An updated look at Indiana’s 2014 guard targets

  • 08/14/2013 12:05 pm in

With the recent decommitment of James Blackmon Jr., the list of guards on IU’s radar has undergone a bit of a shakeup. Here’s an updated look at all of Indiana’s 2014 guard targets.

071513ax1. Robert Johnson, 6-3, 180 pounds

· Primary position: Shooting Guard
· From: Benedictine High School, Richmond, VA
· Ranking: No. 2 player in Virginia according to ESPN.com
· Considering: Florida State, Georgetown, Indiana, Miami (FL), North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia
· Planned visits: Indiana, August 23
· Analysis: “He can really play now. He can play the 1, he can play the 2. He can really shoot. He just knows how to play. He’s got great footwork.” — AAU coach Boo Williams

081413v2. Isaiah Whitehead, 6-4, 195 pounds

· Primary position: Shooting Guard
· From: Lincoln High School, Brooklyn, NY
· Ranking: No. 35 nationally according to ESPN.com
· Considering: Arizona, Indiana, Syracuse, Miami (FL), Minnesota, UCLA
· Planned visits: Indiana, Syracuse, Arizona, UCLA, Miami (all in September or October)
· Analysis: “He’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. His shooting has gotten a lot better. He’s consistently hitting a jumper from NBA range. And he’s strong, he’s strong getting to the basket. That’s always been a strength of his.” — Assistant coach James Barrett

042613ws3. Dante Exum, 6-6, 188 pounds

· Primary position: Point Guard
· From: Australia Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia
· Ranking: Unranked by ESPN.com (international prospect)
· Considering: Boise State, Colorado, Duke, Georgetown, Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Southern Methodist, UCLA, Vanderbilt
· Planned visits: None (has already visited Indiana)
· Analysis: The best player available of the guards listed, Exum is low on this list because of his NBA draft stock. If Exum enters the 2014 Draft, he’s likely to be a top five pick. But if he does opt to go to college for a year, Indiana would likely be his choice, given it is the only school he has visited at this point.

hill0616134. Ahmed Hill, 6-4, 185 pounds

· Primary position: Shooting Guard
· From: Aquinas High School, Augusta, GA
· Ranking: No. 33 nationally according to ESPN.com
· Considering: Alabama, Clemson, UCONN, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas, Marquette, Miami, N.C. State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Villanova, VCU, Kansas, Missouri
· Planned visits: None
· Analysis: Hill told Inside the Hall he received a text from Tom Crean after James Blackmon Jr. decommitted to ask if he was serious about Indiana. Hill’s response: “Of course. Since day 1.” It’s not unlikely that Indiana could land him, but he’s the only one on this list who hasn’t visited IU or is planning a visit there.

nairn5. LouRawls Nairn, 5-10, 170 pounds

· Primary position: Point Guard
· From: Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kansas
· Ranking: No. 1 player in Kansas according to ESPN.com
· Considering: Indiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma
· Planned visits: Oklahoma (Aug. 23-25), Minnesota (Aug. 29-31), Indiana (Sept. 20-21)
· Analysis: “Tum tum” Nairn is down to his final three and will take visits before making his decision. He’s small, but can shoot the ball from the perimeter. Nairn could be a solid backup option for Yogi Ferrell.

081413ncnx6. Quentin Snider, 6-1, 150 pounds

· Primary position: Point Guard
· From: Ballard High School, Louisville, Kentucky (previously committed to Louisville)
· Ranking: No. 28 nationally according to ESPN.com
· Considering: Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Loyola, Marquette, Memphis, Minnesota, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Oklahoma State
· Planned visits: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Illinois, Memphis, UCLA
· Analysis: Snider has set up five visits — officials to Connecticut and UCLA — and unofficials to Cincinnati, Illinois and Memphis. He had planned to visit Indiana later this month, but nothing has been scheduled yet.

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