2011 Indiana Basketball Recruiting Board

The 2011 Indiana Basketball Recruiting Board, inspired by the Football Recruiting Board on mgoblog and the Hotboard on UMHoops, is a collection of information on recruits that Indiana is believed to be recruiting for its 2011 class.

Information that appears on school lists is collected from public recruit profiles on ESPN, Rivals, Scout and various news outlets. School lists only denote reported interest, not offers. The board should not be considered a complete list of prospects being recruited and is not endorsed by Indiana University. No premium information is used.

If there is a prospect we should consider adding, please drop us an email at insidethehall@gmail.com.

Last Updated: 12/4/10

Projected Class Size: 2

A total of three scholarships are available and the Big Ten allows an oversign by one scholarship. Jeremiah Rivers is the lone senior, but Guy-Marc Michel’s scholarship also becomes available, leaving a total of three scholarships to use. (This, of course, assumes that no transfers take place.)

The Board:

Austin Etherington (Committed on August 3, 2009, Signed LOI on November 10, 2010)

Guard/Forward, 6-6, 190-pounds, Hamilton Heights (IN), Indiana Elite
Rivals: 3-star (unranked); Scout: 4-star (98)
ITH Video
ITH Video 2
Video Interview
Video Interview 2

Notes: Etherington, who battled a back injury during the spring, is now 100 percent and finished the summer with an impressive July. Known primarily for his shooting prowess, Etherington also has the ability to finish at the rim, but told Inside the Hall he’ll need to improve upon his ball-handling and upper body strength before arriving in Bloomington.

Cody Zeller (Committed on November 10, 2010, Signed LOI on November 10, 2010)

Forward, 6-10, 210-pounds, Washington (IN), Indiana Elite
Rivals: 5-star (20); Scout: 5-star (16)
Video of Zeller’s commitment
ITH Video
ITH Video 2
State Finals Postgame
Video Interview
Video Interview 2
Video Interview 3

Notes: A skilled big man with a knack for rebounding, Zeller is Tom Crean’s signature recruit to-date at Indiana. His commitment led to a subsequent pledge from his friend and 2012 point guard, Yogi Ferrell. He put together an amazing 20-point, 26-rebound effort in leading the Washington Hatchets to a Class 3-A state title last spring.

Also keep an eye on: Lawrence North’s Michael Chandler, who is back on the board after severing ties with Xavier last month.

IUfanPurduePhD

You crazy KB, you crazy. But I like the positive vibes you're putting out. Even though Zeller won't be the savior of our program (and I also think we'll have to wait a year or two for his impact), I think he could be a 10 & 10 guy by his junior year, and that's valuable. And unless something miraculous happens, he'll be there all four years and that's also valuable.

The fact that his brother (Luke, right?) accompanied him to an IU pick-up game speaks volumes. I think he probably told his brother, “Hey, I like IU, it's different/better than when you were interested and Davis & Sampson were there. Why don't you come with me and check it out?” Obviously, that's 100% speculation, but it makes sense.
IUfanPurduePhD

At least this time we have a decent alternative: Mitch McGary.
diamnddog1

Actually he is interested in Purdue and was supposed to be on campus yesterday, Wednesday, for an unofficial visit. Not sure if it ever went down though. I guess Devin Davis, Basil Smotherman, and Colin Hartman were all up at Purdue yesterday too playing open gym today.
IUfanPurduePhD

I guess I should file this under the heading of “be careful what you wish for in a sarcastic tone in an online blog's comment section” …

I hope AT is too smart to go to Purdue. I truly believe that in a few years IU will be much better than Purdue for these reasons (in true Kelin Blab style):
+ the “baby Boiler” gang will have graduated
+ IU's 2009 class will be upperclassmen
+ Purdue's early commits for the 2012 class are weaker than almost all of IU's targets.

