Cook's Recruiting Hotboard

Hey everybody! Long time, no speak. As you know, I am as die-hard as they get when it comes to IU basketball. And because every season takes a couple years off my life, I enjoy the off-season and tend to take a break from this blog. In addition, I usually don't follow recruiting that closely because recruiting ends in disappointment more times than not. Once a player commits to IU, then I definitely go check them out and learn as much as I can. But even then, so many things changes these days -- see the recruiting class of Devin Ebanks, Terrell Holloway, Eshaunte Jones, and Bud Mackey. This is why the IU Hoops blog has hired a recruiting specialist -- Ryun Cook. He has been on top of everything this off-season and has put together the following Hotboard that will get you completely up to speed on IU's recruiting efforts. Thanks Cookster! Goodbye to: Roger Franklin-this one is tough, but we have plenty to be excited for. Really weird how it cooled off so quickly. I think it sounded like Roger wanted too much attention and was being too wishy-washy with us, but who knows? Hello:Bawa Maniru-read below (#9) SVT? Stephan Van Treese-his name is resurfacing as a possible walk-on. Look at all the solid 2010’s and 2011’s who really have interest in IU at this point. 1. PF/C-Derrick Favors-6’9’’-Rivals-5 stars, #4 overall. Scout-5 stars, #1 overall. ESPN- #2, Scout’s Grade 92 We’ll keep him here, but I haven’t heard anything lately. This is an absolute long-shot, but is atleast worth listing. IU wasn’t on the board until the hiring of Roshown McLoed. He has given his list of 10 teams and IU wasn’t even on it, but supposedly his connection with McLeod atleast gets us in the conversation. As I said, definite long shot, but would turn us into an immediate dangerous team in ’09-’10. His list: Florida, FSU, NC St., UNC, GA, GT, Kansas, KY, UConn, Memphis, UCLA, IU? Likelihood he’ll be a Hoosier: Very Low 2. SG-Dominic Cheek-6’5’’-Rivals-5 stars, #16 overall. Scout-5 stars, #15 overall. ESPN-#11, Scout’s Grade 92 This seemed a long-shot until he was quoted as saying he guaranteed IU would be one of his 5 official visits. This too comes completely from the McLeod hire. He’s known him since he was a little kid. Crean has an established relationship with him as well. Some say we need big men too badly and that we already have Williams, Creek, etc, but this guy is big time. He also says he can play the 1,2, or 3. Once again, add a scorer like this to the 4 commitments we already have and Rivers, and ’09-’10 looks really exciting! Most recent update is that rumors are hot and heavy he’ll end up at Villanova. His list: UConn, FL, GTown, IU, Kansas, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Tenn, TX, Villanova, Wake Likelihood he’ll be a Hoosier: Medium/Low 3. SG-Maurice Creek-6’5’’-Rivals-4 stars, #59 overall. Scout-4 stars, #45 overall. ESPN-#62, Scout’s Grade 84 I wanted to include the guys who are already committed for comparison sake and excitement. Creek was around #75, then didn’t play for awhile and missed some big tourneys. His rankings plummeted. Then he went out to AAU nationals and tore it up! He had games in the mid 20s and 30s. He really impressed scouts out there and is drawing IU comparisons of Robert Vaden and Rod Wilmont. I really think he’ll start and possibly be our leading scorer in ’09-’10. Picked us over Texas, Pitt, and Maryland. Likelihood he’ll be a Hoosier: Committed 4. SF-Christian Watford-6’7’’-Rivals-4 stars, #34 overall. Scout-4 stars, #72 overall. ESPN-#26, Scout’s Grade 91 He has been dubbed our #1 priority. He has seemed to be our highest rated realistic recruit for awhile. He had consistently been ranked ahead of Franklin and Creek, but for some reason has slipped a little. Rumor had Memphis and Louisville as front runners, then backing off some. Supposedly it is just due to other higher ranked recruits taking priority. Seems like he would be a stud and would make our class special. Maybe like a young, poor man’s Jamal Mashburn? Common consensus is that he could play as a 4 in Crean’s system and really create match-up problems. I really look for him to be a Hoosier in ’09 and possibly our leading scorer as a freshman. Most recent rumors still say IU, and that a commitment could be coming very soon! His list: Memphis, IU, Louisville, Alabama, Missouri Likelihood he’ll be a Hoosier: Very High 5. PG-Jordan Hulls-6’0’’-Scout-4 stars, #91 overall. Rivals-3 stars, #106 overall. ESPN-NR Jordy’s (as Capo calls him) stock has sky-rocketed this summer! He went from unranked in Rivals and Scout to getting major respect. Duke, Stanford, and Purdue were interested until he committed to us. Sounds like he is a natural leader and a competitor. Everyone says he is a true PG and can shoot the 3. Sounds very clutch and an excellent free throw shooter. Maybe the build and skill set of Neil Reed with the attitude and intangibles of Tom Coverdale? I think this also will be a 4 year Hoosier favorite and compete for the starting PG spot with Jeremiah Rivers as a freshman. Likelihood he’ll be a Hoosier: Committed 6. C-Angus Brandt-6’10’’-Scout-4 stars, #86 overall. Rivals-3 stars, #146 overall. ESPN-NR Talk about storming onto the scene! This guy came from unknown Aussie to tearing it up so much in AAU that everyone is talking about him. Now if you’re like me and still get nauseated thinking about our last Aussie, Ben Allen, you might be skeptical. Supposedly