also spoke with Butler and Michigan who both offered the 6'5'' wing player.

Demetrius Jackson of Mishawaka Marian spoke with Butler and Indiana.

Pike guard, Zavier Turner was on the phone with Central Michigan, Dayton, Evansville, IUPUI, Loyola, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Rice, Saint Louis and Western Michigan.

Austin Hatch, a 6'6'' Shooting Guard from Fort Wayne Canterbury committed to Coach John Beilein and the Michigan Wolverines as soon as he picked up an offer on Wednesday.

2012 guard, Whitko's Logan Irwin committed to Stetson while on a visit at the school on Wednesday.

2014 guard Grant Evans of Wapahani said that he liked his visit to Purdue and had a good time on campus when I spoke with him today. He also recently was at Butler.

After a whirlwind of action the last 24 hours in the basketball recruiting world, things should slow down a little bit until the AAU season picks back up in July.

Summer Leagues

The first full week of June brings the beginning of summer basketball workouts and leagues. I am serving as an assistant coach this summer at Centerville High School and we have daily workouts Monday-Thursday and play in the Centerville Summer League on Monday nights. Games are played at 5, 6, 7, 8 at Centerville High School. This year we have a pretty good mix of schools, including Richmond, Centerville, Union County, Hagerstown, Northeastern, Cambridge City Lincoln, National Trail (OH), and Tri Village (OH). This is some good competition for basketball fans to come watch, especially those in East Central Indiana.

Also, the IPS Summer League begins this evening at Arlington High School. They play on Tuesday evenings at 6,7,8, and 9. This should be another very good league to follow, and I will plan on going over there some this summer to watch.

June serves as a break from the AAU circuit as high school teams get there players together to begin to prepare for the coming winter. Its a great time to see how your younger guys have progressed since the past season and get a first look at the incoming freshman class. If anyone knows of any other good summer leagues please lets us know and we will try to come watch. Just email ramseyb14@hanover.edu.

Updated! Class of 2014 Rankings

Here is an updated look at the top prospects in Class of 2014. This class is shaping up to be another great one for the state of Indiana. Trey Lyles is #8 in the country according to the most recent ESPN rankings, and Jaquan Lyle is #12. Bluiett and Blackmon are also nationally renowned prospects.

Updated August 24, 2011

1. Trey Lyles: 6'8'' Power Forward, Indianapolis Tech H.S.

Committed: Indiana University

Lyles is very versatile and plays with a high basketball IQ for a player of his age. He has a very good inside game and shoots the ball very well from the outside as well. Just a great all-around player, especially for just a sophomore. He is without a doubt one of the top prospects in the nation.

2. Jaquan Lyle: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Evansville Bosse H.S.

Offers From: Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Xavier, Michigan State

Interest From: Ohio State, West Virginia

Very good size and is a great ball handler and passer which gives him the ability to play the point as well as off the ball. He is an okay shooter, but needs to improve in that aspect of his game. I like him more as a point guard right now actually. I got to see a lot of him at the Adidas Invitational and Best of the Midwest this summer and he impressed me each and every time. Very smooth all-around player and is also a top prospect nationwide.

3. Trevon Bluiett: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Park Tudor H.S.

Offers From: Indiana, Virginia, Purdue, Xavier, IUPUI

Considering: Texas, Marquette, Butler, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Michigan, Michigan State, Florida, Florida State, Arizona

Bluiett is a great offensive player. He is a very good outside shooter, both off the dribble and catch-and-shoot. Just a pure all-around scorer who could easily give you 15-20 points a night. I was very impressed with the way he handled the ball this July, evening showcasing the ability to run the point when needed. He has good size which lets him play many positions, but his lack of superior quickness makes him a bit of a liability on the defensive end.

