all this guy has to do is become a rebounder....seems like he can already block shots....and we will need him to score bunnies close to the basket.

uhh...

Redshirt Sutton if you need the scholorship for Negedu. It sounds like he (Sutton) needs to develop further. Maybe Uve Blab can come back and teach him the sky hook...

Redshirting still uses up a scholarship. I was expecting a little more than 3 points and 3 boards.

I think at this point I would roll the dice and hope Negedu comes through.

Redshirts take scholarships too. They count toward the total scholarship number similar to players on the active roster.

how do you only grab 3 boards a game as a 265lbs 7 footer in jc?

clearly, this guy is a project. Cream knows what he is doing. He give us immediate size, will start right.

C- Jobe
PF- Negedu
SF- N. Williams
SG- J. Crawford
PG- V. Jones

I don't see this guy starting right away.

Also, I see Dumes in the backcourt next year and Pritchard will likely start as well or Taber.

McGee should see a lot of time, too. With a little discipline, he'll be a lot better.

How can you assume he would start right away? He averaged 3 boards in JC? He seems like a big project.

I would feel more comfortable with Taber and Negedu getting most of the minutes (assuming we land Negedu which is a big if).

says 4 schools are in the mix for negedu....jobe is his buddy....they are both native africans.....negedu liked marquette and IU....his gaudian lives in bloomington....he played o the indiana elite.......all we have to do is get passed world wide wes and memphis......if Jobe gets his role down and we sign negedu we will compete next year

you'd think they would take better pictures

how do you know they are friends?

He is the worst player in D-1. I could beat this guy in a 1-1 game. I'm 6'3". He can't even catch a pass.

anybody see that purdue football player got busted for stealing condoms

Jobe: what do you want me to do coach?

Crean: you see the painted rectangular area around the basket? your job is to run under there every time one of the 4 guards on the floor launches a 3 point shot. If they miss, grab the ball and stand on your tippee toes to stuff it back in the basket. Oh, and if you can't grab it, make sure you run back out of there before you can count to three....

nice racial stereotype.

How is that a racial sterotype? Wouldn't you characterize someone like the kid Zoubeck at Duke the same way?

I think his point is that this kid is tall, long and has absolutely no offensive game.

My apologies, I took it as you saying that he was some big dumb black kid from Africa who needed to be spoken to like a 1st grader (which is how you made your post sound) in order to succeed.

Race is irrelevant to my comment. My comment is related to having a big, strong physical guy who is not an offensive threat and who's main job is to rebound....he could be white, purple, red, or pink for all I care...the point was that he is 7 foot and 265 lbs without much of a scoring threat and that his main job will most likely be to provide rebounding in a guard-heavy offense...sorry you took it that way. Maybe you should examine why you did.

Looks like Negedu is considering only four schools, Indiana, GT, Tennessee and Memphis. The fact that Memphis is on the list worries me. If the former AZ asst. said he wouldn't recruit former AZ players, then why would be even have Memphis on the list?

wont EN have to sign by tomorrow? the 21st is the deadline rignt?

He doesn't have to sign a LOI, he can just go where he wants. Here is a little more info from the National Letter of Intent Web site:

Q. Am I required to sign a National Letter of Intent?

A. No. You are not required to sign a National Letter of Intent but many student-athletes sign a National Letter of Intent because they want to create certainty in the recruiting process. Specifically, by signing a National Letter of Intent, you agree to attend the institution for one year in exchange for the institution's promise, in writing, to provide you athletics financial aid for the entire academic year. Simply, by signing a National Letter of Intent you are given an award including athletics aid for the upcoming academic year provided you are admitted to the institution and you are eligible for athletics aid under NCAA rules. Furthermore, by signing a National Letter of Intent you effectively end the recruiting process. Once you sign a National Letter of Intent, a recruiting ban goes into effect and you may no longer be recruited by any other National Letter of Intent school.

Ok thanks

Anyone who is thrilled with this or says starter or 15+ minutes should never post on this site again. This is a big body, maybe 7 minutes, 2 years and out the door, and maybe some help getting Negedu.

I just KNEW when somebody mentioned George Leach they were jinxing us. Now I am getting worried . He has been at 2 Jucos in as many years and has only 2 years to get beyond 3-3-6 stats. Why can't he at least rebound ?

So to put it in the best light possible , Hasheem Thabeet just finished his 2 nd year and was a contributor for UCONN. As such I am crossing not just my fingers but every part of my body this works out including my front teeth at this point

Yeah, it's not good that right now his biggest upside is that he's already junior and we'll get his scholarship back in two years:)

Averaging 7 minutes a game ? in JUCO ? Shoots 40% from the line ? Maybe scares Sutton off ?

Lets hope he helps Pritchard develop

I apologize to Jobe and all the fans for not sounding positive. I really hope and pray for his success of course and welcome him with open arms.

this guy is more than a project, Sutton is a project, and for those of you who think he will start need to stop drinking the kool aid. He only averages 3 rebounds a game. He is a giant stiff, if he even plays I'd be suprised. The best hope is he can go against Sutton in practice and help him develop. I really hope we didn't sign this guy and not leave a possible scholarship open.

