(2023) - C Xavier Booker to Michigan State

[Hovadipo]

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

What’s Indiana’s pitch and your relationship with Mike Woodson?

“The pitch really is them wanting me to just keep developing my body and my skills and just growing as an individual.

That reads less like a pitch and more like a to-do list for making this offer committable. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

In the New Albany game, Booker played 15 min.  scoring 4 pts. on 2-8 FG; 0-4 on 3s; 0 FT; 3 reb; 1 asst;  1 stl; 3 blk; 2 TO.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

 Cathedral 72, Bosco Institute 58. Jr Booker 16pts, 8rebs, 3blks

Haven't seen why and they certainly didn't need him but Tayshawn Comer did not  play in Cathedral's game this evening. 

[Stuhoo]

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

 Cathedral 72, Bosco Institute 58. Jr Booker 16pts, 8rebs, 3blks

Haven't seen why and they certainly didn't need him but Tayshawn Comer did not  play in Cathedral's game this evening. 

Hope it wasn’t because he was hanging out with five Hoosiers!

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Cathedral defeated Franklin Central 72-56.  Booker 20p  17r  3a  2s  6b  4t.  This was Cathedral's second game without the services of Tayshawn Comer who at the last game was reportedly wearing a boot.  No idea the severity or extent of Comer's injury but Cathedral really needs Booker to step up and help replace Comer's 17 ppg.

[Hovadipo]

Doesn’t even look like the same guy. 

[Stuhoo]

19 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

Doesn’t even look like the same guy. 

Still laying it in around the rim instead of slamming it home.

He looks like Marcus Bingham’s identical twin.

[AKHoosier]

19 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

Doesn’t even look like the same guy. 

Very few of those players he scored against in the video look much over 6'5".  I still don't know if I'd be very excited if he committed to IU right now.

[Hovadipo]

Just now, AKHoosier said:

Very few of those players he scored against in the video look much over 6'5".  I still don't know if I'd be very excited if he committed to IU right now.

Not saying that. Just not ripping on a guy for a 20-17 performance after a bunch of 4-2 performances. 

[AKHoosier]

12 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

Not saying that. Just not ripping on a guy for a 20-17 performance after a bunch of 4-2 performances. 

Yeah I wasn't saying you were, I appreciate posting the video.  I was just commenting on what I saw after I watched his highlights.  He had good numbers against Marian in my neck of the woods, but they have no size at all either.

I want to be excited about this kid because it sounds like he really likes IU, but idk.  

[Hoosierfanyuh]

I think hes more of a realistic get than kj evans. All the things this forum complains ab for him woodson wouldnt let fly. I think a marcus bingham comp is pretty good and i think bookers shot is way better. We need height at minimum. 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

1 hour ago, Hoosierfanyuh said:

I think hes more of a realistic get than kj evans. All the things this forum complains ab for him woodson wouldnt let fly. I think a marcus bingham comp is pretty good and i think bookers shot is way better. We need height at minimum. 

We need bigs even if they are projects. Want to see way more from Booker. The games he disappears are very curious at the least. I get the feeling Booker is a big that doesn’t embrace being a big and sees himself more like a Kevin Durant wannabe.  Maybe not. Anyway, the scouts continue to be high on him .  Keeps me interested at a minimum. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

90-60 Cathedral win over Chatard.  Booker only played 10 min. finishing with 9p  4r  5a  1s  2b  1t.  Cathedral led 28-10 after the 1st Q and the game was over.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Recruiting update from NY2LASports.com

http://www.ny2lasports.com/article_one.aspx?articleid=5245#.Yg69p9bOgkg.twitter

[Gnet550]

6 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Recruiting update from NY2LASports.com

http://www.ny2lasports.com/article_one.aspx?articleid=5245#.Yg69p9bOgkg.twitter

Booker seems to have all the skills if he could just put them together consistently he’d be a monster….he’s the type of kid I definitely don’t feel like is a “must get”, but I also feel like if he goes elsewhere we will regret it. Not sure but I get that vibe

[craigyv88]

8 hours ago, Gnet550 said:

Booker seems to have all the skills if he could just put them together consistently he’d be a monster….he’s the type of kid I definitely don’t feel like is a “must get”, but I also feel like if he goes elsewhere we will regret it. Not sure but I get that vibe

I definitely feel the same way.  If nothing else he provides high potential upside at what will be a position of need.  We haven't had a 6'10"+ kid with this type of athletic skill since TB left in 2017, and you gotta have it in the B1G as far as I'm concerned.  Not to mention per Rivals Booker is still the highest rated in-state prospect for '23 and none from '24 are even on the radar at this point (not counting La Lumiere kids not actually from IN).

