AKHoosier

Sounds like this weekend was a huge next step into getting his commitment. He just has to get a little more comfortable and familiarity with the staff, players, and campus before he makes a verbal somewhere. I wonder if he's taken overnight unofficials to any other campus over the last year or so.

That would be incredible if he commits today, causing TJD to commit before the weekend is over to lock up his spot for 2019. I know it's the definition of counting your chickens before they hatch, but I really want these two in-state guys to make up for the players we lost out on the past few years.

Of course rankings matter. Show me the last national championship team to not have highly ranked kids. There are only about 10 (at most) teams every year capable of winning a national championship, all of whom likely have at least one 5 star, McDonald's All American on them. Now, even Eric Bossi said there isn't a difference between kids ranked between 80-115 or so, and I believe that. But there's a huge difference between a top 20 guy and a fringe top 100 player. But I''m sure the king of hot takes is going to refute this by saying, "But Butler!".

What happens if Forrester commits in September, do we go all in on either Garland or Romeo? Per another board it sounds like he could very likely commit on his visit. What if both Garland and Romeo wanted to come?

Well I know that, I'm just saying a team with Langford is going to be getting some Final 4 hype before and during the season, whereas a team without him definitely will not. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, as you've pointed out there have been many teams who have gotten there despite being less talented, however the chances increase exponentially with Romeo.

I love Damezi but whose minutes do you see him getting his freshman season? A sophomore Justin Smith plus Jerome Hunter are probably seeing the floor ahead of Anderson, so I don't think he's getting more than ~8 mpg in 2018-2019.

I'm starting to disagree with people who say Romeo Langford is not a must-get recruit for 2018. A roster of De'Ron Davis, Juwan Morgan, Clifton Moore, Justin Smith, Curtis Jones, and Devonte Green is probably hoping for a Sweet 16 at best, as I don't think they'd have a very realistic shot at anything higher than that barring major development from some players in the backcourt. But if you add Romeo Langford to that equation, does that not look like a Final 4 roster? Devonte Green Romeo Langford Juwan Morgan Clifton Moore De'Ron Davis With Curtis Jones, Phinisee, Hunter, and Smith likely the players getting meaningful playing time, that roster looks pretty capable of a matchup-friendly run to the Final 4. Although we'd have to see some pretty solid development out of the backcourt and Clifton Moore turning into a Jared Jeffries-lite, that looks to be a pretty potent lineup. That's my scorching hot take anyway. If we want IU to make our long-awaited return to the Final 4, Romeo Langford pretty much provides the only realistic way there.

So in other words, just his prediction.

Because you can do both, and in order to win national championships, you have to get the 3-4 year kids plus the elite one-and-done guys. Also, getting Romeo Langford would be huge PR for the program, and make IU the cool place to go again. Top flight talent, both in- and out-of-state, would take IU much more seriously if Langford comes. It's a big deal.

The staff offered him and scheduled an official visit this fall knowing full well that Phinisee was likely to commit anyway. I've seen nothing to suggest his offer was conditional on what Phinisee would do. They play much different positions.

Forrester is still out there and will visit soon, but tbh I hope that doesn't work out. I'm partial to trust the staff here, but I just don't see how that recruitment makes sense, especially when I think of how good of a position we're in with 2019 bigs, and Forrester isn't close to as good as any of them. Regardless, happy to have wrapped up a point guard in this class.

I really hope we see news of Romeo visiting IU soon. When was the last time he's even been on campus? An unofficial would really give me reason to get all giddy about Langford.

Schilling and Flint have a connection to his AAU program, I think the director was a UMass player when they were there.

Less turnovers. That's what I expect.

Well good. I honestly haven't followed Watford's recruitment at all so I have no idea what our chances are here. We'll have to get him on campus during the season for me to feel like we're a serious contender. Although I'm sure he's been on campus a few times in his life.

You think Watford is more likely than Brooks? Everything I've seen and read makes it seem TJD and Brooks are the most likely commits for 2019, and I wouldn't be surprised if Brooks commits before the end of the upcoming basketball season.

This fan's hope is that we have 3 scholarships available for 2018 to use on Brooks, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Hurt/Wiseman/Watford or possibly a guard.

2019 should be the class to load up on bigs with hopefully Brooks, Wiseman, Hurt, Jackson-Davis, and Watford to choose from to fill only 2 or 3 spots. Guards seem to be the bigger immediate priority for the rest of 2018, I don't know why we'd go after Forrester when we already have plenty of forwards on the roster and committed already.

Clifton Moore doesn't want to play down low at all though. He said so and his HS coach said so. It's not a given that he'll play down low "if needed". Plus if Smith plays the 4, that's pretty small in the B1G. I know it's a different coach and new system, but I still hate the idea of small ball lineups. That was a year from hell that I really don't want to repeat.

I'd like to fill out the class with Akinjo, Langford, and a big guy. I think we need a post player, but maybe we can fill that with a grad transfer after this coming season.

My bet is 6-8 months.

It just depends what you mean by "it" when you say we should be above it. From my limited knowledge of how recruiting and these things operate, there are various ways you can bend the rules or operate in the gray to get a kid to play for you. The promise of connections to secure a post-amateur shoe deal, maybe a little $$ on the side if you're a player, meetings with reps, things like that don't really bother me too much, because it just doesn't really hurt anyone. I'm not beholden to strictly obeying the NCAA's rules, because the NCAA is such a joke with selective enforcement of rules and seemingly always moving goalposts and standards. I just don't want IU to turn into a destination for all the kids' handlers and "uncles" looking to leach off of a kid. I don't want anyone like Lavar Ball or Tom Lyles at IU. I don't care if that makes me out of touch or whatever, but I'll deal with years of 22-11 seasons before I see IU turn into that type of a program.

MSU was the "team to beat" for a while with Jabari Parker too.

No it isn't. Abell was the year before in 2011 and was a late addition. Gary Harris was 2012 and would have been the oversign.

Pretty much, although he knew there was a spot for him if he wanted it. I still think Remy Abell prevented us from landing Gary Harris, he didn't want to be the oversign.