6-Banner Sunday: Recruiting updates and a new purpose for Tamar Bates

  • 07/31/2022 7:49 am in

6-Banner Sunday is Inside the Hall’s weekly newsletter in partnership with The Assembly Call. More than 9,000 Indiana fans receive the newsletter each week. In addition to appearing each week on the site, you can also opt to receive 6-Banner Sunday by email. A form to subscribe via email is available at the bottom of this week’s 6-Banner Sunday.

Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall where we highlight the five most essential IU basketball stories of the past week, plus take a look at how the other IU sports programs are doing.

Recruiting took the lead this week with several items of interest. Also, a current IU player met with the media, and Inside the Hall had a feature on him while also continuing their series of previewing the non-conference opponents for 2022.

Meanwhile, the Hoosiers got bad news from a top target and Assembly Call had a special show Thursday. We will, as always, conclude with a look at how other IU sports are doing.

• Recruiting news
• Tamar Bates speaks to media
• Non-conference opponents previews
• Xavier Booker commits to Michigan State
• Assembly Call podcast with Rivals.com recruiting expert
• Hoosier Roundup

Banner #1 – Recruiting news

Other than a slight heartbreak on the recruiting trail (see below), there were several other stories on targets IU is pursuing for future classes.

First off the Hoosiers hosted several 2023 top prospects this week for official visits with Jamie Kaiser Jr., Arrinten Page, and DeShawn Harris-Smith all coming to Bloomington. While IU hopes this trio of players will don Cream and Crimson in the future, they know for sure Gabe Cupps will and he played in a nationally televised high school game last Tuesday night.

While 2024 is a year further away, Indiana is also working on securing players for that class. One of those is Jesse McCulloch who the Hoosiers offered this week and Inside The Hall had a Q&A with him. Also, ITH did Q&A’s recapping Page and Kaiser’s visits.

Banner #2 – Tamar Bates speaks to media

IU has made players available to the media this summer at various points. The latest to speak was rising sophomore Tamar Bates who met with the press on Thursday.

Bates discussed his offseason growth as well as becoming a new father. Tyler Tachman focused on the fatherhood aspect and wrote a feature about it.

Banner #3 – Non-conference opponent previews

Inside The Hall continued its ongoing series taking a detailed look at IU’s opponents for the upcoming fall. This week three teams were featured for November showdowns. The opponents will be Miami (OH), Little Rock, and Jackson State. All these games will take place during Thanksgiving break with the contest against the RedHawks in Indianapolis and the latter two in Bloomington.

Banner #4 – Xavier Booker commits to Michigan State

While the Hoosiers made top-five prospect Xavier Booker’s top 10 list earlier this week, on Saturday they found out the best player in Indiana high school basketball would be headed elsewhere.

While Booker will indeed play in the Big Ten, it was conference rival Michigan State who won the sweepstakes after being considered the front runner for a long time. Whether it was the fact that IU already has a top big man coming in this year with Malik Reneau or the allure of playing for the legendary Tom Izzo, the Hoosiers will have to look elsewhere for 2023 talent.

Banner #5 – Assembly Call podcast with Rivals.com recruiting expert

Assembly Call Radio took the week off. Instead, Jerod Morris had a special podcast on recruiting where he interviewed Rob Cassidy who covers this topic for rivals.com

Banner #6 – Hoosier Roundup

• Legendary Hoosier announcer Don Fischer was honored with a special award.

• Football head coach Tom Allen had media availability this week. Also, a couple of Hoosiers were named to preseason watch lists.

• Men’s Soccer announced new jerseys for next season and several former players are thriving in the MLS.

• Volleyball added a couple of international players for the upcoming year.

• Field Hockey added a new Athletic Performance Coach

Thanks for your continued support for The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall. We’ll be back next weekend with a new roundup.

Now go enjoy yourself a 6-banner Sunday.

Aaron (Ari) Shifron
Assembly Call Contributor

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