Via InsideIndiana on YouTube:
Tom Crean comments on 2012 recruiting class
by Staff in Recruiting | November 10th, 2011
We’ll have more on this later, but here’s a comment from Tom Crean on the 2012 recruiting class as a whole and each of the signees via IUHoosiers.com:
IU Coach Tom Crean on the class
“We believe this is a class that has an opportunity to develop into a very special group. They are dynamic competitors who bring explosiveness and energy immediately to the program. It will be exciting to help them develop and mesh over time.
“These young men are being coached and raised the right way. They have outstanding people helping them grow and when they get here, we will surround them with a group of coaches, staff and players that will hold them accountable to their respective talents.
“Even though our teams haven’t been where we want them to be yet, this shows again, our program is in a great place.”
Crean on Yogi Ferrell
“Yogi is a great floor leader who has the ability to make others better and get his own shot. He has outstanding quickness, court vision and has great range and can drive with the best of them. More than anything, he is a proven year-round winner. His change of speed and his change of direction are unique for his age. ”
Crean on Jeremy Hollowell
“Jeremy is an extremely versatile player who can score in a variety of ways. He can catch and shoot, take you off the dribble or post you up. He can matchup up defensively with a multitude of players and will give us a number of options when he is on the floor. He loves to be in the gym and his feel for the game is special.”
2011 Early Signing Period: schedule, player capsules
by Staff in Recruiting | November 8th, 2011
The early signing period for the 2012 recruiting class began Wednesday and all five of Indiana’s verbal commitments signed National Letters of Intent with the Hoosiers.
Hanner Perea signed this morning at La Lumiere in La Porte, Peter Jurkin this morning at United Faith Christian Academy in Charlotte, Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell this afternoon at Park Tudor, Ron Patterson this afternoon at Broad Ripple and Jeremy Hollowell this evening at Lawrence Central.
Here’s a capsule for each recruit in the class:
Guard, 5-10, 170-pounds, Park Tudor (IN)
ESPN: 4-star (33); Rivals: 5-star (17); Scout: 4-star (32)
Expert opinion: “He’s very quick. He’s going to be a different look for some of the other point guards in the Big Ten because his speed and tenacity are his best attributes. He just wants to get into you. He’s a fearless kid.” – Dave Telep of ESPN.com
Commitment coverage: Yogi Ferrell makes the call for Indiana, Video: Yogi Ferrell talks IU commitment
Video: 2010 adidas Invitational, vs. Forest Park, Spiece Run ‘N Slam, vs. Connecticut Basketball Club, vs. Dream Vision
Photo Gallery
Expert Analysis: Telep talks IU’s 2012 recruiting class
by Alex Bozich in Recruiting | November 7th, 2011
With signing day on the horizon, Inside the Hall caught up with one of the best in the business, Dave Telep, for some national perspective on Indiana’s 2012 recruiting class.
Telep is a senior basketball recruiting analyst for ESPN.com and the former national director of recruiting for Scout.com. He’s covered recruiting since 1997. A transcript of our chat with Telep follows:
Alex Bozich: This is obviously the best collection of talent that Tom Crean and his staff have put together since arriving in Bloomington. What are your thoughts overall on the class and the impact it can make on Indiana over the next couple of years?
Dave Telep: I think the best part about this class is that it’s dynamic. There’s five different position players. I also think there are three guys that are going to eventually be starters. At least three who will be starters for Indiana at some point in their career. That’s a heck of a thing to get out of a recruiting class. Jeremy Hollowell, Kevin Ferrell, Hanner Perea should go in with expectation that those guys are going to have 12-to-15 years of starting experience between them.
AB: As far as the other two members of the class — Ron Patterson and Peter Jurkin — they both committed early. They’ve kind of fallen down on some of the national ranking lists. What have you seen out of those two specifically? Peter hasn’t played, but where do they fit in?
DT: Well Peter unfortunately has been really injured. With his setbacks, it’s been a lot of physical stuff so he hasn’t been able to get on the floor. I think with Peter Jurkin defensively, you look at a guy like Baye Moussa Keita at Syracuse, who kind of carved out a role with his length and his ability to protect the rim. I think that’s what you want Peter Jurkin to do. He’s not a scoring threat unless he’s getting a rebound or a stick back or catching an alley-oop. But in terms of a rim protector, he can carve out a niche.
With or without Harris, 2012 class should be special
by Alex Bozich in Commentary | October 21st, 2011
As Tom Crean addressed a near capacity Hoosier Hysteria crowd on Saturday night at Assembly Hall, the chants were impossible to ignore.
“GA-RY HARR-IS. GA-RY HARR-IS. GA-RY HARR-IS.”
Over. And over. And over again.
A solid 30 seconds from 16,100 screaming fans. Harris, wearing a red hoodie in the north end bleachers, smiled. Had Crean not interrupted and continued speaking, it may have gone on all night.
In today’s landscape, interest in recruiting has exploded. Twitter, Facebook, message boards, web sites (like this one) and the expansion of player rankings have made it easier than ever to follow.
Want video of a player? Head over to YouTube. Want to know the schools he’s considering? Check out his profile on Scout.com. Want to know the visits he’s got planned? ESPN may have you covered. Want to observe a recruit interacting with friends? Follow him on Twitter or become a friend on Facebook.
It’s all there, easier to access than ever before. All of this coverage, however, tends to quickly shift the focus onto the next big thing in recruiting.
Once Cody Zeller committed and signed last November, it was on to Yogi Ferrell. Once Ferrell pledged, attention moved to Jeremy Hollowell. With Hollowell on board, all eyes shifted to Harris. And after Harris decides, another name will surface as the next “must-have” player.
It’s a cycle that’s repeating at programs across the country.
QuickLink
ESPN.com: Arizona overtakes Indiana in 2012 class rankings
The Wildcats are on top of the basketball recruiting world again, however, these Wildcats are from Arizona and not Kentucky. With the addition of Brandon Ashley, the No. 4 overall player in the 2012 class, coach Sean Miller’s Wildcats fly past Indiana, which was entrenched at the top since the beginning.
Arizona now has two recruits in the top 10 overall and three in the top 40. In the Wildcats’ rear view mirror are Indiana, Pittsburgh, Michigan State and Texas. Villanova recently dropped to No. 6 after Savon Goodman decided to open up his recruitment.
