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ccgeneral

(2017) SF Kris Wilkes to UCLA

By ccgeneral, in Indiana Basketball Recruiting Forum

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Sota Hoosier    450

Sota Hoosier
Posted

He's been going down to IU since the 4th grade, has been up and down the campus, and has been to multiple HH's in the past. Additionally, him being out of town this weekend for something unrelated different is a completely legit thing.

I haven't followed Albers much but I know of his reputation. I'd have to think he would be wildly confident in his sources to write a response article to an "Insider" article from ESPN saying UCLA is the leader.

We have to remind ourselves that Kris was just at an IU practice and football game 72 hours ago and has tweeted IU stuff multiple times. 

I still feel mildly confident he will be in candy stripes.

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Class of '66 Old Fart    84,012

Class of '66 Old Fart
Posted

Latest from Albers:

Kris Wilkes has done nothing wrong. He hasn’t spoken out of turn, hasn’t demanded attention from the media, hasn’t asked for tons and tons of hype. This isn’t his fault.

And yet that attention from the media and that huge helping of hype is there because, well, people will read it. It doesn’t matter how insignificant, how false, how baseless an update — if fans will read it, writers will write it. And fans — especially fans of Indiana and UCLA basketball — will read absolutely every word written about a recruit they’re involved with.

The national narrative in what has become the Wilkes Saga (through no fault of Wilkes) is that UCLA is the leader. That started last week with a post from a writer based out of Indianapolis. Said writer, whom I won’t name, also said one hour before Robert Johnson’s announcement that Indiana was out and it was down to Virginia and North Carolina.

The UCLA narrative continues now because of an ESPN Insider story today calling UCLA the leader. These reports have Indiana fans in a state of panic, but they shouldn’t. And I’ll tell you why.

First of all, it’s embarrassing that you have to pay for the ESPN article written by Jeff Borzello, who has never had a positive view of Tom Crean or Indiana and thus has zero insight into their program or recruiting.

The piece contains zero substance. None.

Borzello claims that UCLA leads Indiana and Illinois because Wilkes likes the Indiana connections (Steve Alford, Ed Schilling), and he loves the fact that Alford would let him play the 3.

The only quote used in the story is one that any recruit would say about any school he is considering. I won’t post the actual quote since it is a premium article and you have to pay to read Borzello’s work of genius, but it is something along these lines:

“I love the school. The coaches are great. I like the campus, etc. etc. etc.”

Borzello’s story provides no information that would suggest UCLA is the favorite. He likes the Indiana connections and wants to play the 3? Um, there is no better Indiana connection than playing basketball for — wait for it — INDIANA. And Crean is as good at developing players like Wilkes as any coach in the country.

Crean would certainly be willing to use Wilkes at the 3 if he defined positions, but he believes in position-less basketball, and has had a great deal of success with that philosophy.

If Crean was going to plant Wilkes on the block and make him play there on every possession, Borzello’s “update” would make some sense and carry some weight. But that’s not the case at all.

I’m not saying Wilkes won’t end up at UCLA. What I am saying is these articles about UCLA being the favorite are absolute garbage and you, as Indiana fans, shouldn’t worry about them.

Somebody is clearly feeding the national media this UCLA narrative, and I have a strong suspicion who that somebody might be. But I’ve been saying Indiana will land Wilkes for several weeks now, and that remains the case.

Is it a done deal? No. As I reported earlier this week, the real reason Wilkes is attracted to UCLA is the opportunity to be in Los Angeles, train against pros in the offseason, and jump to the NBA after one year, which I’m told he believes is a possibility.

But my belief remains that Wilkes will be a Hoosier because Crean has done the best job recruiting him, has recruited him longer than anybody else, and has the best track record of developing players like Wilkes.

Wilkes will not be at Hoosier Hysteria on Saturday because he will be out of town for something completely unrelated to recruiting. Indiana also still has an in-home visit remaining with Wilkes.

No decision has been made, and it could still be a couple weeks before Wilkes makes an announcement. I’m simply writing this piece to tear ESPN’s “update” to shreds so you don’t have to worry about it.

At the end of the day, though, you get to decide who you believe.

ALASKA HOOSIER, GloryDays, IUsafety and 5 others reacted to this

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mdn82    25,510

mdn82
Posted
We're going to be pulling schollys out the but if we land Kris and Waters 


I am not too worried about that anymore. With over 600 transfers it's gonna happen. We have a few candidates that will probably get no time or expecting more time than what they are getting. Now two scholarships we may send someone packing that would have otherwise gladly sat on the bench.


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Class of '66 Old Fart, HoosierAloha, Trish and 1 other reacted to this

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Class of '66 Old Fart    84,012

Class of '66 Old Fart
Posted
1 hour ago, mdn82 said:


I am not too worried about that anymore. With over 600 transfers it's gonna happen. We have a few candidates that will probably get no time or expecting more time than what they are getting. Now two scholarships we may send someone packing that would have otherwise gladly sat on the bench.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

From earlier this year, ESPN's list of 2016 transfers and it's staggering.   I don't like how commonplace it's become but it is what it is and you just have to accept the fact that each season you're likely to have a transfer or two.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14390188/college-basketball-transfer-list

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mdn82    25,510

mdn82
Posted
From earlier this year, ESPN's list of 2016 transfers and it's staggering.   I don't like how commonplace it's become but it is what it is and you just have to accept the fact that each season you're likely to have a transfer or two.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14390188/college-basketball-transfer-list


I agree. For a myriad of reasons beyond a kid getting forced out kids are transferring. I think kids are more about instant gratification and when they don't get it in their current situation they are more likely to leave. Then you have home sickness. Girlfriend at home. Sick family member. The staff is in a much better position than we all are to gauge what is possible. It just seems likely given the landscape. Best to plan for it than be behind when a decision happens. If one doesn't come he is expecting I hope he does what is best for his team.


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