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Cody Zeller sets dates for official visits

by in Recruiting | September 1st, 2010

Per this tweet from Kyle Neddenriep, Washington (IN) forward Cody Zeller has lined up dates for official visits to the three remaining schools on his list.

Butler, the defending national runner-up, will be the first school to host Zeller on October 9-11. North Carolina will receive their visit on the opening weekend of practice (October 15-17). And Indiana will get the opportunity for the last impression as the Hoosiers will host Zeller on October 29-31. Indiana football hosts Northwestern on October 30.

Since I’m often asked by readers for my opinion on the direction of Zeller’s recruitment, here are a couple of thoughts:

+ If you’re looking for clues on where Cody will end up based on comments from the family, you’re going to hit a dead end quickly. There are going to be rumors and “I heard this from so-and-so” in the comments and on the message boards up until the decision is made. And while it might be fun to read and discuss, I don’t buy any of it.

+ The visit to North Carolina on the opening weekend of practice makes sense if Cody’s parents, Lorri and Steve, will be making the trip to Chapel Hill to watch Tyler and the Tar Heels kick off their season.

+ I have an opinion, privately, about where I believe Zeller will end up. Some readers have asked me to comment via email or Twitter, but the upside to making a public prediction is zero. If I say I believe he’s going to IU, I’ll be called a homer and then an idiot (or worse) if he doesn’t end up picking the Hoosiers.

With that, I’ll leave you with a video compilation of Zeller and a Q &A from July at the adidas Invitational after the jump:

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  • Anonymous

    Reading the tea leaves of recruiting are tough at best- but I think IU having the final visit is positive. You always want to have the last impression.

    Come on CZ!

  • Anonymous

    Thanks for posting this – this sort of news needs it’s own post immediately before another unrelated one goes nuts.

    Not much insight to gain from this but I do think going last is the best place to be in, especially with a kid who has always said he will take all the visits (i.e. not going to commit after a great visit somewhere else).

    And Alex, as always, I really appreciate your insight/analysis (or lack thereof in this case). It’s easier for a blogger to make all sorts of baseless predictions or hype up unknown recruits to drive traffic. Taking the tempered reasonable approach doesn’t get instant traffic but it’s the sort of thing that keeps us coming back and (I assume/hope) helps build consistent and loyal followers of ITH. Keep it up.

    I commented about this elsewhere, but any chance we can get a CO-DY-ZEL-LER chant at the football game? It takes a lot to impress a kid who’s seen the recruiting game through his brothers but a recruit’s name being chanted at a non-basketball game seems impressive.

  • http://www.insidethehall.com/ Alex Bozich

    Totally unrelated to this, but since I know the question is coming: The Poll (in the right sidebar) is going to be taking a brief and perhaps permanent, hiatus. If anyone sees this as a life-changing omission from the site, please let me know. It’s become quite stale in recent months and during the offseason months, it’s become increasingly difficult to come up with relevant questions to use.

  • Anonymous

    Noooo!!!! Okay maybe it’s not a big deal. I always check it when I come here but during the offseason I’m never disappointed to see a stale poll because I can’t really think of anything interesting I’d want to see polled. Just one more thing to get excited about in a month or so (I assume it’ll come back before Hoosier Hysteria so we can vote on dunk champion, etc.).

  • Plane1972

    It’s a bummer that he will be getting UNC’s version of Midnight Madness and not ours, but last has its advantages. Let the chips fall where they may.

  • GFDave

    I like it that we’re going last. That’s the position of choice, imo.

