Quick site note - We plan to mass produce IU basketball schedule cards this year. Talking about those fold up cards for wallets with game dates, times, opponent, location and TV info.
We can't mail out small quantities but if anyone here has an avenue (business, alumni club) where they can guarantee distribution of 50 or more cards, send me an email at pegram@gmail.com and I will get you on our information email list so you can end up with these soon after the schedule is finalized in late summer.
On to recruiting news and more:
2016 four-star forward Nick Rakocevic is cutting his list to his final 10 at 7 p.m. on Friday.
He has an Indiana offer, and said the spring that he feels IU is one of the schools seriously recruiting him.
Rakocevic announced on Thursday that he will be playing with Indiana Elite in July. He previously was with the Mac Irvin Fire.
Class of 2016 four-star shooting guard Kameron McGusty is a player we'll feature again in the next few days and definitely a guy to keep on eye on as a hot Hoosier target for a November signing.
He recently offered a scholarship by Indiana and told Peegs.com that he had a very good conversation with Crean and has Indiana on the list of schools he's thinking of visiting.
McGusty talked at length at the NBPA Top 100 camp about Indiana basketball history and what it means for players to have a chance to play at history-rich college basketball programs.
He's 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. Currently ranked No. 71 in the 2016 class.
Eron Gordon had Indiana among his top five schools when we spoke to him in Virginia last week. Generally speaking he seemed to talk up the Hoosiers more than he did earlier in the spring.
The Hoosier staff made an early offer to Jason LeDee, a Texan from the Class of 2018: IDS story
Indiana is taking advantage of the Crossroads Elite camp for 2018/19 players, hosting about a dozen players on Wednesday night. That did not include Trendon Watford who could not make it up in time but he knows the Hoosier campus better than any young prospect on the Hoosier radar.
Trendon told Peegs.com on Thursday that he considers Indiana "a second home."
"I basically grew up there," Trendon Watford said.
Was impossible to not be impressed with the talent of Trendon Watford. He definitely has five-star potential. He has the outside shooting ability of his brother but seems to have a little better handle and better athleticism and agility. He's 6-foot-7 now and is yet to start high school, so he may end up taller when it is time for college.
Trendon more than held his own yesterday battling 6-foot-8 power forward Jontay Porter from Missouri. Jontay is a class older and holds offers already from Washington and Missouri. He's the younger brother of the No. 2 player from the Class of 2017, Michael Porter.
Christian Watford told Peegs.com he's been working out at IU for about a month and loves being back on campus.
Watford plans to play in NBA Summer League with hopes of landing a spot on an NBA team this season. Sacramento currently has his rights.
Speaking of family connections at the camp, Laphonso Ellis' son Walter Ellis was very good yesterday. He's a 6-foot-4 wing at South Bend Adams.
Brayton Bailey, Damon's son, was not there yesterday as expected. He's just a 2020 guy. Did I just type 2020?
Keion Brooks from Fort Wayne North was excellent when I watched yesterday. He'll just be a frosh but he's 6-foot-6 and growing and does everything well. Musa Jallow of Bloomington North had a great first game yesterday. Raally active athlete, 6-foot-4 and from the Class of 2018.
Another guy on the IU radar that was outstanding there yesterday was 6-foot-4 guard Israel Barnes from Sunrise Academy and Wichita, Kansas. Really smooth pull-up and the look of a guy who'll definitely be recruited heavily. Class of 2018.
We may see some of those at the camp visit IU after the event ends, including Trendon Watford.
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Here's our weekly update from Matt Weaver in what is always a busy time of year for IU football recruiting:
It was a good week for the Indiana football program as the Hoosiers landed five new commitments in the 2016 recruiting class. The first commit came from Florida safety Khalil Bryant when he gave the IU staff his pledge on Saturday. Georgia defensive end Allen Cater was next when he committed on Sunday, and then on Monday two more prospects pulled the trigger when Florida wide receiver Phil Benker and Ohio cornerback A’shon Riggins both committed. The final commit happened on Wednesday with the commitment of Ohio running back Cole Gest.
Bryant is safety from Jacksonville, Florida that has been very high on IU for some time. Safety was not a particularly big need in this class for IU but after the Antonio Allen dismissal that opened up a spot to take one.
Khalil Bryant & Allen Cater commit story: https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1776971&PT=4&PR=2
Cater is a defense end with length and a frame to add about 35 pounds. The Indiana staff wanted to add athleticism at D-end and it looks like they got a solid prospect in Cater.
Allen Cater commit story: https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1777281&PT=4&PR=2
Benker was committed to Central Florida but after his visit to IU last weekend he decided to switch his verbal to the Hoosiers. He has good size for the wideout position, and while he is not a burner, he has enough speed to be a threat down the field.
Phil Benker commit story: https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1777594&PT=4&PR=2
Riggins was one of the top cornerback targets for the Hoosiers so his commitment was a big one. It also came at a position of need for 2016. The three-star recruit is from the same high school as current IU linebacker Marcus Oliver.
