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He can be a super slick passer. Incredible vision. Increasing the talent around him should elevate his ability to make plays. He also APPEARs to be mentally fragile. He lets bad plays affect his next several plays. He is prone to getting extremely lackadaisical on ball handling and passing. The shooting is spotty but also streaky good. I’m in the fan club but man he needs to be competing every second he is on the floor. The intensity level needs to go way up. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Snow said in his weekly Indiana Hoops Report that it seems IU has taken a commanding lead for TJD and that a commitment could happen before July.

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/rival-views-which-school-shows-staying-power-on-recruiting-trail- Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

He is a senior who played the pack line defense for 3 years. That is two more years than anybody else on the roster has played at this level. He is a 6'10" wing or stretch 4 who has been a reliable shooter, particularly from distance, and he hasn't turned the ball over at an alarming rate in the past. While I am not predicting this to be the starting lineup Day 1 or even the group of 5 receiving the most minutes per game, I expect to see this personnel group on the floor at times, given Archie's penchant for playing upper classmen, and I expect this group to be very successful +/- together. Green Langford Mc Roberts Fitzner Morgan Fitzner offers a dependable and experienced outside shot, while drawing a big out to the perimeter, allowing Langford and Morgan to work their games mid range and down low. On the other end, he probably knows almost instinctively by now where he is supposed to be on the floor on defense, and what he is supposed to be doing there, and can communicate where others are supposed to be, and what they are supposed to be doing there in given situations during games to all of the rest of our guys who have one year experience tops playing the pack line defense at the collegiate level. I think his presence on the floor saves Archie a lot of time outs, and Archie's timeouts seem to carry a good amount of value.

Thanks, Gradman. It's just nice to see the campus in the sunshine. God, how I love that place.

Regardless of rotation, I am ecstatic that we are much deeper from top to bottom, much more skilled on the wing, and overall our playmaking/shot making has improved. I tell myself daily that I have to keep my expectations down and to not get over excited.

We haven’t seen a player like this ever at Indiana. Keion has Durant like qualities; similar to Magic but a better shot and hops. I don’t have a comparison unless big George and he was shorter and was more physically dominant without the handles. He needs to come on down with TJD and dominate. This talent from IN playing for IN brings true joy to my Hoosier heart.

Good interview with Pat. Listened this morning. Alot of props to one of my classmates and one of the best players ever out of New Albany Richie Johnson. Some nice insights on Romeo and the differences in how things are done today than in Pat's heyday. Sent from my SM-G930P using BtownBanners mobile app

I agree the Mr Basketball race is going to be fun. I don't think Brooks will be leaving for a prep school. In an interview he gave to WANE sports, Keion said one of his goals is to win the Mr Basketball title next year.

But, is he mentally better? In a few games he has been very good. But in the majority of games he makes a lot mental mistakes. I'd rather have a player that might score less, but doesn't have the mental mistakes that lead to turnovers or forced shots. I hope Green is mentally maturing, but I have to see it before I say he should start. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Yep, I like at the end where he said Jordan was better at his best while Lebron will have the better statistical career. That goes back to what I was saying its preference. It’s not as cut and dry as it was two years ago due to that Golden St series. I can see why people would pick Lebron. I wouldn’t, and part of that was seeing Jordan at his best. Jordan’s best got the Bulls more titles whereas Lebron will have longevity in numbers. I thought it was a good article too. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Brooks interview on WANE sports http://www.wane.com/sports/brooks-jr-continues-ascent-as-a-major-basketball-recruit/1161933537

Pretty cool video someone made Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Just to enlighten...New Albany, population about 35thousand. Besides golfer Fuzzy Zoeller, and Olympic swimmer Camille Wright there is very little the number of athletes that have brought attention to our community. Add in Edwin Hubble (former NAHS BB coach and Science teacher) of fame for being the namesake of the Hubble space telescope. Romeo was the first Mr. Basketball, 4X HS All-American, MaxPreps POY. U19 Team USA etc. That's just a few of his basketball accolades. As a young man and citizen of this city, he has went well and beyond as a fine representative and example to not only his peers but to all. Romeo not only developed his skill in the local gyms, but on the courys at Community Park. A place that I also spent many of my days playing ball. We are talking about a court at a local park, not a colosseum. He is most deserved of this honor and has brought great joy and a sense of pride to our city. Sent from my SM-G930P using BtownBanners mobile app

Invited to USA Basketball U18 trials!

I agree unless Smith or Green is ready to be a top performer we wont be top 15. But if one of them is ready and the other is servicable we should pull it off

Honestly from 87-98 minus the year he retired and year he came back at the end and lost in playoffs wearing 45. He was most dominant right before and during the first run. You could tell he was running down at the end of the first and then his dad got killed. When he came back the athleticism wasn’t the same but he got that consistent turnaround. It wasn’t just attacking the rim. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Ah it's OK to get excited. We've earned it. When summer is over and it gets cold again, next year we very likely could be able to dig in and enjoy a very nice winter. Not rushing the end of summer, just not dreading the winter to follow. That is such a great feeling.

Yeah we had 3 or 4. Johnson, Dave Bennett, Phil Benniger, Tim Brandt. Sent from my SM-G930P using BtownBanners mobile app

We used to compare Richie to Magic lol. 6'8 and could bring the ball the court, shoot, length for miles. Funny though, the best player at New Albany wouldn't play for the school team. He was a year ahead of Richie. This kid would only play intramural and park ball. Had Alford range. No sh*t! Kids name was Paul Malone I believe. Smooth stroke, about 6'3 or so. Would have loved to see him on the court. Sent from my SM-G930P using BtownBanners mobile app

Richie Johnson aka “The Godfather”! Pat is always interesting to listen to.

