At the suggestion of one of our readers, we’d like to give you a chance to sound off on our current poll question. If you haven’t checked the results, the response has been one-sided to this point: 88% of you believe there should be a change to student seating in Assembly Hall. If you are a part of the camp that voted yes, what is your plan to reorganize student seating? If you voted no, tell us why the majority got it wrong.
(Photo credit: ESPN.com)
Kyrie Irving doesn’t plan to make a decision on where he’ll attend college until this fall. But as his recruitment plays out and he mulls over the schools on his list, he’s already sure of one thing.
“Once I step on campus, I’ll know it’s the right school,” Irving said.
The 6-2 point guard from St. Patrick’s (NJ) is considered by many to be Indiana’s primary target for the 2010 recruiting class. Not only is Irving looking for the right fit on the court, he’s also focused on finding the right fit in the classroom.
“Academics is the most important thing,” Irving told Inside the Hall. “Academics has been the primary thing in my household since I was probably eight years old. Secondly is probably the coaching staff and where I’ll fit in.”
The list of suitors for 2010 Baltimore wing Will Barton is filled with some of the elite programs in college basketball.
The 6-6 Barton, a five-star recruit on both Rivals and Scout, averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists this past season at Lake Clifton en route to a 28-0 record and a state championship.
And the Indiana staff has taken notice.
“Indiana is doing a great job,” Barton told Inside the Hall. “They’re recruiting very hard, which is what I want.”
“What makes it very good for them is that I’m not just hearing from assistant coaches. I’m hearing from Tom Crean himself, the head coach. I love that. He’s a great guy, everybody knows he’s a great coach. He’s honest and up front with me. They check up on me when they can and they just want to let me know they are here for me.”
The NCAA released its Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores this afternoon and the result was a public notice for IU baskeball in response to a score that, well, isn’t pretty. To put it into perspective how low the figure is, the other 23 athletic programs at IU all had scores well above the NCAA benchmark of 925. The men’s basketball program checked in at 866.
Here’s the reaction from athletic director Fred Glass:
“We take this public notice very seriously. The poor academic performance for which we’re being cited all occurred under two coaches who are no longer at IU. We are confident that under Coach Tom Crean’s leadership and commitment to academics, responsibility, and character, we will soon be able to put our previous academic issues fully in the past. Coach Crean’s outstanding academic record at Marquette, including the graduating of all of his senior players, speaks for itself.”
I think Mr. Glass is pointing at you, Kelvin. For the record, Crean’s APR score from Marquette was also released this afternoon and it was 970. Because IU voluntarily forfeited two scholarships this past season in anticipation of a low APR, they’ll be able to utilize all 13 scholarships moving forward.
If 2010 Las Vegas guard Moses Morgan needs an opinion on the basketball program in Bloomington, he need not go far for advice. Morgan’s father, Winston, played for Bob Knight and the Hoosiers in the 80′s after a prep career at Anderson Madison-Heights.
And now the younger Morgan, the No. 68 player in the 2010 class according to Rivals.com, has the Hoosiers front and center in his recruitment.
“Right now, Indiana is the school that’s on top of my list,” Morgan told Inside the Hall. “It sounds like the best fit for me right now that I could see myself playing in.”
Despite the fact that his father played for the Hoosiers, Morgan hasn’t followed the program closely until recently.
“I haven’t really been following Indiana, but since they’ve started to recruit me, I’m following up on them and seeing what they’re about since Coach Crean has been there,” Morgan said. “My Dad always tells me I need to go to a school that’s good academically. He tells me a lot about Indiana’s academics. He also said the campus is nice.”
The surprise commitment of David Williams has left many Indiana fans trying to figure out the recruiting plan for the 2010 class. A quick glance at our scholarship numbers page shows two available spots for the 2010 class. (Three if IU wishes to oversign by one.) There’s a camp that believes that IU could hold a couple of spots for the loaded 2011 class and there are those who believe the Hoosiers will fill the two remaining spots.
Here’s a look at the names IU is recruiting for 2010:
– Kyrie Irving – Irving tops the wishlist for Indiana and several other schools because he is a versatile point guard who has the ability to make others around him better. He prominently mentions IU when speaking about his recruitment and has developed a strong relationship with Tom Crean and Roshown McLeod. Scout.com recently moved him into the top 10 of the 2010 class. IU fans will likely have a chance to see Irving in a couple of weeks as his New Jersey Roadrunners team is expected at the Adidas May Classic. Consider him the top priority in Indiana’s recruiting efforts.
– Moses Morgan – Michigan was reportedly the school to beat for Morgan until IU made a recent push for the Las Vegas guard and now the Hoosiers could be in the driver’s seat. The son of Anderson-Madison Heights product and former IU player Winston Morgan is among the top 75 players in 2010 according to Rivals.com. Jerry Meyer recently called Morgan “a physical wing prospect with a game ready for the rigors of college basketball.” Morgan plans to visit Bloomington in June.