Purdue has nabbed a great player in Terone Johnson and will probably nab Dawson, but I like our chances to overtake them… and soon. However, my assumption is based on Purdue NOT going a long way (Final Four) in the tourney next year, and thereby swinging a lot of interest their way. Nothing would please me more than a big first or second round flop from the Boilers — well, a vacated season for UK would please me more, but other than that…
OldTimer

Charles Barkley was only 6'5″, played at about the same weight in the pros, against much taller competition, and he didn't look too bad. The key word with a player like this playing power forward is “power”.
Jchris0790

Good point. I think Elston, Creek and Hulls have the most upside and I love their attitude. Elston is very good but has to bulk up some. I think Dawson will be able to create his own shots and rebound better in a crowd. Vj, Capobianco are developing rapidly and VJ was the best clutch player last year – which means he has a big heart – and Pritch is strong but needs someone like Elston or another big like Chane or Dawson so he can sneak in and box out to get the rebounds and put backs. I just think we are 1-2 players away from being competitve (IE top 4 in the big ten….of course this changes is Michel is better than we think….
ButWhatDoIKnow?

Perea will be the crown jewel of the 2012 class at IU – i feel it in my bones. He's the kid who will generate excitement for the fans while CZ will be “quietly” feeding on a diet of 10pts/10reb per game. Yeah, i'm sorta over the JD buzz that was consuming everyone for a while…but what's up with the HS team dismissal for BJY? Anyone find that out yet?
ButWhatDoIKnow?

CZ is a big catch because he represents IU re-establishing itself in recruiting the best in-state talent. Period. Even if he never produces, he's a huge piece of the long-term vision.
Kelin Blab

Per Demling…BJ Young with 47 points…OH and WOW. I know we all got into a tizzy over Kyrie Irving and all the good vibes…BUT….from BJ Young and all his quotes it would be a tragedy if he didn't qualify for 2011 and if he didn't commit to IU..

“I love coach crean and mcclain….”
“I can see myself playing at IU….”
“IU is at the top of my list….”
“I love the 24hr facility…”

http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2010-0729/merna…
Anonymous

Isn’t McGary now a 2012 guy since he’s going to prep school?
http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

That was written in June, before McGary transferred.
Atlasteve2

Sheehey is definitely a SF. His minutes will not come at the 2 position. Not sure, but Etherington would seem to fit at that position too. These two will back up Watford, once AE joins the team. But it will be very important that Crean go after the best available SF he can get in 2012. Especially if Watford plays up to expectations, then leves as a junior.

VJ3 and Young will play the 2 guard, although Young will be a great fit handling the ball when IU’s defense forces a turnover. He may play some point in the halfcourt offense, but probably not as a freshman. He’d have to be the 3rd or 4th option there. Your 8 includes players that will not get many, if any minutes this year.

Last, Roth will play as a 3pt specialist. Let’s all hope he shoots lights out off the bench. IU really needs that offensive tool.

I like the comments at the beginning of this article. Focus on Zeller and Young to fill up the 2 scholarship spots, if we can.
Anonymous

These three – Etherington, Zeller and Young – this is all I want for Christmas.
http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

I’ve completely changed my tune on this one. After Zeller’s fantastic summer, and Mitch’s reclassification, I’m all for Zeller becoming a Hoosier.
http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

Basically, I was just trying to argue against a 2011 class of AE, AT, and BJY. We now know that AT won’t be in Bloomington next year, so the scenario I had been concerned about is void.

And if VJ3 and BJY are going to play the 2 guard, where does Creek play? There’s not much difference in Crean’s offense between the 2 and the 3, but those guys aren’t playing the 2 if Creek’s on the floor. From everything I’ve read, BJY has transitioned into a PG, and he’s climbing up the ranks at that position (behind the likes of Teague). I think in 2011 he’d be one of the first guys off the bench, and he’d be replacing Hulls at point. I’m not saying he won’t play the 2 if he and Hulls are in at the same time, but I think BJY is a PG who can play SG.
Sam

“A total of two scholarships are available and the Big Ten allows an oversign by one scholarship. Jeremiah Rivers is the lone senior, leaving a total of three scholarships to use if Indiana elects to oversign. (This, of course, assumes that no transfers take place.)”