4. James Blackmon Jr.: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, Fort Wayne Luers H.S.

Committed: Indiana University

Good shooter and is an all-around great scorer. He handles the ball well which allows him to create his own shot with ease. Pretty good athlete and is quick with the ball, he finds ways to score in almost any situation. In some games that I saw during the this summer he struggled to get into a rhythm, but then other times he got on a roll and could rattle off 10 points in no time. I expect him to continue to develop into an exceptional player.

5. Perry Poindexter: 6'7'' Small Forward, North Central H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From: Indiana, Purdue, Michigan State, Xavier, Michigan, Butler

I have got to see him quite a bit this summer and it is easy to see why college coaches are interested in this prospect. He is very long (7'2'' wingspan) which allows him to block lots of shots and rebound. His offensive game is starting to develop, I saw him hit a few mid-range jumpers and can finish down low in the paint. Has the tools to be one of the top players in his class, but is still a little raw.

6. Sean Sellers: 6'5'' Shooting Guard, Greensburg H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From: New Mexico, Butler, Michigan, Purdue

Great all-around offensive player. He has good size for a wing player and is one of the best shooters in his class. Sellers can also attack the basket off the dribble and can rebound pretty well. Just needs to work hard to add some muscle and he will take his game to the next level. Saw him score 28 points in a game at Best of the Midwest.

7. Tyler Wideman: 6'8'' Center, Lake Central H.S.

Offers From: Purdue

Interest From: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern

Wideman has a great body, he is both tall and thick which allows him to simply over power defenders. He has very good hands and footwork around the basket, finishes around the rim. Also, he grabs quite a few rebounds using is large frame. I was impressed with the way he moved at the Adidas Invitational, good athlete for such a big kid. Will be a force along with Glenn Robinson III for Lake Central this coming season.

8. Justin Brent: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Speedway H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From: Indiana, Purdue, Georgetown, Xavier, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Marquette, Dayton, Detroit, Wright State

Having played Point Guard for most of the school season, Brent is a very good ball handler which allows him to use his athletic ability and attack the basket off the dribble, similar to Jaquan Lyle in that respect. He is developing a very good mid-range game as well. I really like his upside and expect some high-major offers to come before too long.

9. Jaraan Lands: 6'5'' Small Forward, Brownsburg H.S.

Offers From: Oklahoma State

Interest From: Indiana

He has very good size and strength for his age. I like the way he attacks the basket, he is very good at absorbing contact and getting to the foul line. Jaraan can shoot the ball well from the outside too. Brownsburg should be set for the next few years between Jaraan and 2015 stud K.J. Walton.

10. P.J. Thompson: 5'9'' Point Guard, Brebeuf Jesuit H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From: Indiana, Purdue, Xavier, Butler, Illinois, Virginia Tech, Stanford

Right now, he is probably the best pure point guard in the class. He is a very good floor general who seems to always make the right decisions and puts his teammates in good positions to make things happen. Obviously, Thompson is a little undersized but that does not hold him back. Very impressed with his play this summer.

11. Bryant McIntosh: 6'2'' Point Guard, Greensburg H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From: Michigan, Indiana, Purdue, Stanford, Indiana State, Tennessee, Michigan State

He has been working hard in the past couple of months on his strength and quickness and it is paying dividends this month. He is a good shooter and is also a solid passer. I was impressed with the way he ran the point at the Best of the Midwest. Also, McIntosh possess's one of the best floaters I have seen, it goes in every time. Really like the way he is developing. I look forward to watching him play alongside Sean Sellers as a Greensburg Pirate this year after spending last season at New Castle.

12. Troy Spears: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Park Tudor H.S.

Offers From: Evansville, New Mexico

Interest From: Indiana, Michigan, Butler, Stanford

Very good shooter and all-around scorer. I really like watching him move without the ball and come off screens, very good at curling to the basket. Has pretty good size which lets him finish around the basket when he drives. Good defender as well. Played well for Indiana Elite South while playing up a year in the 2013 class. Gets over-shadowed a bit at Park Tudor because of Yogi Ferrell and Trevon Bluiett, but I expect him to be a key piece to their run back to Conseco Fieldhouse.