The crazy part was how he looked back then vs the other high schoolers. He looked 30 back then. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Consistency is all he needs for him to be a stud. Fingers crossed

I think Green has to improve a lot. Outside of that stretch of a few games he was absolutely brutal last year and at times completely unplayable.

Green will start and you can bank that. Rob will get minutes but he is a frosh and very rarely do frosh point guards come in from day one and start. I guess 5 star guys but that's about it. Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

I think the NBA has become more and more about a business and less about the game of basketball. It's been trending that way for years and it's frustrating to watch a good thing turn to what it has become because of $$$. I still love watching certain teams (Spurs, Warriors, Celtics) and matchups because it's great basketball. It's crazy that some of the best programs are run by great coaches with great systems but so many franchises give the players all the power then watch as they fail. How many players have actually been injured in these events? I know, one risk is far too great for the entertainment of the fans who spend all that money... greed. Agreed, it's an opportunity for "specialists" to showcase their talents i.e. the guys who can jump really high but are afraid to compete against guys who do it all year.

I don't put much into how they look during off season workouts, good to hear but that's about it. I'm already having nightmares about Green, but Phinisee probably isn't ready to start day 1.

I don't know, man... I think that's a pretty drool-worthy lineup myself, lol. Juwan is already a stud and per Chris007, Justin is dominating everyone. We already know Romeo's a stud too and Devonte is sort of a "trick or treat" stud, haha. I think Phinisee coming in is actually going to push Devonte to another level, but hopefully that's just not wishful thinking. I really can't see Archie wanting to play Juwan at the 5, but maybe. Regardless, I definitely like our options more this year.

Who is complaining about LeBron? I'd like to see the stars compete in the all-STAR events.

I like this lineup but Green and Morgan will have to show they've improved their shooting. In the future, I'd like to see 4 or 5 good to great shooters that can spread the floor. Smith has a nice stroke but didn't have that many attempts from deep. If he takes that huge frosh to soph leap he could be a + shooter from range. Morgan also has the ability to be a consistent shooter. IF those guys shoot at a higher percentage, that would give us 3 players (Romeo, Smith, Morgan) that could post their man, 4 players (Green, Romeo, Smith, Morgan) that could take their man off the dribble, and all 5 that could shoot from deep. That's a hard lineup to defend.

Morgan would wear down again i feel. Could hurt us quite a bit come tourney time.

There are other programs with great fans, but you’ll never be able to convince me ours aren’t the most passionate. Love this

We should just be thankful we got him for one year. It's going to be fun and assembly hall will be a red hot ticket. Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

99.9% chance yup! You don’t get hired to start playing the game outta no where. You establish a reputation first, and then the boss hires you. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Trayce's game is still developing amongst the obvious potential. I agree, if I were putting money he'd be gone in a year. But I can see a 2 year guy out of him. In terms of offense, there is plenty of development to be had outside of 15 feet. Defensively, he has the instincts at this point.

Wouldn’t surprise me at all. Just because he wasn’t as successful here at getting these kids as he was at UofL doesn’t mean he was clean. Unsuccessfully dirty is still dirty.

The earliest date being looked at by the NBA is the 2020 draft, per Adrian Wojnarowski. Trayce, Keion and the rest of the 2019 class will not be affected.

I'm not an expert on Romeo but do know many teachers in the NAFC school corporation. I've heard numerous reports that Langford has worked with youth around the county. I'm not sure how much he's done but it is good knowing that he's a giving person. Romeo has a bright future and the New Albany community will always have an outstanding representative in Romeo. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Me too. But this worked to our advantage last year with Coach Cal blowing it. It exposed his weaknesses to Romeo and he basically removed them from comsideration immediately afterwards.

Hate to be an a$$, but geez, sometimes our fan base acts like the ugly kid in the corner of the party who thinks that a pretty girl will never talk to him, and can’t deal with it when she does. We’ve got a great coach, a killer campus, great history, the best fans, chicks a go-go, some pretty good players already, and have seen five or six five stars at IU in the last ten years, and that was back when we had a goofy-a$$ coach running the show. In other words; damn straight Romeo Langford chose IU...because it was the best choice. So for those that are doing so, stop with the whiny inferiority complex, and stop wondering whether it’s a fluke; we’re about to get a regular progression of big time talent, and we’re about to start kicking some serious backside on a national level. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

This is awesome.

He’s already projected as a top 5 pick. It’s extremely far fetched. Just not impossible. Highly highly improbable. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

He already got his Vandy dorm assignment

I did and it was TJD. But something has changed since he told the staff that he was going to commit after Romeo. I still think he does but I think it will now be July. I will ask about this next time I get a chance.

I’ve noticed Trendon has been liking a lot of IU and Romeo posts recently, like this one. It’s good to see him interacting with TJD and Keion some as well. I still think it’s going to be hard to get him out of Alabama, but I would love to have him and Kira Lewis.

I think we are selling the freshmen short. I think even Forrester would have played some on last year's team. It worries me that Green will always be what we have seen to this point. If so, I'd rather roll with RP and let him grow. I believe it will be his team eventually anyway. Morgan and Langford are the only certain starters and that's assuming Morgan comes back. Every other spot is "to be determined". Who plays will probably be determined by who picks up the defense the quickest. I can easily see it taking a significant amount of time to sort this team out.

Fitzner mentioned him by name as someone he’s looking forward to playing with and Romeo hinted at players returning being a factor in his decision (which I’m assuming he’s talking about Juwan). I think he’ll be back

I love it that Arch is recruiting a lot of length and athleticism—I can see that paying off on both ends of the Court —but especially with the pack-line D. We should see a lot more pressure on opposing 3-point shooters in the near future. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

I feel like either Phinisee will be ready to start in which case Green will be our SG or Hunter will be used at SG.

Kansas and Vandy might be in the market for a SG