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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.

Pretty cool video someone made 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.

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

Brian Snow with CB prediction for IU. Not sure why that quoted you

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

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.

The following is an extremely young lineup, but thinking of the best possible outcomes coming true developmentally by March for all of these guys, just dream about how good this group could be when they are on the floor together: Phinisee Langford Hunter Smith Morgan

Those guys are so entertaining. I love when games are on TNT in large part because of them. Much more entertaining than what ESPN puts out.

Getting Fitzner to IU is not anything like Crean's "Ooh ooh, I've got a scholly and it's burning a hole in my pocket." Archie sees something in Fitzner that's going to help the team and in the meantime, I'm withholding judgment. Lot of time between now and the start of the season and I'm sure by October we'll have a clearer picture especially if the picture involves a medical red shirt for Davis. And I'm with Fkfootball1 - I don't care what he's done previously, I only care about what he does for IU next season.

Agree about Green. If Phinisee comes in and somehow steals that starting PG spot, then we're in for a real good year as I think Green will make off-season strides. Also agree about Hunter coming off the bench. If Fitzner and team can figure out how to guard the opposing bigs and rebound effectively, we'll be a nightmare on the offensive end as Evan should be able to stretch the floor with his reported shooting range (giving Juwan and/or Justin room to operate... and oh yeah, this Romeo kid can score too, right? lol)

I do love me some Shaq, EJ, Kenny, and Chuck. Those dudes seem to know they have a good gig and enjoy being around each other. I bet it'd be a blast being on set with them. Shaq absolutely gets it. You don't necessarily have to have a good relationship with your head coach as long as you bust your backside for the team.

I don’t see any reason this kid can’t have a season similar to what Max B has his year at IU.

Get on the horn, Ro! You’re working for Arch now!

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

Invited to USA Basketball U18 trials!

This is just unreal. I can't remember a kid (just out of high school) getting this type of attention. I know the court is not a mega-dollar sort of thing, and maybe they were going to build one anyway, but the attention/platitudes he is getting seems very unique. If he had won the state title would they have named the town after him? :)

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

Chris007 was pretty accurate about Moore. Not handicapped by coach speak

Chris007 posted this back in late April... "I just asked who has looked good. Response was Green very good, Al, Race, Moore all been good but Smith better than everyone else. Dominating the spring." With that being said by someone close to the action, I'd be surprised if Phinisee started over Green. With the De'Ron injury situation, I think the following lineup might be realistic (and ideal?) given what Archie runs... PG - Devonte Green SG - Romeo Langford F - Justin Smith F - Juwan Morgan C - Evan Fitzner (or maybe Race, but he's listed at 6'8") If Devonte can keep things under control and Justin has made the leap like Chris007 suggests, then this could be a scary good starting lineup with some real skill coming off the bench. Just my 2 cents...

Besides the potential ceiling of this group, you have experienced guys line Green, McRoberts, and Fitzner coming off the bench.

I really like this lineup. Like you said they are really young but by tournament time they could be a really really tough unit.

I'm with Shaq on this one! "Google me, Chuck!"

Hopefully this one ends in a month or so

Yes....I don't know of any other quality grad transfer bigs that were still out there. It's not a wasted scholarship regardless of how many minutes he plays because it was just going to sit dormant anyway.

I ran many a race and played a lot of soccer at that park. Also fished in that lake and watched ducks trying to land in the lake while it was frozen over. Good times! Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

This is actually very true

This team just seems beat. I think we end up missing the tournament. I'm finding it hard to be excited about a possible turnaround anyway because I doubt it would amount to much more than one or two wins in the BTT or in regional play. The 29-6 start was fun, at least.

I’m assigning a .1% likelihood that Kenny Johnson is actually clean. Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando BtownBanners

I've asked multiple questions that you've not answered or have answered with questions that move the goal posts. Has LeBron dogged teammates? Has he help rid the team of a coach? Has he played GM and failed miserably? Here is the simplest explanation of "the greatest." LeBron has had the greatest physical presence in the game that has allowed him to dominate the game for longer than anyone ever. Michael has the advantage in mental and heart. Who does LeBron strive to be/beat? Unless LeBron can dominate the next 5 years with multiple championships I don't think he's close to contending as the greatest ever. He might have the greatest stats, he might be the best 1v1 player, and he will go down in history as a top 5 player. In my opinion, he never touches Jordan's legacy. It's that simple. I've seen both play and maybe my opinion is a little skewed as I was young(er) when watching Jordan. I think a lot of what the NBA has gotten into over the last 20 years is more entertainment. When the game is made a mockery it's tough to watch. Who gets an extra step or 10? Who gets the touch foul calls? It's to build a brand and not pure basketball. I don't think there is any question the athleticism is at an all time high and continues to move that way. The stepping over the line on a free throw, the running from the block during a free throw, the 2 steps and then start to dribble, the off arm shove to create space, the "sniped" head toss, the ability to determine the outcome of a game through how and who gets called has all made a horrible impression to me of the NBE. I thought they were better than that.