13. Grant Evans: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, Wapahani H.S.

Offers From: Wright State, Gardner-Webb

Interest From: Ohio State, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Evansville, Belmont, Missouri State, IPFW

Evans is a very good 3-point shooter and also takes the ball to the basket well, gets to the foul line a lot. He looks like a kid who could still grow a few inches, and as he adds some muscle he will become even tougher to stop. I was impressed with how he played against some good competition at the Top 100 workout.

14. Jeremie Tyler: 6'1'' Point Guard, Indianapolis Tech H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From: Xavier, Wright State, Indiana State, Evansville

Great quickness and is a very solid ball handler. He shoots the ball well from the outside as well. Had a chance to see him a couple times this summer and he has the potential to be one of the best catch-and-shoot guys in the state. Would like to see him get in the weight room and add some strength. He has good length and is a lock-down defender. Offers a great 1-2 punch for Tech with teammate Trey Lyles, they should be very solid for the next 3 seasons.

15. Kendall Rollins: 6'6'' Small Forward, Pike H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From: Purdue, Wright State, Indiana, Detroit, Tulane, IUPUI, IPFW, Indiana State, Depaul

Very good size and athletic. A great overall talent, Rollins may shoot up the rankings as he develops. He can shoot from the outside and rebounds pretty well. I look for him to have a breakout season this winter for Pike as he will have to take over a bigger role with the loss of Marquis Teague.

16. Ernie Duncan: 6'2'' Point Guard, Evansville Harrison H.S.

Offers From: Evansville, Southern Illinois

Interest From: Indiana, Purdue, Xavier, Indiana State, Butler, Michigan, Ohio State, Clemson

He handles the ball well and has a pretty strong body for a Sophomore. He doesn't overwhelm you athletically, but he is a very solid player on both ends of the floor. Rebounds well from the guard spot.

17. Taylor Persons: 6'0'' Point Guard, Kokomo H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From: Purdue, Butler, Indiana, Indiana State, Loyola

I had never seen him before this summer, and I had the chance to see him 3 times at the Best of the Midwest. He plays very hard and is really strong for his age. Solid ball handler and passer, looks to attack the basket off the dribble and can finish through contact. Each time I watched him he would end up with 12-16 points. A little undersize and not an overwhelming athlete, but very solid and gets the job done.

18. Aaron Brennan: 6'6'' Power Forward, Guerin Catholic H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From: Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State

Have not gotten a chance to see him yet so he may deserve to be higher in the rankings than what I have him at. I will be making an effort to see him play very soon. I have heard great things about him, and with some of the schools inquiring about him I have to assume he is very, very good.

19. Mark Mercer: 6'8'' Power Forward, Plymouth H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From:

I first saw him for just a couple of minutes down at the Kentucky Hoop Fest, was impressed, and wrote his name down. Then I saw him again at the Top 100 and he blew me away. Anytime now this guy is going to blow up, he is a definite DI prospect. He has all the offensive skills, can score down low and shoot the ball out to the 3-point line.

20. Tyler Arens: 6'8'' Center, Marion H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From:

Any time you see this kind of size on a sophomore you have to pay attention. I saw him play for the first time at the Best of the Midwest and he has pretty good strength and looks to be athletic. Good rebounder who can also shoot it from mid-range a little bit. Anxious to see how he improves over the next year.

21. Daeshon Francis: 6'1'' Shooting Guard, Lawrence North H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From: IUPUI

22. Grant Sims: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, Bloomington North H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From: Xavier, Butler, Indiana State, Miami (OH), Valpo, Toledo

23. Justin King: 6'5'' Small Forward, Bowman Academy

Offers From:

Interest From:

24. Saikou Jallow: 6'2'' Point Guard, Bloomington North H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From:

25. Brad Hunt: 6'9'' Center, Jennings County H.S.

Offers From:

Interest From:

Please send any feedback to me at ramseyb14@hanover.edu.

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