  • Young Kelin Zeller

    Alex…. I don’t think anyone would call you an idiot, now intellecutally dishonest is another story (please ITH’ers don’t blast me on this it is an old inside joke from earlier this summer)

    I don’t know what the advantage or disadvantage is for IU’s visit being last. The Zellers are recruiting freaks of nature for the following reasons:

    + They have remained 100% professional
    + They have not asked for $200,000 from any school
    + As far as I know, Cody is NOT on facebook, twitter, or myspace.
    + They have excluded Kentucky from the process
    + No uncles have been seen in IU sweatshirts, Cody has never made coded statements on Facebook if he has one, nor has he worn IU gear at an AAU game, and he is well versed in talking positively about tall the schools.
    + Finally I don’t expect the Zellers to contact ESPN for the ‘decision’ nor contact ITH letting us know Cody will decide at 3am, I mean 4:15am, wait…just make it 6pm the next day. (thanks Moses)

  • millzy32

    Definitely best to go last and make that final impression. Lets hope he makes the right decision and stays in Indiana to play ball. Would be great to be able to see him win another State Title and Mr. Basketball while knowing that he’s going to be a Hoosier next year.

  • N71

    If I had to choose an order being last is what I’d want…assuming he doesn’t pull the trigger at Butler when he meets their bulldog mascot. We’re sitting as well as could be. If we loose him to Butler or UNC then perhaps it wasn’t meant to be. I’m thinking he’s coming though, it would mean a great deal to his community and state to have a local hero make good here at home.

  • Anonymous

    I just wanted to give a shout out to ITH – this site is awesome when it comes to IU basketball and recruiting stories. It also gets a lot of exposure online for some of the recruits out there, especially IU recruits. Every time I google an IU recruit ITH is usually always on the first page and provides more information about the kid than the other sites (at least that doesn’t require a subscription). I appreciate it and I am sure these kids don’t mind it either. Keep up the great work!

  • stonaroni

    I think he will have forgotten about Butler by the time he reaches UNC.

    As far as no Cody at Midnight Madness, who cares. Really, I think it is overrated on the recruiting front. It is great for fans, but it would be more important for a recruit to be on campus game day against a clutch opponent.

    Here is a fact though in regards to Cody’s visit to IU. It is absolutley gorgeous in Bloomington in late October, and it arguably the prettiest and colorful Fall campus in America.

    We do get a chance to make a last impression.

    A few other viewpoints

    1) When Cody is at UNC for midnight madness, there will be “other” big time recruits there to share his spotlight.
    2) Hopefully Cody sees that either his brother has progressed into an NBA player and will not be there next year to play with or he hasn’t improved the way he should and has been underdeveloped at UNC.
    3) Maybe Cody will see that he will have to sit behind possibly his brother for a year, the Wear brothers, 2 other guys 6’10 on the roster and have time taken away from 6’8″ Harrison Barnes in 2010 class, and verballed #3 PF in 2011 class James McAdoo.

    At IU’s visit he is #1. He is our #1 recruit in 2011. He will start from day 1. He can show case his game and fit perfectly in the CTC system immediately. He will get at least 20 min a game as a freshman. He will be an icon in Indiana forever. He will be viewed as the main cog in the revival around of IU basketball. His family is an hour away. He will win Mr. Basketball. He could be the youngest Govenor in the state’s history.

    I like our chances.

  • stonaroni

    I think if CZ signs with IU, he could punch me in the face and I will have to fight off a strong urge to thank him. He will be the most interesting man in the ITH world!

  • stonaroni

    He could have the “decision” show on WTTV 4. Maybe Don Fisher can host. If he signs with IU he could say, “Here come the Hoosiers” or “We got him” kind of like he says “he got it” when someone drains a 3. If he decides on another school Don could say, “And Tom Crean is livid!” I don’t hear livid much any more, but back in the 80′s and 90′s according to Don, Bob Knight was always, “livid”!

  • Bleeding Crimson

    I like the fact that we are last. Maybe, just maybe he knows where he is going to play college ball at and is picking this list in order to have IU last just so he can tell the other schools “I said from the beginning that I would take all of my visit and that is what I’m going to do”. Knowing that he can commit after the IU visit. Instead of having IU first and maybe then commit then?…

    I would like to have my cake and eat it too…Having him last at Hoosier Hysteria. But as Alex mentioned, he probably pick UNC’s Midnight Madness to be there with his brother and a family trip. Makes perfect sense.

