2024 General Recruiting Thread (BBall)

[Demo 20,541]

53 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

I just got tickets to the Metro Classic, going to see Link Academy vs Brewster Academy and Montverde vs. La Lumiere. Pretty pumped.

Not too familiar with Link/Brewster... if anyone is aware of IU targets on those rosters/LaLu, I'd appreciate the heads up. 

That is a really nice doubleheader. No IU offers on either, but I seem to recall them watching ‘25 Brewster wing Dwayne Aristode at some point last summer, or I  might have just dreamt it. But, you’ll be the 1st one around here to see next giant kid to go through the Purdue laboratory. 7’3” ‘24 PU commit Daniel Jacobsen plays for Brewster. 
Will be interested to see what you think of Darius Adams up close. Can’t quite put my finger on it, but I don’t love him. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,829]

57 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

I just got tickets to the Metro Classic, going to see Link Academy vs Brewster Academy and Montverde vs. La Lumiere. Pretty pumped.

Not too familiar with Link/Brewster... if anyone is aware of IU targets on those rosters/LaLu, I'd appreciate the heads up. 

In addition to what Demo posted, Link Academy has Jasper Johnson who just eliminated us from his offer list earlier this week.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,829]

OMG, have you overlooked Jalen Haralson plays for LaLu?

[Home Jersey 8,770]

36 minutes ago, Demo said:

That is a really nice doubleheader. No IU offers on either, but I seem to recall them watching ‘25 Brewster wing Dwayne Aristode at some point last summer, or I  might have just dreamt it. But, you’ll be the 1st one around here to see next giant kid to go through the Purdue center laboratory. 7’3” ‘24 PU commit Daniel Jacobsen plays for Brewster. 

I really wanted to get the 3 day pass but sadly have other stuff to get done next weekend. It looks like it's an EYBL event based on the sponsors and Montverde's season schedule landing page. (Just did a lot of googling)

Day 2 has LaLu vs. Brewster and Link Academy vs. Long Island Lutheran (Andre Iguodala's son vs. Kiyan Anthony). There's also a bunch of other games sprinkled in with lesser national teams and some of the NJ heavyweights:

• St. Rose (consistently contend for state titles) but not really a Montverde kind of schedule. They play in the finale on day 3, which is one I really want to see even though MVA will likely win by about 50 I reckon.
• Blair Academy (Luol Deng went there most notably, but they put guys into D1 every year pretty reliably except for the odd year or two). 
• Roselle Catholic and Gill St Bernard - Mackenzie Mgbako went to both, his brother plays for RC. 
• St. Peters Prep and Red Bank Catholic (more of a story if it were a football game). Plus some other lesser ones. 

Honestly a really cool event with a fairly wide range of talent. Good opportunity for some Jersey kids from less noteworthy programs to get recognized. Have to give kudos to some of the smaller schools I did not list above for getting onto this schedule. 

[Home Jersey 8,770]

1 minute ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

OMG, have your overlooked Jalen Haralson plays for LaLu?

I literally just realized that! And he's undoubtedly going to be one of the best players on the court. 

I'm really just looking forward to watching competitive high level basketball games.

[Home Jersey 8,770]

18 minutes ago, Demo said:

 But, you’ll be the 1st one around here to see next giant kid to go through the Purdue laboratory. 7’3” ‘24 PU commit Daniel Jacobsen plays for Brewster. Will be interested to see what you think of Darius Adams up close. Can’t quite put my finger on it, but I don’t love him. 

I didn't realize Darius Adams is from NJ and went to Manasquan HS, which is also playing in this event. Always curious to see who stands out in games like these. Very curious about the next PU giant... hopefully Edey is as good as it ever gets for them. I'm sick of their gimmick lol.

[Scotty R 2,322]

So is the lack of commitments for the 24 and beyond classes due to them not wanting to play for Woody or the speculation around his job security 

[go iu bb 6,662]

15 minutes ago, Scotty R said:

So is the lack of commitments for the 24 and beyond classes due to them not wanting to play for Woody or the speculation around his job security 

The former. He wasn't thought to be on the hot seat until this season went off the rails. By then, he had already missed on most of them.

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,726]

gotta build primarily from within or the transfer portal.  I think the days of counting on a bunch of freshman to be the best team in the nation are over.  I think people are slowing realizing this but you gotta stack talent too.  

[Class of '66 Old Fart 85,829]

12 minutes ago, Scotty R said:

So is the lack of commitments for the 24 and beyond classes due to them not wanting to play for Woody or the speculation around his job security 

Maybe not wanting to play for Woody but unrelated to his job security.  From my records, we had offers out to 33 recruits who have either committed elsewhere or eliminated us as a possibility.  Only 3 have made their announcements after the 23-24 season had started.  Of those 3 that have announced elsewhere since the season started, we weren't truly in contention anyway, i.e., Dylan Harper, VJ  Edgecombe being 2 of the 3.  