Really, using the oversign assumes that there WILL be a transfer; it just lets Crean decide who to cut loose after someone is already signed.
Hoosiers13

How do you guys not know that Branden Dawson is going to play for Michigan State! He has been committed for a while now. August fourth was the day that he gave the Spartans a solid verbal! He is not going to PUke.
Anonymous

What about Michael Chandler, very big, highly ranked, Indiana kid, and there is no way that he will be given a scholarship at KY, his first choice?
Anonymous

Wrong, Doctor! Cody would be a 15 pts/game 10 reb/game player as a freshman and Big 10 Freshman of the year!.He is a real difference maker. As a sophomore he will be a 20+ pts/game, 12+ reb/ game, first team All-Big 10 player. After that a top 5 NBA pick when he wishes to go, much like Peyton Manning in football.
Anonymous

Every top 20 recruit is exactly like Kyrie Irving, there is top competition for these guys, many options for them, and nothing is certain until they sign a LOI. You will lose in many of these recruiting efforts, and that is NEVER A FAILURE! As IU fans we need to be a lot tougher and much less “whiny”!
Anonymous

IMHO you are wrong on virtually each and every point. Zeller is perfect for Crean, 7′ tall, skilled shooter, tireless rebounder, total team player, can put the ball on the floor, etc. Not Mitch but Jurkin and Perea are the prototypes. Derek will be great this year! We do not want/need J Davis. We have today the pressure players you talk about: Rivers, Oladipo and Sheehey who should play 15 minutes/game as a group to attack on defense and to run on offense. IU should have 16-20 wins this season!
http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

Hoosiers13: check the date of my post: 07/01/2010 … I wrote that more than a month before Dawson committed to MSU.
Anonymous

Have you seen Derek recently. He is the guy I am walking into the byker bar with! He makes Capo seem undernourished!
Anonymous

No way. Get Young now! Get Cody in October!
Anonymous

I agree on Cook and Chandler. Dawson is going to MSU. Grant is not good enough.
Anonymous

No way Cody Zeller is an obsession for IU and Indiana fans!. J Davis is no longer a target.
Anonymous

I agree but Cody WILL produce!!
Anonymous

Zeller has done everything a recruit can do to show his love for IU, from 10 to 5 now to 3 including IU. I think that he really likes Coach Stevens, but it is between IU and NC. He is showing loyalty to his brother. I like that. But he will select IU for himself. I love that! If he does not pick IU, then we need to really go after Chandler as KY will not have room for him. Then a choice between Chandler and Goff is OK.
Anonymous

A Davis is going to KY (no one else has the $200,000) But that opens up Chandler as a Cody back-up. I hope IU moves in that direction.
http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

D.J. White, a bigger and stronger frosh than Zeller will be, only averaged 10 pts and 5 rebs per game during his freshman year. You’re telling me that Zeller is going to go 15 and 10 in his first year? I think 10 and 5 is a great projection for CZ’s frosh year. 15 and 10 is great his sophomore year. If he does 20 and 12 by his senior year, then that will make him B10 player of the year, but since when do lanky white guys under 7 feet tall without a good handle go in the top 5? The kid from Butler had a decent frame and could outdribble CZ in a heartbeat, and he was a reach at 9th (and that was after a championship game run).

I’m not arguing against CZ — he’s going to be great — but we need to temper our expectations a bit. Expecting him to outperform DJ White’s numbers seems a bit, well, out of the loop.
Anonymous

Wrong! Anthony Davis, 6’10, out of Chicago has verballed for KY, as reported by Rivals!
Anonymous

He is going to MSU!
Anonymous

I think that he is last on the KY wish list and may be available after November.
http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

OTL: I wrote that back in June, long before he trimmed his list to 3. We were, in late June, dying for good news, which is why there was a lack of enthusiasm about Zeller or Davis… and which is why all of us immediately jumped on the Aaron Thomas train (because he smiled when he talked about IU and its greatness).