    Man does he run the court well, drive the lane and MAKES his baskets, always seems to be at the right place at the right time, and plays his back to the basket very well. All around great ball player. We have to land this guy…with Yogi to feed him the ball next year WOW!

    BC

  • http://HEARTLANDPRINTING.BIZ WALTBELLAMY

    Just got off the website for n.c. basketball; was a short video of Tyler Zeller there. Do not think there is much going on about Cody like there is here on blogs. It seems like a no-brainer. Does he want to be a Tyler Hansborough wanna be? Is it a big deal that he play with other brother at n.c.?
    As others have said better than I, he would be a big big deal at IU. Butler did a great job this year and other years, but playing in the “shadows”. I don’t know. i.e. less exposure TV etc. Cody, just get on the phone now and cancel those 2 visits to Butler and nc. You will not experience the hoop-la at n.c. or Butler, like you will have at Indiana. This is more, I think than my opinion, I believe it to be a fact.

  • Anonymous

    Dear “Pistol” Bill,

    Is it too much to ask for a W on October 30th? Not only would it be fun for the fans, it would definitely not hurt our recruiting efforts with CZ.

    Thanks.

  • Anonymous

    Everybody here should buy tickets to that game to ensure a Cody Zeller chant. Hopefully I can get it started in the student section.

  • Anonymous

    I really think your 3rd point will be a difference maker. Having a guy like McAdoo already committed will really hurt his playing time. He may get some playing time at the 5 spot, but he certainly won’t fit best there.

    Hopefully he has enough of an ego, so he can be sold on being THE guy at IU. If he lives up to expectations, CZ could be a legend here. He would be just another starting forward at UNC

  • Anonymous

    quoted from Cody Zeller via Facebook last night. (Seriously)

    “Ive finally made my decision….with the help of my family (mostly my dog ruby)…and with the support of my (imaginary)friends…..I have decided to take my hockey skills to the university of southern arkansas. Go Muleriders!”

  • DanTheMan

    Maybe we can get someone to shoot some video and post on ITH of the fans’ signs at HH and a chant for CO-DY ZEL-LER anyways. He’s not even coming to our event, but we’re gonna make him feel welcome!

  • DanTheMan

    Maybe we can get someone to shoot some video and post on ITH of the fans’ signs at HH and a chant for CO-DY ZEL-LER anyways. He’s not even coming to our event, but we’re gonna make him feel welcome!

  • http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

    A quote from Hugh Hellenberger at the Scoop:
    “UNC’s Midnight Madness is one of the events least connected to basketball in the country. It’s basically a series of skits by the team. If watching Tyler Hansbrough pop it like it is hot is your thing, then it’s awesome.”

    Maybe we’ll be okay …

  • http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

    FYI: the Wear bros. transferred to UCLA. Without their transfer, UNC doesn’t have the scholarships to make an offer to Zeller.

  • Anonymous

    Yo

  • Young Kelin Zeller

    He could punch me in the face and I will thank him…..(I cannot top that one, good stuff)

  • JohnS

    Actually, Midnight Madness has been a great recruiting tool. We have had MANY recruits decide on that night. I remember when Ron Felling used to wait till the seats were filled, then walk the recruits (purposely apparently) all the way around the court before leading them into one of the reserved seats front and center. By this time, it is really loud and people are going crazy, most recruits will never see 17,000+ fans at a PRACTICE! How can you not commit? Ron Patterson was on the floor right behind the basket last year, I’m sure it left an impression.

  • http://twitter.com/IUgrad07 Deon Mitchell

    Cody to IU is official. The city of Indianapolis will ruin Butler chances. While going EAST to ride the bench and play sparingly is not an option for a well rounded kid. IU has too much going for them to not get this one. He don’t have a RIVAL of IU on his list. HE is IU bound.

  • CutterInChicago

    “If watching Tyler Hansbrough pop it like it is hot is your thing, then it’s awesome.”