Why is Liam the only commitment out of a total of 35 offers (DQ still pending) I can't answer.  Part of me thinks Woody thought it would be too easy and never put in the effort it takes to woo the absolute top dogs in the recruiting pool.  Part of me thinks it's due in part to how mediocre we've been and there is no pizzazz about playing ball for IU.  Part of me also thinks there are some kids who simply don't want to play B1G rugby - oops, I mean basketball.  I've watched a lot of high school games over the past couple of seasons and you get a pretty good feel for which kids are willing to get knocked around to score and rebound and which ones don't want to get their hair mussed.

[AZ Hoosier 7,781]

4 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Maybe not wanting to play for Woody but unrelated to his job security.  From my records, we had offers out to 33 recruits who have either committed elsewhere or eliminated us as a possibility.  Only 3 have made their announcements after the 23-24 season had started.  Of those 3 that have announced elsewhere since the season started, we weren't truly in contention anyway, i.e., Dylan Harper, VJ  Edgecombe being 2 of the 3.  

Why is Liam the only commitment out of a total of 35 offers (DQ still pending) I can't answer.  Part of me thinks Woody thought it would be too easy and never put in the effort it takes to woo the absolute top dogs in the recruiting pool.  Part of me thinks it's due in part to how mediocre we've been and there is no pizzazz about playing ball for IU.  Part of me also thinks there are some kids who simply don't want to play B1G rugby - oops, I mean basketball.  I've watched a lot of high school games over the past couple of seasons and you get a pretty good feel for which kids are willing to get knocked around to score and rebound and which ones don't want to get their hair mussed.

Agree... culture, style is part of it... and Woodson's lack of effort on the recruiting trail... I've read that he thought that Indiana would draw the recruits... probably moreso with him, a mediocre NBA coach from 10 years back at the help... 

 

[Demo 20,541]

25 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Why is Liam the only commitment out of a total of 35 offers (DQ still pending) I can't answer.  Part of me thinks Woody thought it would be too easy and never put in the effort it takes to woo the absolute top dogs in the recruiting pool.  Part of me thinks it's due in part to how mediocre we've been and there is no pizzazz about playing ball for IU.  Part of me also thinks there are some kids who simply don't want to play B1G rugby - oops, I mean basketball.  I've watched a lot of high school games over the past couple of seasons and you get a pretty good feel for which kids are willing to get knocked around to score and rebound and which ones don't want to get their hair mussed.

It was interesting how tightly they narrowed their ‘24 list. It was pretty clear by mid-travel season that they were on McNeeley, Queen, Fland, Harper and Mustaf and that was the list. In reality it was just McNeeley, Fland and Queen. That’s how Duke does it and we’ll see if that’s ultimately a miscalculation. KU doesn’t even focus that narrowly. I think the Fland miss really threw them. We’ll see on Queen. But in Feb ‘23 Mgbako was a Duke commit, Feb ‘22 Reneau was a UF commit and Feb ‘21 Bates was a UT commit. I still think it ends up a 3 man class with then multiple portal kids. But I wouldn’t bet on anything just now.

[8bucks 6,557]

6 minutes ago, Demo said:

It was interesting how tightly they narrowed their ‘24 list. It was pretty clear by mid-travel season that they were on McNeeley, Queen, Fland, Harper and Mustaf and that was the list. In reality it was just McNeeley, Fland and Queen. That’s how Duke does it and we’ll see if that’s ultimately a miscalculation. KU doesn’t even focus that narrowly. I think the Fland miss really threw them. We’ll see on Queen. But in Feb ‘23 Mgbako was a Duke commit, Feb ‘22 Reneau was a UF commit and Feb ‘21 Bates was a UT commit. I still think it ends up a 3 man class with then multiple portal kids. But I wouldn’t bet on anything just now.

If we end the year poorly and it seems clear he is on the hot seat that should impact the level of recruit we can expect.  I think they were close to getting that monster class and things would look so much different if that were the case.  

[JF87 1,536]

15 minutes ago, Demo said:

It was interesting how tightly they narrowed their ‘24 list. It was pretty clear by mid-travel season that they were on McNeeley, Queen, Fland, Harper and Mustaf and that was the list. In reality it was just McNeeley, Fland and Queen. That’s how Duke does it and we’ll see if that’s ultimately a miscalculation. KU doesn’t even focus that narrowly. I think the Fland miss really threw them. We’ll see on Queen. But in Feb ‘23 Mgbako was a Duke commit, Feb ‘22 Reneau was a UF commit and Feb ‘21 Bates was a UT commit. I still think it ends up a 3 man class with then multiple portal kids. But I wouldn’t bet on anything just now.

