Joe Eberhardt, founder of IndyHoopsBlog and also a contributor here at Inside the Hall, put together a nice compilation video featuring some of the state’s top talent.
Among the players featured: IU commits Austin Etherington and Ron Patterson as well as Cody Zeller, Devin Davis, Yogi Ferrell, Gary Harris, Zak Irvin, Jeremy Hollowell, Trey Lyles and Basil Smotherman.
After a breakout summer on the AAU circuit, McCluer North (MO) guard B.J. Young shot up to five-star status in the recruiting rankings.
Fresh off being named the MVP of the Five-Star Super Session in New York, Inside the Hall caught up with the 6-3 combo guard for the latest on his recruitment:
On the schools currently involved in his recruitment:
“Indiana, Arkansas, Illinois State, I think Kansas and Memphis are starting to get into it, but I don’t really know yet. Baylor is one of them. Iowa, Iowa State, Marquette, Louisville, Providence, North Carolina State.”
On where he stands with his recruitment:
“I’m still really open.”
On his decision to take an official visit to Arkansas:
“I really like Arkansas. I got family from down in Arkansas. They wanted to set up a visit with me, so I got a date set up with them.”
On his recent contact with Indiana:
“I talk to Indiana regularly. They get two calls per week. I still talk to them regularly. I like them a lot. Me and Indiana are still really close.”
On potentially taking an official visit to Bloomington:
“I think they want me to take an official visit and they want to make an in-home visit too.”
On his timetable for making a decision:
“Probably after I take all of my visits and sit down with my family and talk. So probably in November sometime.”
Raise your hand if you were a bit underwhelmed by Indiana’s non-conference schedule?
Yea, me too, but let’s be honest: After two years November tossing the Hoosiers in well over their heads, and facing as talented a Big Ten as we’ve seen in five years or more, there’s really nothing wrong with taking it a little bit easier before the New Year turns.
Given that IU will still play Kentucky, still has a date in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, (which it had no power in deciding) and will still meet Northern Iowa and, potentially, New Mexico, the pre-Big Ten slate really isn’t as weak as it could be – trust me. To some extent, it probably also looks a lot easier when you consider Indiana’s last two years, with dates against Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Gonzaga and Maryland, among others, on top of the traditional rivalry with the Wildcats.
In truth, it probably still tells us a fair amount about these Hoosiers, who – given their schedule – have more than just an outside shot at postseason basketball for the first time since 2008. No, not the NCAA Tournament, but anything beats staying home, doesn’t it?
Considering its path through the first quarter of the season, there’s ample reason to believe Indiana will be 8-0 when the Hoosiers head to Kentucky on Dec. 11. In fact, it would be rather surprising if Tom Crean’s squad wasn’t 8-0 (certainly nothing below 7-1) on the bus to Lexington.
Which brings me to the primary point of this rambling – can Indiana beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena in mid-December? I’m sure it’s something plenty of you salivate at the thought of. One way or the other, it’s a worthwhile debate to have.
2:30 PM EST Update: A release from IU confirmed the schedule below.
Via a source, below is what we believe to be the 2010-2011 Indiana basketball schedule, which should be officially released soon:
Friday, November 12 – Florida Gulf Coast, 6:30 PM, BTN
Sunday, November 14 – Wright State, TBA, ESPNU
Tuesday, November 16 – Mississippi Valley State, 7PM, BTN
Sunday, November 21 – Evansville, 1PM, BTN
Tuesday, November 23 – North Carolina Central, 7PM, BTN
Friday, November 26 – Northwestern State, TBA, BigTenNetwork.com
Wednesday, December 1 – ACC/Big Ten Challenge At Boston College, 7:15 PM, ESPNU
Saturday, December 4 – Savannah State, TBA, ESPNU
Saturday, December 11 – at Kentucky, 5:15 PM, ESPN
LAS VEGAS CLASSIC
Friday, December 17 – SIU-Edwardsville, 7PM, BTN
Sunday, December 19 – South Carolina State, 4PM, BTN
Wednesday, December 22 – Northern Iowa, 7:30PM
Thursday, December 23 – New Mexico/Colorado, 7:30PM/10PM
Monday, December 27 – Penn State, 7PM, BTN
Friday, December 31 – Ohio State, 6PM, ESPN2
Tuesday, January 4 – at Minnesota, 7PM, ESPN2
Sunday, January 9 – at Northwestern, 7PM, BTN
Saturday, January 15 – Michigan, 8PM, BTN
Thursday, January 20 – at Wisconsin, 9PM, ESPN2
Sunday, January 23 – at Iowa, 3PM, BTN
Thursday, January 27 – Illinois, 9PM, BTN
Sunday, January 30 – at Michigan State, 6PM, BTN
Wednesday, February 2 – Minnesota, 6:30PM, BTN
Saturday, February 5 - Iowa, 4PM, ESPN/ESPN2
Tuesday, February 8 – at Purdue, 7PM, ESPN
Saturday, February 12 – at Michigan, 4PM, BTN
Saturday, February 19 or Sunday, February 20 – Northwestern, TBA
Wednesday, February 23 – Purdue, 8:30PM, BTN
Saturday, February 26 or Sunday, February 27 – at Ohio State, TBA
Wednesday, March 2 or Thursday, March 3 – Wisconsin, TBA
Saturday, March 5 or Sunday, March 6 – at Illinois, TBA
March 10-13 – Big Ten Tournament – Indianapolis, Ind.
Comments from Tom Crean on the schedule after the jump …
(Photo Credit: Jack Arent/adidas)
For the first time since the conclusion of the July evaluation period, we’ve updated our 2011 Recruiting Board and as discussed frequently in the comments, the board is focused on Cody Zeller and B.J. Young. Both prospects are now rated in the top 20 of both Rivals and Scout.
We’ll be updating our 2012 Board in the coming weeks, but for now, check out the updated 2011 Board at the link below.
After falling from Scout’s post-spring Top 100, Hamilton Heights (IN) guard and IU commit Austin Etherington is once again ranked by the national recruiting service led by Dave Telep.
Etherington missed time early in the AAU season with a stress fracture, but put together a solid July. He’s now rated the No. 98 prospect nationally by Scout.
Etherington told Inside the Hall earlier this month that he let his play in Las Vegas speak for itself: ”I felt like I proved myself in Vegas and other times in July, so we’ll just see what happens (with the rankings),” he said.
Two other prospects with heavy IU interest – Washington (IN) forward Cody Zeller and Florissant (MO) guard B.J. Young – are in Scout’s Top 20. Zeller checks in at No. 16 and Young is No. 17.
Other prospects of note in the rankings: Branden Dawson (15), Chane Behanan (29), Marshall Plumlee (40), Michael Chandler (67), Aaron Thomas (72) and Naadir Tharpe (94).
You can view the complete Top 100 here.
