Maurice Aniefiok “very interested” in IU, according to coach
As we reported on Twitter earlier this afternoon, Indiana coach Tom Crean was in Huntington, West Virginia today to scout 2011 Huntington Prep guard Maurice Aniefiok.
The 6-5, 220-pound senior came to the United States last August from Nigeria and is drawing interest from Duquesne, Mississippi, UCLA, USC, Arizona State and Baylor. Aniefiok had been considered a heavy lean to West Virginia, but the two parted ways in January.
Aniefiok, who is not ranked by Scout.com or Rivals.com, described himself as a combo guard that can do a bit of everything.
“In between shot, 3-pointer I can knock down, rebound, if I get a free lane I flush down with a dunk,” he said. “A little bit of everything. I won’t really say I’m a two-guard or one. I’m more of a combo guard.”
Rob Fulford, Aniefiok’s coach at Huntington Prep, offered a similar assessment and also added that Aniefiok’s body fat is less than three percent.
“He’s a catch-and-shoot guy, he’s a rebounder, he’s a physically imposing guard,” Fulford told Inside the Hall’s Zach Osterman. “He can get his own shot, he can catch and shoot. He’s a very good offensive rebounding guard, he’s a very good defensive rebounding guard.”
Aniefiok has not been offered a scholarship by Indiana and said he does not have a timetable on when he might decide on a school. The spring signing period begins on April 13.
“I have to sit down with some people and discuss it,” he said. “They are not going to influence me on where I am supposed to go or where not to go. I’m going to take my visits and when I’m done taking my visits, then we’ll sit down and make a decision. But I’m going to be the one making the decision.”
As for his interest in the Hoosiers, Fulford believes it is significant, but said the Hoosier staff might want to see Aniefiok in a game before deciding whether to offer a scholarship.
“He’s obviously very interested. All of this has kind of come quick,” Fulford said. “I think he (Crean) may want to see him play in a game. Bennie (Seltzer) was in to see him play last week. He (Crean) came in, and Maurice played the same today as he played when Bennie was here.”
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