    I agree. That is an awesome line.

  • http://twitter.com/ericostby Eric Ostby

    I hate to prove you wrong, but….

    http://www.facebook.com/czeller40?ref=search

    Cody’s on Facebook. Apparently.

  • Gustin

    And, a warm sunny fall day would be nice…

  • Young Kelin Zeller

    Cody ….I thought you were different….guess he will get a few hundred more friend request now.

  • DanTheMan

    Can I punch you in the face if he signs…and then you thank CTC? Just curious how far you’d go;)

  • IU_Fan_99

    Jeremy Hollowell: “Jus got a fcebook friend request from mike krzyewski himself! 1 of da greatest coaches out! He out the states wat he doin worried bout me =)” on Twitter….

  • Anonymous

    “I don’t always drink the Kool-Aid, but when I do, I prefer the red.”

  • Josterma

    Even cooler would be if the student body could pull off some sort of Zeller inspired “flash mob” performanc….if you’re not familiar with this check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDNOB6TnHSI…not sure if I’ve ever seen something like this done for a recruit

  • Anonymous

    Did everyone see the tweet that Yogi is coming to the football game this weekend?

  • Anonymous

    Cody is going to Butler because:

    + The team will be built around him
    + He would easily be their best player
    + He really likes dogs

    Cody is going to UNC because:

    + His brother plays there
    + He’s drawn to the allure of playing for a team that’s won two titles in the past few years
    + He wants to be the next Mike

    Cody is going to IU because:

    + He wants to be part of returning IU to basketball glory
    + He wants to play with his friends
    + Cook Hall – enough said

    Cody chose to visit IU last in his recruiting visits because:

    + Being polite to Butler and UNC, but knows those aren’t his final destination
    + Plans on giving a verbal to Tom Crean, so save the IU visit for last

  • Anonymous

    What a great team mascot/logo “muleriders”. I actually rode mules when I was a kid visiting my Grandad’s farm in SC. To say that the human on top of a mule has VERY little control over those huge beasts is a gross understatement, you have NO control. They just go as they want to go and all of your tugging on the reins, kicking and hollering is like a fly on their tough hides.

  • Anonymous

    Also good!

  • Anonymous

    That was good!

  • Anonymous

    Nice post!

  • Anonymous

    You are on top of it!

  • http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

    Ohhhhhhh Yeaaaahhhhhhh!

  • Anonymous

    Not only McAdoo #8 and Hariston #14, both current verbals rank above Cody #20, but Rivers #1 lists NC as 1 out of 4 schools, A Thomas #15 lists NC as 1 out of 11, Behanan # 23 lists NC as 1 out of 11 and Cook lists NC (and IU) as 1 out of 18 schools. At NC Cody Zeller is just one more very talented recruit. At Indiana Cody Zeller is THE HOOSIER!!

  • Anonymous

    Bob Knight was BORN livid!

  • Anonymous

    I wanted Cody to come to IU for Hoosier Hysteria/Midnight Madness too. But my girlfriend explained that since his brother was on the team at NC, his whole family, Mom, Dad, etc., was probably planning on going to NC and attending anyhow. Thus it only made sense for Cody to take his visit then and to support his brother! She is completely right! So LAST is BEST! He will take a few days after his visit to Bloomington and then announce for IU!! (the in home visits by coaches are not very important as the family knows all three coaches very well)

  • Anonymous

    Great idea!

  • Anonymous

    What Poll?

  • Anonymous

    Another good idea!

  • MPmike

    I hope that you are right. I still feel that we needed C.Z. to attend Mid Madness/Hoosier Hysteria to lock him for a commit, but since he is going to UNC’s instead doesn’t make it too promising. Since, Indiana’s history losing big time recruits to UNC tar rams that lead them to national championships- etc. Eric Montross, Rick Fox, Sean May, Ty Zeller, doesn’t sit well with me our any IU fan. Hopefully, our luck or fate will change and there will be a start of something beautiful.

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