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It's been a long ride, but it's Indiana.

“Didn’t want to let Hoosier Guy down.” “Wanted to stick it to dbm.” Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Okay, first eval period is finished. Let's recap a bit and I apologize for being scarce.... First, I'm going to look at team needs. 2019 IU: Seniors: DeRon Davis; Devonte Green Juniors: Justin Smith, Al Durham, Clifton Moore Sophmores: Damezi Anderson, Robert Phinisee, Jerome Hunter, Race Thompson, Jake Forrester The last unofficial addition in '18 won't impact scholly numbers... so IU is looking at 3-5 (2 potential transfers); so let's say they look to take four. It'll be a more complete story when we see what some of these guys develop into this year, but at the moment there appears to be a need/have potential openings at 1, 2, 4 and 5. A lot of these recruits overlap multiple positions, as the sport transitions..... I think the true wing is of less importance for Indiana unless you find yourself in a position with an elite talent or someone with potential to add to the class. Now, Indiana has a great lot in the frontcourt. These guys are pretty obvious targets. TJD (4/5), Keion Brooks (4/3), Matthew Hurt (4), Trendon Watford (3/4). I'm fairly sure Indiana gets one of these targets and, with some luck, grabs another. Indiana is right there on at least 3 of the four. I think Indiana will then focus on the 1/2. They have RP, true PG. It's yet to be determined where RP will be in his second year and what role he will be able to carry, but I can see a guy like Carton (1/2) or Beverly (1/2), Jahmius Ramsey (1/2), Tre Mann (1). I love the focus by the staff. I'm sure I'll get some more names that emerged and, of course, you have the I. Stewart, Cockburn's etc of the world but I'd put those above targets as the most "in play" as things stand. In addition, IU is still recruiting guys like Newman, Okoro, Hemmingway,and some I'm definitely missing..but does seem like these guys are more on the back burner until the others shake out

“I was leaning Vanderbilt, but then Indiana informed me of their plans for revamped Locker Rooms and that was just the news I needed to hear”. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

BTW just so people don't think I'm ignoring them in PM's I had to delete messages cause my inbox was full. I appreciated them though. This recruitment was fun and I had a blast covering it. Now we wait till Monday. I'm looking forward to the '19 class & sharing & hearing everyones thoughts on what looks to be a great class. Mostly everyone on here has handled this recruitment with class & it makes it easier for me to share info with you guys. Go Hoosiers.

Great news. My boss agreed with me that Romeo's announcement was way to important to miss, so I will be there. Day has been made.

We are like kids in the weeks before Christmas, we want every toy we see advertised on tv.

When Chris and Pap say the same thing how could anyone doubt?

Sorry, but I’ll wait for Tonto to speak on this before I get on board.

Another CB pick for Romeo to IU. Charlie Strauzer, #14 in Expert CB Rankings.

A "done deal" from pap?!? Be still my heart, I don't hear that often.

I know one thing if you would decide to make that trip. Better get on the road early! It's going to be a mad house at the Dawghouse. We love our hoops and our Romeo. Packing it in like a can of sardines. Wouldn't want to see you left outside looking in! Sent from my SM-G930P using BtownBanners mobile app

This time last year we were watching CAM put together a staff and wondering what kind of first class he could put together given the late start. Now we are on the verge of topping off a stellar class with what some call a generational in-state player. Remarkable!

Romeo

Thanks to Chris007 and a few others, this is the most confident I’ve felt about a high level recruitment (ever?). It’s a great feeling to have recruiting confidence. It makes the process so much more fun to have substantiated hope. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Please No hat games. That Cliff Alexander debacle was classless. Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners mobile app

“Originally I wasn’t sure, but then I read BTB where I learned that Self is a cheating sack of sh!t who underachieves with loaded teams, and that Drew couldn’t coach his way past Crean in a Sweet Sixteen match up even if he ran a zone. After that, my choice was easy - it’s Indiana, it’s Indiana.” Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando BtownBanners

I'm sure if asked, Romeo will say one of the major factors was the love he was shown game in, game out by Hoosier Nation. No recruit in any other state felt anything close to to what he felt nightly. Sent from my SM-G930P using BtownBanners mobile app

I would really love to know what tipped the scales. I believe (maybe wrongly) Vandy were the leaders for a stretch there. Archie did some creative things with sending players to games, etc. It’s sets up to be a MAJOR recruiting win, I’m beyond curious how Archie pulled this off. Was it always going to be Indiana if Archie proved himself? Did something change in the last few weeks? Did the news about Kansas/recruiting problems help us? Did Adidas factor in at all? Anyway, these are the types of things that I’d love to know more about and probably never will. I’ll just be happy to win one. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Nice analysis. Options aplenty. Tshiebwe is being recruited on that second tier list. Whoever gets Cole Anthony is getting an absolutely stud of a guard. Don’t get me wrong, if we add 1 of Carton, Mann, Ramsey I’m plenty happy. Top that off with 2 of Hurt, Watford, Brooks, TJD we have ourselves a legit blue blood type class that I’ve been wanting for years. Side note-Justin Smith and Jerome Hunter are going to be great players. The future is looking so bright if it goes like we think it might. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

I don’t think nerve are high at all. I feel pretty damn good, as does most of the board. Just a few cliff jumpers tripping over every rock they can find along the edge. Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando BtownBanners

We're going to have to add guy to the end of your moniker.[emoji1] Sent from my LGL41C using BtownBanners mobile app

General question for the board. Earlier today I posted the tweet in regards to Indiana watching Tyrell Terry. How do these people know that's who we were watching? He's on Matthew Hurt's AAU team so naturally we're watching that team but how do people like Jake find out that we may also have an interest in Terry? Inquiring minds want to know.

So I moseyed over to a UM forum to see what was out there about Carton. Not a whole lot that we don't know. While there I poked around for a bit. Some interesting things: 1. Really nice fanbase. Knowledgeable, grounded. They weren't nasty or making rampant cheating allegations if they lost a recruit. Good discussion. 2. I read through recruiting threads on Race, Damezi, and Jerome. I didn't realize that UM offered all 3. These guys are higher than what Michigan usually brings in, especially in '16 and '17 before their run this year. Really interesting to see this stuff from the other side. Especially on Jerome, they wanted him BAD. They saw him as a program changing talent. There was very little smoke around Jerome to Indiana, and it hit hard and suddenly. We've all been so caught up in the Romeo stuff that we don't spend much time thinking about Jerome, et al. When Jerome committed, it's like there was this wave of realization that Archie and Indiana are going to be good. 3. On the subject of Archie, they have universal respect. At the same time, two years ago they were entertaining threads about whether they should replace Beilein with someone that will make them competitive. Obviously, I doubt they'd trade him now. Anyway. Here's hoping we can deflate that forum yet again. With so many forwards on the roster, I'd love to secure more talent in the backcourt. I'm fine with Mann and Ramsey, I just think it's very difficult to get kids from the South to come north, (don't @ me with the exceptions, I get it). We don't have much relationship with either one yet, but if we were to hit on TJD and Brooks/Watford, I could see any guard wanting to be a part of that class. With Carton, it feels like he likes IU for the same reasons we like IU. Attended the Purdue game, realized what's going on here.