IU Inks 4 Recruits

As expected, the Hoosiers received 4 signed Letter of Intents today. If you prefer a very brief summary of each player, I provide one below. Or for more details, click here for IU's press release that includes a background of each player as well as Sampson's comments on each player. Overall, the recruiting class is ranked nationally at #15 and second best in the Big Ten (behind Ohio St). I have to say that I am very pleased with the recruiting class. To follow up a Top 5 recruiting class with the #15 recruiting class is a very good crop of young players over a 2-year period. I know a lot of people are saying this could have been a Top 10 class if Kevin Jones would have announced IU today instead of West Virginia. Or it could have even been back-to-back Top 5 classes if the Hoosiers would have been able to keep Tyler Zeller in-state. The problem is that every team could look at every class that way. In the end, you are going to lose more recruiting battles than you win. Let's take a closer look at the recent Jones and Zeller recruiting decisions. As for Jones, something in my gut tells me that any player that decides to go play for Huggins does not belong in an IU uniform. It doesn't sound like his priorities were to play winning team basketball. Also, he is a similar type player as Devin Ebanks. IU clearly had Ebanks as their #1 target and they landed him. Jones would have been a bonus. Now Zeller is a completely different story. This one hurt a little more. Zeller would have given IU a solid recruit at all 5 positions and probably would have given them a Top 5 class. However, IU has a proven history of tall goofy white guys playing like....well, tall goofy white guys. And finally, the stinging truth about this one is that if Carolina offers and you don't mind not being close to home, you take Carolina over Indiana. That will change after IU wins the national title this year, but the fact is that IU has not been a truly elite program for the last 15 years. Even with the recent recruiting losses of Zeller and Jones, I still really like this recruiting class. It is a well-rounded class in a couple ways. First, it's well-rounded in that they landed a true point guard, a shooting guard, a wing player, and a nice-sized forward. Also, it's well-rounded because they landed a 5-star, a 4-star, and a pair of 3-stars. Obviously, the 5-star players can come right in and play, but if they play well, they can also go right on out after a year or two. But if you can land the right type of 3-star players, these are the guys that get better every year and are invaluable as juniors and seniors. It sounds like IU may have landed a couple a 3-star players that fit this very mold -- maybe not the most athletic players but they work hard and have high basketball IQs. Anyway, on to the brief summaries: Devin Ebanks - IU's prize recruit, the #2 small forward in the nation and #13 player overall. Described as a true scorer that can shoot the 3 and put in on the floor to create. Assuming Gordon is one and done (and he will be), Ebanks will help fill that big scoring void. Best operates in space and at 6-8 can play the 2, 3, or 4 spot. Terrell Holloway - 4-star true point guard. Came on board after the Crack Mackey situation. Matt Roth - described as a prolific 3-pt shooter. If he can truly be a sharp-shooter and hold his own on defense, he could fit in nicely on this team where other guys create and then kick to him for the dagger. Tom Pritchard - a 6-8 or 6-9 big body that will work hard and willing to do the dirty work. However, supposed to also have a nice touch on his jumper and at the FT line. Go future Hoosiers!