Louisville Recruiting

[WayneFleekHoosier 49,187]

I am officially jealous as hell about UL recruiting.

Today they signed:

Antonio Blakeney 6'4" SG #15 ranked recruit.

To join:

Ray Spalding 6'9" PF #21 ranked recruit.

Donovan "badass" Mitchell 6'3" SG #27 ranked recruit.

Deng Adel 6'7" SF #32 ranked recruit.


Now that is how you get it done. Don't get me started on their 2013 class either. Just wow!!!!!!

[WayneFleekHoosier 49,187]

I just re-read my own post for spelling errors, and the result.......... More jelly than before!!!!! Agggghhhhhh

[WayneFleekHoosier 49,187]

We think 1 top 20 kid in a class is going to get it done, but when you look at the talent other schools are compiling we are light years away and traveling in Reverse.

[WayneFleekHoosier 49,187]

@EvanDaniels: Commitments seem to be coming at a quicker rate in 2015 than previous classes. Just 46 top 100 recruits are still available. 8 of top 10.


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[WayneFleekHoosier 49,187]

@D1Circuit: E1T1 G Antonio Blakeney (@blakeney96) commits to Louisville. Huge pickup, one of the best scorers in 2015. #D1 #ACC @E1T1Elite


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[WayneFleekHoosier 49,187]

@AdamZagoria: Donovan Mitchell on Blakeney to @SNYtv: 'Me at the 1 and him at the 2, its gonna be incredible.'


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[rebelhoosier848891 9,588]

WayneHoosier---I am jealous of their class too! They are putting it together!  But--- I disagree that we are "light years away and traveling in reverse". Our recruiting classes have been highly ranked and we have elite talent too. We are arguably one elite big away from a championship contending team next year---one player away! Unfortunately,  I do fear 2015 may be a down recruiting year which is why we have to win again this year.  As long as we do--we will be fine. If we don't --then I will be joining you and singing the blues....

[rebelhoosier848891 9,588]

Wow---looking at UL's class.....OH--- KJ---say it isn't so------We hardly knew ye !!!!!!!!!!

[rebelhoosier848891 9,588]

The only good news about UL's monster class is surely they are about out of scholarships and playing time and won't be competition for some of our remaining targets!

[WayneFleekHoosier 49,187]

WayneHoosier---I am jealous of their class too! They are putting it together! But--- I disagree that we are "light years away and traveling in reverse". Our recruiting classes have been highly ranked and we have elite talent too. We are arguably one elite big away from a championship contending team next year---one player away! Unfortunately, I do fear 2015 may be a down recruiting year which is why we have to win again this year. As long as we do--we will be fine. If we don't --then I will be joining you and singing the blues....

People hang there hats on our 1 5 star and occasional 4 star. It is Crimson Colored Glasses Syndrome. Just for fun, go look at UNC, UL, UK, Florida, Arizona, OSU etc rosters. They barely have 3 star players on the entire 13 player roster. That creates more challenging position battles in practice and better teams on every level. Even though most teams only play 8-9, those other spots are building for THEIR time and bettering their teammates. Believe me, we are light years away from OUT Talenting these teams. Can we beat a better talented team? Sure. But consistently? No. Their is a reason why we are predicted 7-10 placed in the BIG this year. Can we outperform that? Sure, I hope so, but..............


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[IUsafety 2,775]

Unfortunately, IU paid KJ to lay the ground work for all that talent and build a relationship with them. Most of those recruits once had Indiana high on their list.


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[GloryDays 5,994]

     I think the It's Indiana slogan is loosing its luster.

 Kids want to play for winners and right or wrong I dont think that is the perception today.I also feel the roster turnover is a real negative and used against us in recruiting.We are recruiting as we speak and dont have a spot open.Someone might leave to play for pay but I dont see it.That means a transfer and could very well be a homegrown kid leaving.That will start burning bridges with  high school coaches in the state.It cant be a good long term approach to recruiting. I visit other sites sometimes being a basketball junkie and there is a lot of fun poked at CTC.Kids read these thing too.

    We need to win this year or it's only going to get worse.I think this is a make or break year for us.

 All that being said i hope we kick some ass this year because CTC has a lot of qualities I admire and don't see much of if any at either program just south of the border.

[Stuhoo 83,656]

     I think the It's Indiana slogan is loosing its luster.

 Kids want to play for winners and right or wrong I dont think that is the perception today.I also feel the roster turnover is a real negative and used against us in recruiting.We are recruiting as we speak and dont have a spot open.Someone might leave to play for pay but I dont see it.That means a transfer and could very well be a homegrown kid leaving.That will start burning bridges with  high school coaches in the state.It cant be a good long term approach to recruiting. I visit other sites sometimes being a basketball junkie and there is a lot of fun poked at CTC.Kids read these thing too.