A’shon Riggins commit story: https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1777167
Gest is guy that camped at IU on the first day of camp season and he impressed the coaches. Peegs.com was at that camp and he impressed as well. He is a smaller back at around 5’8 and 190-pounds but he has outstanding speed and athleticism. At the camp he showed the ability to play some at slot receiver and at IU he will be used in a variety of ways as both a running back and a wideout.
Cole Gest commit story: https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1777481
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The Hoosiers could be close to adding another commitment next week when in-state linebacker Collin Miller makes his decision. The three-star prospect from Hamilton Southeastern H.S. is down to IU, Purdue, Louisville and Virginia and he plans on announcing his decision on Wednesday, July 1st which is his birthday. Miller would be a big pick-up for the staff because he is a talented player that is from Indiana. The Hoosiers have missed on several in-state guys so adding Miller would be big. Peegs.com has heard that Miller could be visiting IU before he makes his decision. Here (https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1778042) is the story that Josh Helmholdt of Rivals.com did on Miller.
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In the last week the Indiana staff handed a handful of new offers to prospects in the 2016 and 2017 classes. Here are the players that picked up an offer from IU this past week:
2016 Ohio OL A.J. Arcuri (https://rivals.yahoo.com/indiana/football/recruiting/player-A.J.-Arcuri-183651)
2016 Missouri OL Chase Behrndt (https://rivals.yahoo.com/indiana/football/recruiting/player-Chase-Behrndt-170541)
2017 Florida OL Tyler Knight (https://rivals.yahoo.com/indiana/football/recruiting/player-Tyler-Knight-183761)
2017 Texas LB Mohamed Sanogo (https://rivals.yahoo.com/indiana/football/recruiting/player-Mohamed-Sanogo-170600)
2017 Virginia QB Lindell Stone (https://rivals.yahoo.com/indiana/football/recruiting/player-Lindell-Stone-165340)
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The IUHoosiers.com site put out a new story this week on fifth year senior Adarius Rayner. The fifth year senior from Florida is expected to be a key player for the Indiana defense. You can check out that story here (https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1778007).
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It did not take former IU receiver Shane Wynn long to catch on with a new team after being released by the Atlanta Falcons. The Cleveland native was picked up by his hometown team, the Cleveland Browns. Here is a story on the Browns picking up Wynn from Cleveland.com (http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/06/former_glenville_high_wr_shane.html).
We can't mail out small quantities but if anyone here has an avenue (business, alumni club) where they can guarantee distribution of 50 or more cards, send me an email at pegram@gmail.com and I will get you on our information email list so you can end up with these soon after the schedule is finalized in late summer.
On to recruiting news and more:
2016 four-star forward Nick Rakocevic is cutting his list to his final 10 at 7 p.m. on Friday.
He has an Indiana offer, and said the spring that he feels IU is one of the schools seriously recruiting him.
Rakocevic announced on Thursday that he will be playing with Indiana Elite in July. He previously was with the Mac Irvin Fire.
Class of 2016 four-star shooting guard Kameron McGusty is a player we'll feature again in the next few days and definitely a guy to keep on eye on as a hot Hoosier target for a November signing.
He recently offered a scholarship by Indiana and told Peegs.com that he had a very good conversation with Crean and has Indiana on the list of schools he's thinking of visiting.
McGusty talked at length at the NBPA Top 100 camp about Indiana basketball history and what it means for players to have a chance to play at history-rich college basketball programs.
He's 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. Currently ranked No. 71 in the 2016 class.
Eron Gordon had Indiana among his top five schools when we spoke to him in Virginia last week. Generally speaking he seemed to talk up the Hoosiers more than he did earlier in the spring.
The Hoosier staff made an early offer to Jason LeDee, a Texan from the Class of 2018: IDS story
Indiana is taking advantage of the Crossroads Elite camp for 2018/19 players, hosting about a dozen players on Wednesday night. That did not include Trendon Watford who could not make it up in time but he knows the Hoosier campus better than any young prospect on the Hoosier radar.
Trendon told Peegs.com on Thursday that he considers Indiana "a second home."
"I basically grew up there," Trendon Watford said.
Was impossible to not be impressed with the talent of Trendon Watford. He definitely has five-star potential. He has the outside shooting ability of his brother but seems to have a little better handle and better athleticism and agility. He's 6-foot-7 now and is yet to start high school, so he may end up taller when it is time for college.
Trendon more than held his own yesterday battling 6-foot-8 power forward Jontay Porter from Missouri. Jontay is a class older and holds offers already from Washington and Missouri. He's the younger brother of the No. 2 player from the Class of 2017, Michael Porter.
Christian Watford told Peegs.com he's been working out at IU for about a month and loves being back on campus.