this kid is a true post player, but has range as well. There was talk he’d be in the ’08 class and that IU has offered. He has decided to play at a prep school and be ’09, but we have offered. Sounds like we’re the favorites right now, and he could be the inside size and presence we need! Still sounds like IU is the leader, but more and more schools are showing interest. His list: IU, Oregon St., Gonzaga Likelihood he’ll be a Hoosier: Very Likely 7. SF-Derek Elston-6’8’’-Scout-4 stars, #90 overall. Rivals-4 stars, #98 overall. ESPN-PF #47, Scout’s Grade 70 They say he’ll run through a brick wall if asked to do so. They say he has the best attitude and is extremely competitive. His knee surgery kept him out of AAU and most think kept his rankings lower than they would have been. Sounds like he’s a tall 3, but in Crean’s system could be a very versatile 4. Once again I think a 4 year Hoosier we’ll love as long as the knee doesn’t linger. He picked us over Purdue, Georgetown, UNC, and Illinois. Most recent update is that recovery from knee surgery is going very well, and that he’s grown to 6’9’’ at this point. Likelihood he’ll be a Hoosier: Committed 8. C-Chris Braswell-6’8’’-Rivals-4 stars, #78 overall. Scout-4 star, #18 PF. ESPN-Scout’s Grade 89 Had committed to Georgetown as a ’08, then decided to re-classify and play prep school ball with Maurice Creek and be a ’09. He also played AAU with Creek. Sounds like we started a solid relationship with him this summer, and sounds very realistic that we have a chance. He sounds like he’s tough and strong inside and would really fill a need we’d have. He’s considering IU, Georgetown, WV, Pitt, Syracuse, and UConn. He named his 5 official visits and we’re one of them. Likelihood he’ll be a Hoosier: Medium/High 9. PF/C-Bawa Maniru-6’9’’-Rivals-3 stars #111 overall Scout-3 stars #32 center ESPN-Scout’s Grade 73 This came out of nowhere for me, but he’s listed as big as 6’11’’ on some sites. Sounds like he’s quite the athlete. Solid rebounder and shot-blocker, but raw offensively. He runs the floor well, so he could be Crean’s-type center. A handful of big programs are said to be interested including some SEC schools. Don’t know how serious the interest is with him or us. Likelihood he’ll be a Hoosier: Medium/Low 10. PF/C-Bobby Capobianco-6’8’’-Rivals-3 stars Scout-3 stars ESPN-#100, Scout’s Grade 79 Capo picked us over West Virginia and Marquette. Averaged 21 ppg and 11rpg as a junior. Had a solid AAU season and climbed in and out of the rankings. Once again, comments include things like how hard he works and his great attitude. He has also been recruiting hard for us. Credit him with helping to get Hulls for sure. This kid is Mr. IU and he hasn’t played a game yet. He may not be one of our most talented kids ever, but I have a feeling we’ll love him. They say he’s a bull under the basket. He says he can step out and hit the 3. I’m not as excited about that, but he has hit some in tourneys this summer. I think he can contend to start at center as a freshman. Likelihood he'll be a Hoosier: Committed 11. Stephan Van Treese-6’9’’-most of you may know that his stock has plummeted over the summer. He was once highly recruited and listed IU, Kansas, Ohio St, UCLA as possibilities. Now he has dropped out of the rankings and seemingly has no big offers left. Rumors have it that he’ll end up at ND or walking on at IU as a ’09 and earn a scholly for his final 3 years. Many doubt this, but there seems to be foundation here. His brother goes to IU, his best friend is Capo, and he wants to go to a big program. This would be awesome to get a kid like this as a walk-on, but don’t count on it! Likelihood he’ll be a Hoosier: Low In order of likelihood: 1. Watford 2. Brandt 3. Braswell 4. Cheek We land any one of those guys and we’re a top 10 class in my opinion. We land any 2 and I think we’re very close to top 5. A look at 2010: SF-Harrison Barnes-6’5’’-5 stars-#3 prospect-Seems to have serious interest in IU, but has a very long list C-Josh Smith-6’9’’-5 stars-#4 prospect-Seems to have very serious interest in IU, but has almost as long of a list C-Adreian Payne-6’8’’-5 stars-#11 prospect-lists IU with many others SG-Daniel Bejarano-6’4’’-5 stars-#20 prospect-seems very interested in IU-lists us with 7 others. AZ kid-maybe signing of Carlino helps? PF-Tobias Harris-6’7’’-4 stars-#34 prospect-Thought he was really serious about IU, but not sure now. He has a huge list. SF-Justin Martin-6’6’’-4 stars-#36 prospect-Like most, he has a big list, but I think we have made some progress with him this summer. I really think we’re in the hunt. (Indiana kid) SG-Jordan McRae-6’5’’-4 stars-#41 prospect-Said he almost committed to IU after elite camp, and that we are currently his #1. PG-Kyrie Irving-6’1’’-4 stars-#44 prospect-We’re in his list of 8. SG-Anthony Brown-6’5’’-4 stars-#51-No idea how serious, but we’re on his long list. SG-Russell Byrd-6’5’’-4 stars-#69-He has a pretty long list, but he’s an Indiana boy and we made some major progress with his relationship this summer. PG-Lenzelle Smith-6’3’’-4 stars-#75-We’re on his long list. A look at 2011: PG-Marques Teague-6’1’’-5 stars, #1 PG-lists IU in top 7 G-Matt Carlino-6’2’’-High 4 stars-Committed PG-Jeremiah Davis-6’2’’-3 stars-lists IU in top 7 PG-Stevie Taylor-5’9’’-attended IU elite camp G-Spencer Turner-6’4’’-attended IU elite camp PG-Chasson Randle-6’2’’-lists IU in top 3 at this point GO HOOSIERS!