(Photo credit: J. Scott Photography)
Inside the Hall has just completed its first run of the 2013 Indiana Basketball Recruiting Board, highlighting the two prospects already committed plus five others with IU interest.
In addition, we’ve identified seven other 2013 names to keep an eye on.
The Inside the Hall Twitter mailbag is a weekly collection of questions tweeted to us via our Twitter account, @insidethehall.
Tweet us your questions each week and we’ll answer as many as we can. Now, onward …
@mattresch writes: With Michel out and the scholarship open, is there a new target in the 2011 class Crean is likely to go after?
Alex Bozich: There’s not a new target that immediately comes to mind, but remember this: Tom Crean never stops recruiting. That is a fact. The Michel scholarship being freed up is a little complicated because if IU takes another 2011 recruit, it will affect the 2012 class and beyond. But if Crean identifies a player that fits in with the program, he’s going to do what he can to bring that player to Bloomington. I think the Michel recruitment proved that, even though it didn’t work out as IU hoped it would. Since the Hoosiers won’t technically be able to sign another 2011 recruit until the spring signing period, this is likely something that’s going to take time to develop.
@nickmryan07 writes: With UK coming up, what can IU do to avoid the slow start? The best way to rattle a young team is a quick start!
Ryan Corazza: Find its rhythm on offense immediately. Against Boston College and a few of its lesser talented foes, Indiana’s offense has been ugly early. Of course, defense is not to be overlooked. But grabbing some early confidence on the offense end to start should help them in a tough road environment. Establishing Christian Watford from the onset wouldn’t hurt either.
@MRHess writes: why is verdell’s nickname not Indiana Jones?
Zach Osterman: Because the Big Ten denied his petition to use a bullwhip on defense and out-of-bounds plays. Next question.
@pacerjon writes: what are the chances Michael Chandler ends up at IU?
Alex Bozich: Another day, another Michael Chandler question. I’m not a percentages guy, but the chances don’t seem to be very good. Chandler, for those unfamiliar with him, has rescinded verbal commitments to both Louisville and Xavier and is now back on the board. Since he’s from Indianapolis and has stated that Indiana is recruiting him, the buzz has continued on the possibility that he could join the 2011 class. He was once a five-star recruit, but has fallen considerably in the national rankings. At 6-foot-10 and a shade over 225 pounds, Chandler would provide a legitimate post presence to compliment Cody Zeller, but his academics have been talked about as a potential hurdle to overcome. He’s certainly a talented prospect, but at the end of the day, does the risk outweigh the reward? That’s a question the IU coaching staff will have to answer.
For the first time since the signing of Cody Zeller and the commitments of Hanner Perea and Yogi Ferrell, Inside the Hall has updated its 2011 and 2012 recruiting boards with the latest information on both classes.
Check out an in-depth look at both classes at the links below:
2011 Indiana Basketball Recruiting Board
2012 Indiana Basketball Recruiting Board
Our first 2013 recruiting board will debut later this week.
(Photo credit: Jack Arent/adidas)
Thanks to our friend and former IDS sports writer Chris Engel for this report.
Stats:
Patterson: 7-of-16 FG (5-of-11 3PT), 6-of-10 FT, 25 PTS, 1 AST, 2 ST, 1 REB, 1 TO.
Hartman: 5-of-8 FG (4-of-7 3PT), 14 PTS, 1 AST, 2 ST, 4 REB, 2 TO.
Thoughts on the game:
Collin Hartman completed a weekend sweep of future Hoosier teammates Saturday night when his Cathedral Irish defeated Ron Patterson and the Broad Ripple Rockets, 68-65.
It was an emotional night at Broad Ripple High School as the team honored former teammate Steven Jamison who passed away from cancer last July. After Patterson won the opening tip against Hartman, the team called timeout and went up into the stands to give the game ball to Jamison’s family. The two teams fought back and forth the entire game with lead exchanges, but in the end, Cathedral made a few more plays than Broad Ripple to pull out the three-point victory.
Hartman:
He had an impressive shooting night going 5-of-8 from the field, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, en route to scoring 14 points. Hartman showed off his complete skill set by adding four rebounds, two steals and one assist to his scoring effort.
Cathedral had a balanced offensive attack, which resulted in stretches of play when Hartman didn’t get the ball. Cathedral would have been better served to try and get Hartman the ball more in the flow of the offensive. On the other hand, Hartman should have been more assertive in getting the ball. While Hartman showed good ballhandling skills, his collegiate position is likely at one of the forward spots. He didn’t show much of an inside game although he had a size advantage on every player guarding him.
Listen to Indiana head coach Tom Crean’s comments following IU’s 79-57 win over Savannah State in the embedded media player below:
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Zach Osterman returns for his third installment of the Inside the Hall Podcast and joining him is former Herald-Times sports editor Chris Korman, now of The Baltimore Sun, to talk about this year’s version of the Hoosiers, the NCAA and Guy-Marc Michel and how the football coaching search relates to the basketball program.
Listen in the embedded media player below:
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Here’s a direct link to listen or you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