Watford plans to play in NBA Summer League with hopes of landing a spot on an NBA team this season. Sacramento currently has his rights.
Speaking of family connections at the camp, Laphonso Ellis' son Walter Ellis was very good yesterday. He's a 6-foot-4 wing at South Bend Adams.
Brayton Bailey, Damon's son, was not there yesterday as expected. He's just a 2020 guy. Did I just type 2020?
Keion Brooks from Fort Wayne North was excellent when I watched yesterday. He'll just be a frosh but he's 6-foot-6 and growing and does everything well. Musa Jallow of Bloomington North had a great first game yesterday. Raally active athlete, 6-foot-4 and from the Class of 2018.
Another guy on the IU radar that was outstanding there yesterday was 6-foot-4 guard Israel Barnes from Sunrise Academy and Wichita, Kansas. Really smooth pull-up and the look of a guy who'll definitely be recruited heavily. Class of 2018.
We may see some of those at the camp visit IU after the event ends, including Trendon Watford.
-------------
Here's our weekly update from Matt Weaver in what is always a busy time of year for IU football recruiting:
It was a good week for the Indiana football program as the Hoosiers landed five new commitments in the 2016 recruiting class. The first commit came from Florida safety Khalil Bryant when he gave the IU staff his pledge on Saturday. Georgia defensive end Allen Cater was next when he committed on Sunday, and then on Monday two more prospects pulled the trigger when Florida wide receiver Phil Benker and Ohio cornerback A’shon Riggins both committed. The final commit happened on Wednesday with the commitment of Ohio running back Cole Gest.
Bryant is safety from Jacksonville, Florida that has been very high on IU for some time. Safety was not a particularly big need in this class for IU but after the Antonio Allen dismissal that opened up a spot to take one.
Khalil Bryant & Allen Cater commit story: https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1776971&PT=4&PR=2
Cater is a defense end with length and a frame to add about 35 pounds. The Indiana staff wanted to add athleticism at D-end and it looks like they got a solid prospect in Cater.
Allen Cater commit story: https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1777281&PT=4&PR=2
Benker was committed to Central Florida but after his visit to IU last weekend he decided to switch his verbal to the Hoosiers. He has good size for the wideout position, and while he is not a burner, he has enough speed to be a threat down the field.
Phil Benker commit story: https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1777594&PT=4&PR=2
Riggins was one of the top cornerback targets for the Hoosiers so his commitment was a big one. It also came at a position of need for 2016. The three-star recruit is from the same high school as current IU linebacker Marcus Oliver.
A’shon Riggins commit story: https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1777167
Gest is guy that camped at IU on the first day of camp season and he impressed the coaches. Peegs.com was at that camp and he impressed as well. He is a smaller back at around 5’8 and 190-pounds but he has outstanding speed and athleticism. At the camp he showed the ability to play some at slot receiver and at IU he will be used in a variety of ways as both a running back and a wideout.
Cole Gest commit story: https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1777481
-----
The Hoosiers could be close to adding another commitment next week when in-state linebacker Collin Miller makes his decision. The three-star prospect from Hamilton Southeastern H.S. is down to IU, Purdue, Louisville and Virginia and he plans on announcing his decision on Wednesday, July 1st which is his birthday. Miller would be a big pick-up for the staff because he is a talented player that is from Indiana. The Hoosiers have missed on several in-state guys so adding Miller would be big. Peegs.com has heard that Miller could be visiting IU before he makes his decision. Here (https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1778042) is the story that Josh Helmholdt of Rivals.com did on Miller.
-----
In the last week the Indiana staff handed a handful of new offers to prospects in the 2016 and 2017 classes. Here are the players that picked up an offer from IU this past week:
2016 Ohio OL A.J. Arcuri (https://rivals.yahoo.com/indiana/football/recruiting/player-A.J.-Arcuri-183651)
2016 Missouri OL Chase Behrndt (https://rivals.yahoo.com/indiana/football/recruiting/player-Chase-Behrndt-170541)
2017 Florida OL Tyler Knight (https://rivals.yahoo.com/indiana/football/recruiting/player-Tyler-Knight-183761)
2017 Texas LB Mohamed Sanogo (https://rivals.yahoo.com/indiana/football/recruiting/player-Mohamed-Sanogo-170600)
2017 Virginia QB Lindell Stone (https://rivals.yahoo.com/indiana/football/recruiting/player-Lindell-Stone-165340)
-----
The IUHoosiers.com site put out a new story this week on fifth year senior Adarius Rayner. The fifth year senior from Florida is expected to be a key player for the Indiana defense. You can check out that story here (https://indiana.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1778007).
-----
It did not take former IU receiver Shane Wynn long to catch on with a new team after being released by the Atlanta Falcons. The Cleveland native was picked up by his hometown team, the Cleveland Browns. Here is a story on the Browns picking up Wynn from Cleveland.com (http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/06/former_glenville_high_wr_shane.html).