Why do you post stats of AAU games if past performance is not an indicator of talent? I'm bored! Not sure it's really an apples to apples comparison but we're bringing in Fitzner for a single scholarship year not potentially tying up a scholly for 4 years. He's been recruited by Archie for a specific 1-year reason and I don't think any of us really know what that reason is yet and at this time, I'm placing my confidence in Archie.

So, here's an odd story that has nothing to do with anything, but I thought I'd post here. My dog (she's a big IU fan -- pictured below) and I were on our usual daily walk at our favorite park when an unleashed dog ran up to us. He was friendly, and after exchanging a couple sniffs with my dog, kept following us as we made our way along the trail. Later on, I could see and barely hear (I had my iPod on) someone across the small lake calling him. He wouldn't go, and instead kept following me and my dog (I think he was attracted to her!). Anyway, he stuck by us and wouldn't go back to his owner. So I finally turned around and started back around the lake toward his owners. Luckily, he followed and pretty soon, ran up to his humans and got his leash back on. His name? Romeo!

The money season ticket holders pay and fans pay to watch an entire season of a healthy player is way more than an All-Star weekend ticket. No point in even risking it - there’s no value. Plus, the dunk contest has had a revitalization in recent years. It’s been extremely entertaining. I think you’re forgiving/glorifying the past while being overly pessimistic about the present. Availability bias. This game has never been about the game of basketball - it’s always been a business to make money. That said, the NBA is in a golden era currently. That certainly doesn’t mean there aren’t minor flaws, flopping, that need to be addressed. We’re watching an era of the NBA where you have the Warriors and Rockets changing the way the game is played, dominating the West, any team LeBron is on becomes a Title contender in the East, young exciting teams like Philly, Boston, blossoming Minnesota, a large number of prolific players all playing at once and many competing in the playoffs, and young wizard coaches like Brad Stevens developing. The NBA also seems to have one of the best community oriented relationships between the commissioner, owners, players, and fans of any of the professional sports leagues. My choice is to look at the overwhelming tide of positives - it’s more fun that way! Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

I don't know how to explain this clearly, but reading all of your LeBron posts and statements like these just make it sound like you really dislike the NBA and the players. There are very logical reasons for superstars to avoid the gimmicky All-Star weekend events like injury risk. Also, it's an opportunity for some of the "specialists" to showcase their unique talents. The NBA versus professional dunkers is interesting, but I have a feeling the NBA will lose everytime since they aren't practicing trick dunks year round.

They're unreal dunkers and fun to watch. Why aren't the stars competing though? I'd like to see them bring professional dunkers in to compete too if we're just going for the "wow" factor. It's not about that though...

I’d much rather watch Aaron Gordon and Zach Lavine, two unreal dunkers, compete than the stars. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

I don't mean that this should be the group taking all the minutes. I am saying look at the potential of that group, if they can all reach their fullest potential by March. That is an athletic group with decent size capable of scoring on you hard at every position.

That group looks like it can score in so many ways. So many options the way this roster has been constructed I am drooling.

Sadly the only CB going our way

Vonleh, Williams, Stanford Robinson No? Others? He has/had connections. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

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.

Not sure of this inferiority complex thing. Most fans expect IU to be good year in and year out and get great recruits. The only thing missing was a coach. That problem was solved

Projected top 5 pick already. If that holds true, the odds of him staying a second year for the slim chances of winning a national championship and playing with some talented freshman instead of playing with the most talented players in the world in the NBA would seem incredibly low to me. To the point where it wouldn’t even feel worth while discussing so as not to get your hopes even the slightest bit up. Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando BtownBanners

A career of 41% on 3's, on over 300 attempts, and doesn't turn the ball over. Would we prefer if he averaged 14 and 9 out of Juco like Freddie?

Interesting news given there was some kind of disagreement last season between the Brooks family and Khaliq. Also wonder if it will have any bearing on Brooks transferring to a prep school for his senior year which is a rumor that has bounced around. (Fort Wayne) News-Sentinel.com has learned that Shabaz Khaliq will exit after eight seasons as head coach of the North Side boys basketball program. The news was first reported by Troy Derengowski of RadioTroy.com in Richmond. Khaliq is expected to be named the new head boys basketball coach at Richmond High School during a school board meeting in Richmond on Wednesday. Located just less than 100 miles south of Fort Wayne via US-27, Richmond is coming off an 8-27 season. The Red Devils endured three consecutive seasons under Rick Wedlow before his resignation on March 14.

Put her and Aulani Sinclair on the same team in Spain!

Couple weeks old...

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

I don’t think Fitzner is a play “in the middle” type of player. What little I’ve seen of him, it looks like he is guarding a wing player. So to me, he is a big 3 or stretch 4. Just my 5 cents Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Is it a Kentucky basketball forum or let’s talk about IU forum?