    We need to win this year or it's only going to get worse.I think this is a make or break year for us.

 All that being said i hope we kick some ass this year because CTC has a lot of qualities I admire and don't see much of if any at either program just south of the border.

 

 

With the quality of kids interested in IU for the 2016 class and the returnees that we should have going forward, some "performance momentum" generated early this year will be extremely, completely, incredibly crucial.

 

Our game against Louisville on national television early in the season will be one of the most important games we will have had in a long, long time. Win it and we're likely ranked and a tourney quality team.  Get skunked and everyone will perceive that we're in a real slide, and have settled into mediocrity.

[Bowhunter 2,756]

I'm more concerned with UL than UK anymore!
Makes me sick to see us struggle recruiting as of late. We are getting excited about low or non rated fill in guys at the end of the season. Hope we start winning big or losing big. Something has to change!

[BGleas 7,944]

People hang there hats on our 1 5 star and occasional 4 star. It is Crimson Colored Glasses Syndrome. Just for fun, go look at UNC, UL, UK, Florida, Arizona, OSU etc rosters. They barely have 3 star players on the entire 13 player roster. That creates more challenging position battles in practice and better teams on every level. Even though most teams only play 8-9, those other spots are building for THEIR time and bettering their teammates. Believe me, we are light years away from OUT Talenting these teams. Can we beat a better talented team? Sure. But consistently? No. Their is a reason why we are predicted 7-10 placed in the BIG this year. Can we outperform that? Sure, I hope so, but..............


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I agree. Crean is great at getting 1 featured player in each class, then after that it tends to fall off. At some of the schools you mentioned JBJ would be their 3rd recruit, not their headliner. I don't mean that as an indictment on JBJ, just saying to consistently compete with the Dukes, UK's, Louisville's, Kansas', etc., we need to be bringing classes primarily consisting of 5* and high ranked 4* kids, with a 3* thrown in for depth. We tend to go the reverse way lately. 

 

Before someone says "it's not all about star ratings", I get that, but it's the easiest way to summarize the thought, since I'm not on the scouting trail. 

[bleedhoosier 3,627]

We should go ahead and "accept" or more like realize that Indiana is currently not a blue blood program to these kids. It's IU and our traditions just don't mean a whole lot to the top recruits. Unless one wants to be THE MAN and stand out, we just aren't in a spot to pull multiple high kids. 

 

On a related note, I'm really hoping coach Martin opens up this New York and upper East Coast avenue for us. That certainly can't hurt. I'm all on board with everyone that is saying success this year is crucial. If we have a so-so year, Indiana is heading into the shadows again after re-emerging with Zeller, Oladipo and crew. Short lived for us Hoosier fans. 

 

I basically feel like this program and it's future is officially at a fork in the road coming into this season. 

[Hovadipo 58,166]

We should go ahead and "accept" or more like realize that Indiana is currently not a blue blood program to these kids. It's IU and our traditions just don't mean a whole lot to the top recruits. Unless one wants to be THE MAN and stand out, we just aren't in a spot to pull multiple high kids.

On a related note, I'm really hoping coach Martin opens up this New York and upper East Coast avenue for us. That certainly can't hurt. I'm all on board with everyone that is saying success this year is crucial. If we have a so-so year, Indiana is heading into the shadows again after re-emerging with Zeller, Oladipo and crew. Short lived for us Hoosier fans.

I basically feel like this program and it's future is officially at a fork in the road coming into this season.

It may hurt, but it's SO true. Good point on Chuck too. Excited to see what he brings us.


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[WayneFleekHoosier 49,187]

Another pet peeve.... People like to use Immediate PT as a reason why we don't stock up 4*s and 5*s. I DO think immediate PT is important but........

2014 Louisville signs as a back up to Chris Jones, nationally #39 ranked player in PG Quentin Snider. He is very likely a 4 year player based on his skillset.

Fast forward to 2015-Louisville signs nationally ranked #27 player in PG Donovan Mitchell.

How about that?

Trey Lyles going to UK another example that Immediate PT is just another Crimson Colored Excuse.


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[GloryDays 5,994]

With the quality of kids interested in IU for the 2016 class and the returnees that we should have going forward, some "performance momentum" generated early this year will be extremely, completely, incredibly crucial.

 

Our game against Louisville on national television early in the season will be one of the most important games we will have had in a long, long time. Win it and we're likely ranked and a tourney quality team.  Get skunked and everyone will perceive that we're in a real slide, and have settled into mediocrity.

Great post.

[iuryan 14]

Honest question. 

 

Do you think Tom Crean is aware the general thought expressed in this thread? (which I agree with) Because when you hear him tell it we are doing just GREAT!