this is because of his grades. and if we got a commit from him now, it would hurt the zeller commitment because he likely doesnt want to be the oversign. all we do is tell young that if his grades improve this year, we offer. that way zeller decides first and young would likely be ok with an oversign.

Sadly you may be right. So sad that the NBA takes players only based on potential. Creek is good don’t get me wrong but he isn’t NBA ready. Would love to see him finish out his career a Hoosier and then move on when he’s more ready. Duke guys do it, why can’t our guys do it. He rides pine for years if he leaves early. I know, I probably couldn’t pass up the dough either but these early entrants are getting ridiculous.

Now that’s an instant Classic.

No Louisville? Also didn't expect to see Arkansas.

What due diligence does IU still have to do before offering a scholarship to BJ? We are trying to get 2 more recruits in the fall of 2010 for 2011. Let's complete the due diligence, offer BJ, and give him a short window to accept. If he says yes we have 2 of our 3 and we are waiting for Cody. If he says no then we should offer Aaron Thomas, and give him a short window to accept. If he says yes we are back to waiting for Cody, If he says no then we should present to J Davis that he has a scholarship now, with a short window to accept. As soon as we have 2 recruits, then we need to make sure everyone understands that the 3rd is for Cody until he says no or until Nov 1. Then we need a good “Plan B” for the 3rd scholarship if Cody says no. Let's get the process moving. The Hoosier Nation needs some “good news” to keep the troops' spirits up!

Dear B.J. Young,

Please get your grades high enough to be eligible for 2011. DO NOT get somebody to take your SAT for you. DO NOT take online courses in the summer (Algebra II & III) and then miraculously get an A.

Thanks,

IUfan

Guys I'm sorry but the more I go through these off-season recruiting deals the more I realize none of us no dink about what is going on.

Crean is thinking this, we are not offering because of that. The reality is we are so in the damn dark we could end up getting el zippo along with Etherington.

Sorry to burst the bubble but it's all entirely speculation.

You want me to sign again….sincerely David Williams

creek would be in the NBA right now had he not got injured. there is no chance, barring further injury, that he will be around for his senior year.

I hope he commits sooner than later – I continue to check this site daily for just one exciting prospect commitment. This commit would make my day – and only enhance our chances of landing more highly talented recruits down the road.

Don't see why Crean is interested in so many point guards with Daniel Moore waiting in the wing.

This is pure conjecture, but doesn't it seem like it's Painter trying to get in on a prospect that Crean's looking at (a la Aaron Thomas)? I think it's just so that most players that say they're interested in IU also mention PU. Painter's team is welcoming a new PG (T.Johnson), so I don't see BJY being mega-interested.

Well, Crean let Finklemier (sp?) waste away on the bench for years … frankly, it causes me to question Crean's coaching ability. Bob Knight would've started Daniel Moore AND Finklemier in the same backcourt every game and he would've won 2 banners with them by now.

I think you may be jumping the gun on this one man. Mo Creek has spoke about college since his recruitment like he planned on being a four year player! After an injury like he had you never know because the thought of further injury could be in his head but he's not a big, strong, NBA ready body so I doubt very highly that he would leave before at least his junior season and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him play all four years at Indiana!

Nice comeback. I was really just wishing they would sign Young since he's so interested. The way I blurted that out probably made it sound like I wanted just any ole' player to sign. That's not the case. I would rather have Young and I just wish they would sign him now because he's one of the guys I think IU really needs!

I really think this is a big recruitment for Crean, it just sucks that it seems largely dependent on a HS kid getting serious about school work.

Landing Young and Zeller would be huge for IU and Crean specifically in so many ways IMO. That class should rank highly nationally, giving Crean two highly ranked classes ('09 and '11) in three years, with a strong '12 class potentially on the horizon. Add that to hopefully an improved season in terms of W/L this season and you could almost say we've turned the corner.

This is why I've always felt the '11 class was almost more important than '12. In '12 there's so many good Indiana kids that we're bound to land a couple, but if Crean misses on '11 that's two average classes in a row and between 09-12 that two good and two average, not a lot of buzz being built there.

Of course the other positives of adding Zeller and Young are that they both play positions of need. Someone posted above that between Zeller, Young, Creek and Watford we'd have 4 top 40 recruits in the starting lineup. I just think if Crean can pull off that class in '11, then we're officially back and even quicker than some thought.

Okay, I'm getting too excited way too early about this. If I haven't expressed this enough I just think adding Young and Zeller would be so huge for this program, I really hope it happens!!

I have a question for you….?

In 2011 I think BJ Young could be more of an impact player than Cody….but yet Cody seems to be the must have for IU/Coach Crean. To the extent that if Cody chooses elsewhere it would be crushing even if we get BJ Young.

Why is this and does anyone agree or disagree?

I agree Plane no doubt. I'm just saying it's kinda funny when we try to
crawl inside Crean's head. It's obvious we have no idea what is going on in
there.