Given what has transpired in the past month, I agree with what you said… but taken in context of when I said what I said, I still stand by it.
Anonymous

WE NEED Zeller!! But as a back up plan if we don’t GET Zeller, Chandler and Goff are OK.
Anonymous

The Aaron Thomas ship has already sailed, and not to Bloomington! We told him we no longer wanted him! It was our decision, at first, not his.
Anonymous

And has never been changed.
http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

After Zeller’s stellar summer, yes, I agree, we NEED Zeller. But in June, when I wrote that, he didn’t have nearly the buzz around him that he does now, and he hadn’t entirely proved himself yet (which is what he did this summer). So, yes, we NEED Zeller, but I didn’t know he was going to have as fantastic a summer showcase as he did. I don’t think anybody knew he was going to go from being ranked in the 40s (nationally) to being ranked in the teens. (He could’ve had a summer like J. Davis: going from being ranked in the top 100 (top 50 at one point) to being unranked (Scout) or ranked outside the top 100 (Rivals).)
Anonymous

Austin Etherington will be the perfect replacement for Rivers in the group of three with Vic and Will to attack on defense and run on offense and totally disrupt the opponent. Vic going to the rim, Will for the pull up 2, Austin for the open 3. All three great athletes committed totally to pressure defense. They may play so well that the only question is who are the other two that get to play with them.
Anonymous

You’re right, but my comment is pretty old, from a few months ago. There was a time when Cody wasn’t playing as well and it just seemed the fanfare had died down. Myself, you and everyone else seems to extremely high on Cody now, and justifiably so.
Anonymous

In my group of three concept there are no positions 1-5, just great athletes and great basketball players running and attacking each second! You add Creek and Watford, or Creek and Elston (or Jones and Capo even Guy if he can run) and you run and atttack, not for 40 minutes, but “all-out” for 8-12 minute stretches at a time. Then you shift gears to a more normal 1-5 basketball team, either “Big”: Guy, Capo or Pritchard, and Elston plus two, or “sharp shooters”: with Creek, Roth, Hulls plus two, or “starting five”: with Guy, Elston, Watford, Creek and Jones, or some other group. IU has a lot of options and a lot of depth. At “crunch time” we will know what 5 to put on the floor out of the top 6: Creek, Watford, Elston, Jones, Hulls, and Guy. If Guy proves not to be as good as I think he will be, then Capo or Pritchard.
Anonymous

Look at MSU right now, D Green is awesome!
Anonymous

Wow, what a difference a summer or so makes. CZ has done more than enough to make me change my, and alot of other peoples,’ view of him and how much he would be able to help IU on the court as well as image wise. While I don’t think he will average some of the numbers people are saying I do think he may very well start and if not he will play several meaningful minutes and have what is considered very respectable numbers for a true freshman. Per my statement above just in case he signs with IU and does meet expectations I have my ” OK I was wrong statement ready ” and will be more than happy to put it out there.
Anonymous

I too as well and we not are not in what I would call a small club of people with that change of opinion.

And my wife says I can never admit it when I’m wrong ? !
http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

Ha, yeah, I had to put that up there because there seems to be some people that are taking me to task for “not knowing” that Branden Dawson committed to MSU or that McGary reclassified to 2012 … failing to see, of course, that I wrote most of those posts back in June, before we knew any of those things, and esp. before we knew that Zeller was going to have a monster summer. It was a preemptive strike, of sorts.
Anonymous

The proof is in the pudding…or eating the pudding…you get the point. We will revisit this issue at the end of the 2012-13 season, and annually thereafter until after the NBA draft. I watched every game of DJ’s career, and I love the kid. But it took him until the middle to late part of his junior year to hit the 17′ contested jump shot at a high %. Cody can do this and much more now, and he has one more year of HS ball to work on his game.
Anonymous

Sorry. I just saw it in the thread 2 days ago. How does a post from one month ago get in a current discussion?
Anonymous

I totally agree. But what is the plan if Young says no to IU? What is your plan if Zeller says no to IU? My plan for Young was A Thomas, but we lost that chance. Now my plan would be Quinn Cook. My plan for Zeller is Chandler first, then Goff. If we can not get any of these, then enjoy the lump of coal because Austin Etherington will be a diamond in the rough!
Anonymous

I am sorry. I never look at the date of the post. How do you find them and repost them to a current discussion? We need a Rule against Kelin reposting all 2000 of his pearls of wisdom for each new topic!
http://weeklycritiquely.blogspot.com/ IUfanPurduePhD

The recruiting board has been here for a while, all Alex did was update the targets.

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