Comments on: Who will fill the last scholarship for 2009?

By: junkman

junkman — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:12:00 +0000

I still think we need the bigs…and if Braswell has a relationship with Mo Creek, than that will help build a team/family atmosphere when they arrive on campus, which helps on and off the court…

Braswell seems to be more interested than Van Treese at this point, but I would be happy with any of the 4 players we have listed …

By: junkman

junkman — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:12:00 +0000

I still think we need the bigs…and if Braswell has a relationship with Mo Creek, than that will help build a team/family atmosphere when they arrive on campus, which helps on and off the court…

Braswell seems to be more interested than Van Treese at this point, but I would be happy with any of the 4 players we have listed …

By: Kelin Blab

Kelin Blab — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:31:04 +0000

Not sure if this is a sign, but in Demlings report….no mention of SVT…

By: JerryCT

JerryCT — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:27:32 +0000

Demling's review of Vegas today says Watford is unimpressive this week and implies he this has caused UL to move on . Franklin is however consistent in every game.

By: HoosierSmitty

HoosierSmitty — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:46:42 +0000

I've been high on Franklin, but Watford seems like a good pick as well. My concern is why are Louisville and Memphis suddenly running cold with him? I mean I understand the Cousins situation in Memphis, but is there something about Watford that we don't know?

Franklin seems like a pretty polished guy both on and off the court. I think he'd work hard and be proud to be an Indiana Hoosier, and not treat it like IU was a “secondary” option for him.

By: B_MD

B_MD — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:08:37 +0000

Am I missing something? Did we sign a standout power forward that I'm not aware of. Although at this point I think Crean has to take the most talented player regardless of position, but looking at our roster another wing player is probably at the bottom of the needs list.

There are question mark around all of our incoming big men. We need a sure thing big above anything else.

By: JerryCT

JerryCT — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:03:06 +0000

SInce 99% of all HS players need to improve their game 150% to star in college I would take the best combination of athleticism and work ethic and then the TC development program( assuming there is one ) takes it from there. As such I think that is Franklin if these are our choices.

By: Kelin Blab

Kelin Blab — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:16:59 +0000

This one is tough……
Love Franklin's engery
Love watfords length

I would want these two, after that not sure. SVT brings a recruitment tool with him into Big Man central LN and that isn't a bad thing to have and LN have some BIG MEN and other talent IU could use….

By: pacino

pacino — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:39:29 +0000

I agree we don't need to waste a scholorship on a 6-8 guy that isn't proving much on the aau circut. SVT is slow and won't be an impact player. I have nothing against him, but I have watched him play a ton of times and he never has wowed me. BRASWELL is very talented!!!! He has a very long but solid frame. He would be eable to add significant impact right away and eventually become like D.J. MY only thing is I dont know how interested he is and TC wouldn't want to waste his time on someone not even interested. The positive is that Creek is his teamate and reports have said he is constantly talking to him about being a Hoosier. My second pick is Franklin. He is just as good as Watford! He is very underated. His shot is very pure and heis a Heck of a lot stronger. His big frame can allow him to punish undersized guards and contain a PF similar to A.J. Moye. I just hope we come out of this situation with a good player!!!!!

By: msdiu81

msdiu81 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:05:07 +0000

Franklin, then Braswell, then Watford. Van Treese shouldn't get an offer. Maybe only if the first 3 don't want it, but SVT isn't playing all that well and is not impressive.

By: student

student — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:49:56 +0000

Aside from the ridiculous Cousins-coming-to-IU scenario, I don't see TC adding another PF to our lineup. Braswell is more appealing than SVT, because he should be more polished, and rated even higher in the '09 class than he was in '08. To me, Braswell can only be taken after one of the small forwards is taken.
But the need at the moment is for a wing-type player. Watford is more skilled and suited to playing outside, which makes him look like a better fit for Crean's style of play. But Franklin has that 'motor' which also suits him well with Crean's style, and he would be strong enough to bang with PF's on defense if necessary. It's a really intriguing question. My hope is that one of guards feels slighted at the end of the season and transfers, freeing up a schoarship for another player to come. That would be the ideal scenario.

By: student

student — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:41:47 +0000

At one point, Cousins had IU high on list, probably due to Mike Davis, but why doesn't TC swoop and pick up Cousins? This obviously isn't a reality, but how great would it be to land a player of his caliber?

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:50:43 +0000

Heard similar things about Cousins and Memphis.

Also, I've heard Louisville has backed off of Watford significantly.

By: BobbyDigital

BobbyDigital — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:45:01 +0000

I have personally always been a Watford fan, but I love how Franklin plays so that would hardly be a let-down. I do have some interesting info from a well informed Memphis fan to share (bear with me)…. he said about a week ago that things were looking good for Indiana landing Watford but wouldn't explain why Memphis was suddenly not the favorite. Now it is rumored that Demarcus Cousins (UAB verbal) is reopening his recruitment and Memphis is a very real possibility. If that were to happen, Memphis would no longer pursue Watford, he said. Basically this guy said Cousins to Memphis and Watford to IU… Take it for what its worth. I'd be happy with any of them.

By: B_MD

B_MD — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:40:09 +0000

You have a point on Jobe. But I guess the point with the other guys is that they really seem to duplicate each other.

By: Ryan_T

Ryan_T — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:30:40 +0000

Forget Williams, Story, Dumes, Jones, Rivers or Creek… what about Jobe??

By: B_MD

B_MD — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:00:32 +0000

I was going to bring up the Story signing also, mostly because he was last, but he seems a little redundant following the Williams, Dumes, Roth and Creek signings, and even throw in Rivers and Jones who can play time on the wing. The benefit to signing a couple big point guards is that they're versatile and can save you a scholarship or two to use elsewhere.

Would be nice to have two scholarships to get Franklin and Watford then the “it will work itself out/someone leaves scholarship” would be icing on the cake instead of sort of necessary.

By: hoosier07

hoosier07 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:32:15 +0000

oh, gotcha! thanks for the clarification!

By: JerryCT

JerryCT — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:30:25 +0000

Assuming these are our only choices then I want Franklin due to :

1. his high motor on the floor
2. opens up a new geoography for recruiting
3. helps create an infectious practice/game attitude

I think our future team w Capo, Pritchard, Hulls, Dumas, Rivers will be an "attitude" team ( ala Wilmont or last years Drake team ) that will not quit on the coach, the school, the fans or themselves.

Next I go with Braswell so our other bigs have bodies to improve against. I have nothign against Watford but his highlights video showed the same corner jump shot over and over and no real muscle or rebounds , unlike Franklin's highlights so it left me uninspired.

SVT seems to play too small and slow for me so I would rather not offer him, I donot care that he is from Indiana. Besides we have Hulls, Lewis, Moore, Taber, Dumas, FInkelstein, Elston and the other walkon from Indiana to represent the state.

Biting at the call for debate, I seriously questioned the Scholly for Story who was labeled as a guard, non leaper , slow laterally and a long way from home. I also am concerned about Roth on "D" . I hope he is Jimmy Rayl reincarnated or JJ Reddick.

As usual of course I want ALL the players to be great and me to be wrong when I worry about them and above all I trust TC and the staff to make the best choice they can

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:25:19 +0000

Braswell is in the top 100 for 2008. He's going to Hargrave next year and is reclassifying to 2009.