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, craigyv88 said:

I definitely feel the same way.  If nothing else he provides high potential upside at what will be a position of need.  We haven't had a 6'10"+ kid with this type of athletic skill since TB left in 2017, and you gotta have it in the B1G as far as I'm concerned.  Not to mention per Rivals Booker is still the highest rated in-state prospect for '23 and none from '24 are even on the radar at this point (not counting La Lumiere kids not actually from IN).

 

Thomas Bryant played with enthusiasm and wasn't afraid to mix it up; in fact he relished it. 

I want talented players, but those talented players have to fit into a culture of loving the game. I am not seeing that here. Neither is his high school coach, Jason Delaney. He's an extremely successful coach and has parked Booker on the bench for long stretches of many games during his junior year.. Yet IU should be pushing for him?

Xavier Booker has blown off trips to Bloomington on multiple occasions at the last minute.   His recent interview highlights how he is dreaming of offers from Duke and UK.

No. Thank. You. If Jason Delaney starts to buy in, that's when IU should start to buy in.

Until then, if we're gonna take a flyer on a project, let's take one on a player that gives a ****.

 

[craigyv88]

57 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

 

Thomas Bryant played with enthusiasm and wasn't afraid to mix it up; in fact he relished it. 

I want talented players, but those talented players have to fit into a culture of loving the game. I am not seeing that here. Neither is his high school coach, Jason Delaney. He's an extremely successful coach and has parked Booker on the bench for long stretches of many games during his junior year.. Yet IU should be pushing for him?

Xavier Booker has blown off trips to Bloomington on multiple occasions at the last minute.   His recent interview highlights how he is dreaming of offers from Duke and UK.

No. Thank. You. If Jason Delaney starts to buy in, that's when IU should start to buy in.

Until then, if we're gonna take a flyer on a project, let's take one on a player that gives a ****.

 

Gotcha, I knew there were some motor concerns but I wasn't aware the lack of intangibles ran that deep.  I don't disagree with any of your post and didn't intend to compare him to Bryant outside of measurables and athletic upside and how important I think that is in our league.  It's tempting for me though based on the size and athleticism Booker brings, the need we will have for that, and the lack of similar prospects in our backyard or that we are in on elsewhere in the next two classes (unless I'm forgetting someone).  And perhaps I'm off base in thinking this but the transfer portal gets me about as excited as the weather in Indiana today does.

I should also clarify that although Booker is likely the best in-state prospect between both '23 and '24, that is largely because the '23 class is a bit light on top-end talent and so far no names have emerged from '24.

Hopefully we can still get in on some other prospects of a commensurate size and skill to provide some other options.

[Stuhoo]

2 minutes ago, craigyv88 said:

Gotcha, I knew there were some motor concerns but I wasn't aware the lack of intangibles ran that deep.  I don't disagree with any of your post and didn't intend to compare him to Bryant outside of measurables and athletic upside and how important I think that is in our league.  It's tempting for me though based on the size and athleticism Booker brings, the need we will have for that, and the lack of similar prospects in our backyard or that we are in on elsewhere in the next two classes (unless I'm forgetting someone).  And perhaps I'm off base in thinking this but the transfer portal gets me about as excited as the weather in Indiana today does.

I should also clarify that although Booker is likely the best in-state prospect between both '23 and '24, that is largely because the '23 class is a bit light on top-end talent and so far no names have emerged from '24.

Hopefully we can still get in on some other prospects of a commensurate size and skill to provide some other options.

I agree with your entire post, but I highlighted your line that I like best.

[Rico]

7 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

I agree with your entire post, but I highlighted your line that I like best.

Why do I get "small man's syndrome" when I see the words "commensurate" and "size" put together?