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Notebook: Lyles, Blackmon Jr. in new Rivals top 50

by in Media | May 3rd, 2012

A look at a few recruiting notes, an update on the Indiana-Kansas series and a quick preview of one of the better spring AAU events in the country highlight our Thursday notebook:

· Rivals.com expanded their class of 2014 rankings from 25 players to 50 earlier today and several prospects with IU interest are highly regarded. 2014 commits Trey Lyles (9, five-star) and James Blackmon Jr. (45, four-star) are both included.

Other prospects mentioned with IU who are included: Noah Vonleh (2, five-star), Cliff Alexander (8, five-star), Kevon Looney (11, five-star), Jaquan Lyle (15, five-star), D’Angelo Russell (16, five-star), Ahmed Hill (37, four-star), Drake Harris (46, four-star) and Trevon Bluiett (47, four-star).

The Rivals story accompanying the rankings release calls Lyles “the most offensively skilled big in his class.”

· Two of the names from the above list that are new to the 2014 radar are Vonleh and Hill. Evan Daniels of Scout.com reported new Hoosier interest in the 6-foot-7 Vonleh, who plays at New Hampton Prep in Massachusetts.

Hill, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Augusta, Georgia, reportedly received an IU offer earlier this week.

· On the 2012-2013 schedule front, talks between Indiana and Kansas about a series as early as next season have broken down, according to The Kansas City Star:

Here’s what we also know: The long-rumored home-and-home series with Indiana appears to be dead, according to KU’s Larry Keating, special assistant to the athletic director. Keating is the point man in charge of piecing together KU’s schedule, and he told The Star on Wednesday that the potential series was no more. It appears Indiana was hesitant to schedule another major (road) game.

The Hoosiers have reportedly been haggling with Kentucky over the renewal of that series — do they play on or off campus? — but Indiana also has a loaded schedule (It features Butler, the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, and a four-team tourney at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn that includes UCLA and Georgetown).

Whether or not this is a signal that Indiana-Kentucky standstill will be resolved in time to continue the series next season remains to be seen. (Update: It’s not a signal the IU-UK series will get resolved.)

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Health guiding a strong spring for Devin Davis

by in Recruiting | May 3rd, 2012

Pinpointing the most significant difference for Devin Davis from last spring to this spring is easy for Eric Gordon All-Stars coach Matt Green.

It’s not an improved jump shot or added strength, although the Warren Central star has improved in both of those areas. It’s a factor Davis had little control over, but is now in the rearview mirror: his health.

“When he’s healthy, you get what you see now,” Green said at last weekend’s adidas Spring Classic in Fishers. “He’s tough and is always going to be a warrior for you, but when he’s healthy, he shows all the athleticism. He’s able to get up and down, rebound, defend, make shots. You get the total package when he’s fully healthy.”

Through three tournaments this spring, a healthy Davis is playing better than ever after battling a nagging back injury for much of last spring and summer.

“I feel like that’s probably the biggest difference,” Davis told Inside the Hall. “I feel like I’m more athletic and can do more with and without the ball. And my mindset is more that I’ve gotta do more for the team and play my hardest.”

That mindset includes affecting winning in ways beyond just scoring the ball.

In Fishers, the IU commit was deflecting passes, diving on loose balls and when he took an inadvertent elbow to the nose late in a loss to Wisconsin Swing, he didn’t even require a trip to the bench before continuing. That type of effort doesn’t go unnoticed by his teammates.

“He brings a lot to the table. He’s got a motor that doesn’t stop,” Zavier Turner, the point guard for the Eric Gordon All-Stars, said. “That’s what I think gets Devin over. He brings it every game as far as his rebounding, scoring or defense. Even if he doesn’t have a scoring night, he’s there to rebound.”

Turner, who has known Davis since the third grade, said playing with such a versatile and unselfish teammate makes his job as a point guard much easier.