I've heard that Woodson believes that IU deserves to sit at the table with the Big Boys.  I remember Mike Davis trying that strategy and we finished 2nd or 3rd for a lot of top recruits.  Nothing wrong with chasing a few of the top players.  But, how about finding a few diamonds in the rough as well who are rated lower?  Crean did this with Oladipo, Sheehey, Anunoby, and Morgan. 

[Scotty R 2,322]

1 hour ago, go iu bb said:

The former. He wasn't thought to be on the hot seat until this season went off the rails. By then, he had already missed on most of them.

Kind of talking about Sisley and Mullins

[Tropiiix 7]

On 2/15/2024 at 5:10 PM, JF87 said:

I've heard that Woodson believes that IU deserves to sit at the table with the Big Boys.  I remember Mike Davis trying that strategy and we finished 2nd or 3rd for a lot of top recruits.  Nothing wrong with chasing a few of the top players.  But, how about finding a few diamonds in the rough as well who are rated lower?  Crean did this with Oladipo, Sheehey, Anunoby, and Morgan. 

Easier said then done. Crean was much better suited for being a college coach then Woodson. Crean could develop players. I'm not sure Woodson can. TJD was already great. The strength and conditioning team deserves credit for helping Malik change his body. Mak is just growing into his talent he already had, he just had to adjust to the step up in intensity. Has anyone else actually gotten better under Woodson?

[Stuhoo 81,966]

1 hour ago, Tropiiix said:

Easier said then done. Crean was much better suited for being a college coach then Woodson. Crean could develop players. I'm not sure Woodson can. TJD was already great. The strength and conditioning team deserves credit for helping Malik change his body. Mak is just growing into his talent he already had, he just had to adjust to the step up in intensity. Has anyone else actually gotten better under Woodson?

Miller Kopp

Trey Galloway

Kel'el Ware

 

[Tropiiix 7]

Just now, Stuhoo said:

Miller Kopp

Trey Galloway

Kel'el Ware

 

Absolutely for the 1st 2, although Kopp wasn't by much. Ware I'm not sure if it's improvement or just finally utilizing his abilities more in a  game plan. P&R lobs should have been being ran 3+ times a game all season. You have a coordinated, athletic 7 fter for gods sake.

[Demo 20,541]

22 minutes ago, Tropiiix said:

Absolutely for the 1st 2, although Kopp wasn't by much. Ware I'm not sure if it's improvement or just finally utilizing his abilities more in a  game plan. P&R lobs should have been being ran 3+ times a game all season. You have a coordinated, athletic 7 fter for gods sake.

Ware has absolutely improved.

[Dave from Dayton 3,345]

2 hours ago, Tropiiix said:

Easier said then done. Crean was much better suited for being a college coach then Woodson. Crean could develop players. I'm not sure Woodson can. TJD was already great. The strength and conditioning team deserves credit for helping Malik change his body. Mak is just growing into his talent he already had, he just had to adjust to the step up in intensity. Has anyone else actually gotten better under Woodson?

Clearly, trying to compare Crean to Woodson for being a college coach is apples to oranges to say the least.  Looking back at Marquette with Crean...there is Wade.  Crean's hype did not translate to on court performance. He was lucky to parley Wade as his ability to recruit. He sold but could not sustain anything.  Look at the cupboard Crean left for Archie Miller.  And look at what Crean has done since.  

Woodson has only been at IU 3 years.  How can one compare Woodson's 3 years to Crean's many?  

I say that there are a lot of variables in recruiting, developing players, getting staff, scouting teams, planning game strategies, adjustments, leadership, scholarship, defense, offense, flexibility, planning for the future, public speaking and PR.  

Crean recruited anyone who made eye contact. He was lucky to get Cody Zeller.  He was not well received by the High School coaches in Indiana.  Crean thought offense should go faster and faster. He didn't learn to adjust.   Defense was less important.

Woodson went after the top recruits.  He doesn't come across as someone who is open to suggestions...but he does adjust belatedly. His players did get better as a team. Mgbako, Ware  Reneau, others improved.  One cannot take that away from Woody.

Will he learn to recruit and use the portal more effectively?   I have no idea what Woodson would be doing after 6 or 7 years.  

I was ready for Dolson to pull the plug on Woodson.  However, there was potentially worse risk and downside ramifications about starting from scratch, again, for IU.  Unless IU had locked in a phenomenal and experienced college basketball coach prospect. 

I want to see Woodson pulling a rabbit out of his hat next season.  Will he?  Will the team?  Will the portal?  I have no idea.  Watch McNeeley stay with IU after Woodson recruits him, again.  Watch those players at IU stay.    Yeah?  I don't know.