I can't believe you guys are already pushing him out the door. I appreciate this blog but none of us are recruiters. I'm thinking they know what they are doing being paid millions while we waste our comapnies time surfing the net.

This may be nothing less than a lure for Negedu. Who knows what goes on behind the scenes? I'm sure they know something we don't.

This could help Sutton, I mean "God" with his decision. Frankly he's probably done. If we can land a top 40 recruit it's well worth having this guy on the squad to spell our big men for ten minutes a game. With a little teaching he can hopefully be a defensive force.

Until I see an IU/Crean team on the court I'm not questioning anyone we get signed. I'm amazed at what he's been able to do in only a few months. This team looks really good in 2009-2010 with a future top 20 recruit sprinkled in the mix. Especially if the one and done rule goes two and done in the future.

COME ONE GUYS! He's 7 feet tall, and averages 6 blocks a game. And he's a JUCO, so he helps with a) size and b) future scholarships. Don't knock him when you haven't even seen him. Crean knows what he is doing, and we desperately needed size. On top of all of that, he's friends with Negedu, so that can't hurt our chances with him either. I'm just saying, don't be so negative. Have a little optimism! With a little help this guy could very well become a beast. GO HOOSIERS

With all that is being said I have been looking at some of his stats and there were several games in which he did not play last year (I'm not sure why) and I've read two conflicting accounts that he avg. 7 minutes a game and he avg. 13 min a game. Either way he still had 3/3/6 while avg. only marginal minutes. The kid has apparently only been playing basketball and been over in the states for 4 years so he has time to improve, and with some coaching who knows potentially what he could do. I would agree lets not judge him or question Crean's recruiting before we even see the kid step onto the floor.

Lets rewind people.....

* Crean is big on player development, I am sure he can get something out of this kid
* Ummm would you like to see some Deandre Thomas defense...stop whining
* IU has lacked SIZE for years...what more do you want, Oden has no eligibility left and we are late in the game
* Connect the dots....Negedu, Indiana Elite, Guardian in Bloomington, Indiana Elite teammate Matt "freakin" Roth, and signing a fellow countrymen...chill out!
* I don't think this scares away Sutton...would you be nervous if the guy coming in playing a similar spot averaged 3ppg???
* Finally do you want another 6'4guard????
* If you have seen Tom Pritchard play he will work well with this guy because he is a helluva passer, post to post.

Coach Crean....work with the kid, get his ass to rebound, block every damn shot that comes into the paint and make a call to Negedu and Mo Sutton....

Jordan Hulls, the 2009 PG from Bloomington South, just verballed. Today is awesome.

However, if I'm correct, I believe this leaves us with 1 scholarship to use either for this year or next year (unless someone leaves). So it's either Negedu, Sutton, or someone else for 2009.

http://blogs.heraldtimesonline.com/iusp/?p=2036

CREAN IS ON FIRE!!!!!!!!

good lord hurry up Negedu and commit!!!

Sweet...even sweeter because Duke was looking at him and Purdue wanted him. Let's reel in Negedu and Sutton if we still have scholarships left and then develop this team.

Averaging 7 minutes a game... Hopefully he fouled out of every game in first 7 minutes. At least that make sense as to why his rebounding numbers are so low..... He is 7 foot tall. He should be able to get 5 rebounds a game defending himself for being hit in the face from all the Juco bricks!

I say take back the offer from sutton and offer it to negedu only. Or it could be possible that Crean already knows suttons decision and thats why he offered to jobe. more theory than fact on my part though.

I think you are right on point!

That's what I think too....Crean knows what's up with Sutton. This guy really knows how to recruit strategically. I am really impressed with how he is putting this team together. Think about where we were 45 days ago. He's done an amazing job.

ugh, I don't know. Remember UofK couple years ago had 2 7 footers and neither saw playing itme because they were so bad. I think this might of been a hail mary shot.

Hey everybody! I'm new to the site and excited about Hoosier basketball. I grew up watching the feathered-hair and silky stroke of Steve Alford. My finished basement is full of IU paraphanalia and my garage dones a huge red IU flag. So, I'm as die-hard as it gets....actually have my name on a waiting list for season tickets!

Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself and praise the quick work of Coach Crean. I went from being totally worried about an IU team composed of McGee, Crawford, Taber, and Finklemeyer.....to wondering about the possibilities of the new classes coming. I want to say that I'm very excited about Crean flushing out all of the bad seeds and already bringing in talent that Hoosier Nation can get excited about. I look forward to next year already.

Go HOOSIERS!!!

Welcome to ITH ! Glad to have another Hoosier aboard.

Welcome. Glad to have you.

Welcome to ITH! This place is awesome.

I think Negedu will follow the AZ assistant (Pastner?) to Memphis. I don't care what the guy that recruited him says about not bringing any players with him.

Just like McCallum pulling player to Detroit. This kid sound like he wants to be free to play for the guy that has stroked him for several years.