“When I penetrate, he’s constantly moving, so it’s an easy little dump down to him,” Turner said. “He doesn’t mind screening — he just plays. He plays for the team, and not for himself.”

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HD Video: Chandler White at adidas Spring Classic

by in Video | May 2nd, 2012

Chandler White established himself as one of the top guards in Indiana’s class of 2015 after averaging close to 16 points per game as a freshman at Ft. Wayne Carroll. White has early interest from Butler, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Xavier.

We’ve compiled over a minute of high definition quality video of White from last weekend’s adidas Spring Classic, which is available in the embedded media player below:

Q & A: 2013 wing Semi Ojeleye talks Indiana

by in Recruiting | May 2nd, 2012

After a pair of strong performances in the first two Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) sessions of the spring, 2013 Ottawa (KS) forward Semi Ojeleye is receiving significant interest from Indiana.

Both Tom Crean and Steve McClain watched Ojeleye over the weekend at EYBL Hampton as the 6-foot-6 member of Mokan Elite averaged 17.8 points and 5.2 rebounds over five games.

Inside the Hall caught up with Ojeleye, the No. 39 player in his class according to ESPN.com, to get his thoughts on the recent interest from Indiana, his plans for the summer, a timetable for a decision and more:

On the schools looking hardest at him:

“Indiana’s up there. UCLA, Wisconsin, Arizona. I got a couple calls today from Kansas and Louisville, so it’s sort of shifting around as we speak.”

On when he started looking at Indiana:

“I think it was about three weeks ago. They called and then we have just been going back and forth to get to know one another.”

On what about IU interests him:

“It’s a great program. They’ve had some great success these past couple of years and had some big wins. Players that go there seem to be successful, so it’s a good program and maybe a good place to play college basketball.”

On who he’s talked to from IU:

“I actually was supposed to call Coach Crean right now. I just got his number from Coach McClain. I talk to Coach McClain probably once every two weeks at least.”

On his game:

“I can spread the floor with my shooting, so that makes people come out and get me. With my size I can go by people that close out too hard. I can post up small guards. Whatever the coach needs me to do, I’ll do.”

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Indiana names Kenny Johnson assistant coach

by in Media | May 1st, 2012

Indiana has confirmed the hiring of Towson assistant coach Kenny Johnson as the replacement for Bennie Seltzer, who left last month for Samford.

Here’s the release from IU media relations:

Indiana University men’s basketball coach Tom Crean has announced the hiring of Kenny Johnson as an assistant coach for the Hoosiers. He replaces Bennie Seltzer who recently was named head coach at Samford University.

“We have been impressed by Kenny and have followed him for years,” said Crean. “He will bring a solid mix of personality, work ethic and toughness to our staff. I’ve always admired his ability to get the most out of the young men he has worked with. We are excited about his potential and look forward to him working with our entire staff.”

Johnson, a native of Oxon Hill, Maryland, comes to IU from Towson where he joined the staff last year after serving as associate head coach at Paul VI High School in Fairfax, Virginia for four years. Johnson’s background also includes being named the associate head coach at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in 2002 and in 2006 he became the associate head coach at Dr. Henry Wise High School. The following year he began his coaching run at Paul VI.

“I am extremely proud and honored to be part of the Hoosier family,” said Johnson. “Indiana University is a place with unbelievable tradition and I am looking forward to continuing to help young men reach their potential.”

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Spring Classic: Hyron Edwards highlights, Q & A

by in Video | May 1st, 2012

2015 East Chicago Central point guard Hyron Edwards has early offers from Indiana and Purdue and is establishing himself this spring as one of the top Indiana players in his class.

Edwards was watched by both Tom Crean and Calbert Cheaney as well as Michigan assistant Lavall Jordan and Purdue coach Matt Painter over the weekend at the adidas Spring Classic in Fishers. We’ve compiled over a minute of high definition quality video of Edwards from the event, which is available in the embedded media player below:

A video interview along with a transcribed Q & A with Edwards is available after the jump.

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