I'm happy Bawa freed up a scholly and I'm sure we will add to the 2011
class. But so far we are collectively batting 0.00 on what who we think is
heading to Bloomington.

I understand people want to use guesswork and have fun with it etc. But
WHERE ARE THE RECRUITS??? Man I'm getting ancy!

I agree with your assesment, Creek reminds me of a Hollis Price, Kareem Rush, or even Shawn Respert type guy. A lethal college scorer that has the capability of taking over a game offensively, but none of these players ever got major minutes in the NBA, because of they lacked the overall athleticism and upper body strength required to compete with the best in the world. I really don’t think Creek leaves early!

If we get a committment from Young, does this end our recruitment of Yogi Ferrell? I know IU would most likely still recruit him, but in Yogi’s eyes would he think that with Hulls and BJ in front of him that he will not get the playing time I am sure he could get elsewhere? I would love to see both of these guys on the Hoosiers, but not sure it would happen.

I suspect you already know the answer(s), Kelin. LOOONNNGGG POST HERE.

1. First and foremost, Zeller is a really impressive basketball player. Size, skill, and basketball IQ. He would be very successful at Indiana.
2. The recruiting battle pits IU, the traditional power struggling to rise again to national relevance, against UNC, a more “recent” juggernaut, and Butler, the upstart that made headlines this past year. In a small way, it's not just about getting the player, it's also about beating our in-state and out-of-state competition.
3. The symbolism is obvious. This is the third brother of the Zeller family and perhaps the most talented. The other two apparently liked IU but recognized our problems in the MD and KS era. Landing Zeller would in part demonstrate that these problems are gone, and IU has exorcised the demons.
4. There's a huge class lurking behind in 2012 with a truly ridiculous amount of in-state kids and kids with Indiana connections. As mentioned so often by posters on ITH, a Zeller commitment shows the next class that the best players once again can and do go to Indiana.
5. Fair or not, we're entering put up or shut up time for Coach Crean. He and the staff had plenty of excuses for the '08, '09, and '10 classes (and should truly be applauded for the excellent '09 group). His borrowed time has elapsed, and, as in any proud program, fans and boosters demand results.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned as often as the above points is Crean's own assessment of his decision to leave Marquette. I believe he left an improving and respected program because he thought he could (re)build an elite program at Indiana. I don't believe he came here simply to become the state's highest paid public employee. I think he came here because he recognized that, with a notoriously difficult home court for opponents (thanks in large part to our loud, passionate, and committed fanbase and Assembly's tall walls), top-flight facilities and budget, and a historic name, he could consistently land 5* talent, execute his strategy with the best players, and win championships. If in 2014 he has a team full of Recruiting Plan B's and struggles to post 20 win seasons and finish midpack in the Big Ten, I gotta think Tom will start wondering if he made the right choice.

I don't believe that'll happen, though. Landing Zeller would go a long way towards convincing everyone else.

I agree that the expectations some people are placing on Zeller coming to IU are way too high and could cause an overreaction if he doesn't commit. And at the same time though I see it as a major possibility, and of course a great addition for several reasons like IULaw talked about. I don't look it as much of BJ Young being more of an impact player, but instead the impact that he will make along side Zeller and Etherington with our current players at the time. I like to picture IU's success being in the form as not one or two good additions, but a combination of several great additions resulting in the 20+ win seasons we all want to see and the much needed attention/symbolism Law talked about.

But to go along with that I don't really won't to see certain scholarships not being offered because IU is waiting for someone else with similar impact skills. Like in the case of Young – I would feel his commitment would be as satisfying to me as Davis so put both the scholarship offers out there and be happy with either commitment. Same thing with Zeller – if IU comes across a somewhat similar or as impactful big man as Zeller – then throw him a scholarship and I'd be happy with either commitment. Putting too many eggs in one basket is a little frightening to me.

I think the combination of a BJY and Zeller would do both players wonders in Crean's system given Cody's ability to face up, get the break started, and with the floor spacing they could provide to the team.

Yeah. That's kind of what I was getting at in a “take it easy on the kid” type of way. I think his athleticism is fine. I saw him go up a couple times to stuff the ball with plenty of NBA athleticism as far as his hops and his speed (running speed – I think his first step still needs work) but his body is probably never going to be an NBA ready body. It's sort of the same way when scouts are looking at baseball players. One of the things they look for is the “baseball body” and some guys who are athletic or have talent don't have it and they get overlooked because of that, and sometimes they prove the scouts dead wrong, but in this case I don't see Mo Creek as an NBA star so I don't think he'll leave early!

However, he may still have room to improve and could possibly prove us wrong, which I hope he does between his junior and senior year! Ha, a bit selfish of me, but I'm a fan!

I agree that most people want to see Zeller come to IU, and I agree with you that BJ will probably be more of an impact player. IMO this is because a lot of IU fans have been waiting for our Zeller for years and striking out. He is a southern Indiana kid and those are the worst kids to loose. So no matter who may be better than him, he is a cant miss because of his hometown and more importantly his last name.