IU likely isn’t going to take Cross and Geronimo, along with Leal and Galloway. Cross will be playing on the perimeter more than he will in the paint if he commits to IU. IU is going to look to add one of Cross/Geronimo and then a big.
2020 heating up............
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IU likely isn’t going to take Cross and Geronimo, along with Leal and Galloway. Cross will be playing on the perimeter more than he will in the paint if he commits to IU. IU is going to look to add one of Cross/Geronimo and then a big.
We need this guy, he can shoot and probably sell decent produce outside AH pregame
Archie wants Cross regardless of who we have committed. That much is not a secret to anyone that follows recruiting. Archie absolutely loves Matt Cross and has made him priority #1 for a long time. He's actually been the point man and not an assistant. If we lose him, it's on Archie and on no one else.
Than outside out that, it's best available. There's no guarantee we're taking a big. If that were the case, why is Geranimo taking a official? We're still going after Love, Davis and Diallo at point. Bridges is still in play.
He's taking an official because Matt Cross isn't a guarantee to IU lol. Need to have a contingency plan in place if Cross chooses elsewhere. I don't see a world where IU lands a commitment from Cross and than focuses on anybody else but a big (Garcia/Loveday) unless someone like Caleb Love also says they want to play at IU.
You're not understanding that Matt Cross and Jordan Geranimo play two totally different positions. Matt Cross' recruitment has no bearing on any Geranimo's recruitment at all. In fact, Geranimo plays more like Galloway than Cross, yet were still recruiting Geranimo. Cross is obviously our top propriety, but again, were not bringing in Geronimo because we're afraid to loose Cross. THEY DON'T EVEN PLAY THE SAME POSITION.
IU just signed 2 wings. Matt Cross isn't a traditional PF or big man. He, along with Geronimo are slashing type forwards although Cross has a better jumpshot. IU is NOT taking Geronimo and Cross in the same class. You can take that to the bank.
You may well be right, but Archie may well be recruiting to replace Hunter and Smith. If Hunter is as good as many think he might be, he could easily be gone after this season. Smith could be gone if he finally comes into his own or he could be gone if he doesn't for other reasons.
If everyone returns like the old days, then you probably don't take both Geronimo and Cross after Galloway and Leal. However, I think that the probabilities are against having both Hunter and Smith beyond this season upcoming.
First, IU is going after Cross strong. So are a lot of other teams. CAM can't limit himself just in case Cross chooses elsewhere. IU definitely needs a big in this class. Be it Loveday or Garcia. If he takes Love,it will be because Cross chose another school. He cannot afford to take 5. It will severely limt his 2021 recruiting. But we shall see.
If the rumors to Hunter's condition are true, he's likely undraftable unless he has a NPOY-like season which isn't likely at all. Cross is a less athletic version of Smith but with a much better jumpshot an understanding of the game. Smith would not be playing 4 under normal circumstances and that is because of IU's depth the last 2 years. Smith is a natural wing as is Cross. Cross and Geronimo would play the same position as you can play them with two big men, Smith you cannot.
Agree. Would make zero logical sense to add Geronimo and Cross. Cross and Love I could see because you aren't going to say no to a player of Love's caliber. Archie would take a ballhandler (Davis/Diallo) before he took Cross and Geronimo. Geronimo's offer came right around the time Cross decided to take two additional visits to Florida and A&M, and it's because Archie knows Cross isn't a lock to IU. Geronimo is visiting IU the same weekend Cross is taking his last official visit to A&M. I would expect a commitment from one of them shortly after. If it's Geronimo it's because Archie knows Cross isn't coming. Move on and really hone in on Loveday or Garcia.
This is how I know you don't know what your talking about. Archie absolutely wants Cross no matter who is committed to us, big or ball handler. He doesn't think he we have enough toughness and Cross is as tough as they come. He's not gonna take a ball handler over Matt Cross, I can 100% guarantee that and has been verified by every IU reporter that follows IU recruiting. Now, the fourth in this class could be a big. It could be a point. He'll, it could be a wing. We have no idea. For all we know, we not even use the fourth scholarship and eat it for 2021 because that class is really, really good.
And Matt Cross is gonna guard the block more than the wing in the Big 10 in the pack line. He may play more on the perimeter on offense, but on defense, he'll be a 4 all the way.
I didn't say that. He'd take Cross and then a ballhandler before he took Geronimo. The wish is to get Cross and then Love or a big. IU isn't going to take Cross and then Geronimo on top of Leal and Galloway. Geronimo is a contingency plan in case Cross commits elsewhere which very well could happen. IU offered Geronimo right around the time Cross extended his OV's to two additional schools and IU conveniently scheduled Geronimo's OV as the same weekend as Cross' last visit to A&M. Cross is likely going be making a decision within a month, and Archie wants Geronimo to be able to commit if Cross ends up elsewhere. If Cross commits, IU will be moving on from Geronimo. Archie at least needs a commitment out of Cross or Geronimo if Cross goes elsewhere, sooner than later so that IU can go all-in on a Loveday/Garcia or Love. Need 3 guys signed at the Fall signing period.
But both Cross and Geronimo will NOT be committing to IU together as I said earlier. You can count on that.
The part I put is bold is hard for me to understand. You make it sound like Archie is the only moving part in this puzzle. Cross could go somewhere else and it may just be that he feels more comfortable at that school. Nothing Archie can do about that.
Your quote makes it sound like it is only up to Archie to close the deal. The BEST salesmen don't make a sale every time.
I probably worded that wrong. Archie has taken point on the Cross recruitment. That doesn't happen all that often. He's the point man. That's not to say that the other assistants aren't involved, but Archie is the main point of contact.
I've added Javonte Brown-Ferguson to the 2020 recruit thread as he very recently commented that he is 70% likely to reclassify to 2020......he also said CAM is looking at him as a potential '20 recruit.....Purdue is also apparently involved....he said something to the effect that Painter may be the best coach in the country, so apparently he likes them.
Edit---Also saw some comments from Love about IU.....said something to the effect that the coaches said they thought he could come in & turn the program around......it came off as though he thought they sounded kind of desperate. I don't think we have a legit shot at him
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Following up on the above............
Reread the Brown-Ferguson comments, and he says IU is "pushing for him to reclassify...". Also says he's in "constant contact" with Bill Comar (who is an asst AD for basketball operations....odd).....This is interesting to me as it demonstrates how badly CAM wants a 2020 big.....about Painter, he said he was "arguably the best coach in the NCAA" and talked about how he plays through his bigs and develops them for the NBA. I couldn't tell from the story if Purdue is looking at him for '20 and/or '21. There's nothing about it on the Purdue Rivals board.
Updating Jalen Bridges.......it doesn't look like IU is much of an option here. He has scheduled visits to Bama, X, & Miami, and will make 2 other OVs.....he has unofficially visited OSU, WVU & Pitt. He could go back there or go with 2/4 of the remaining 10 finalists, including IU
Concerning Love, his quote doesn't make me feel warm & fuzzy about our '19 prospects. Here is what he said: "They want for me to come in and turn that program around. They have been in a drought lately so they want for me to come in and lead their team to a championship...." Yikes.
I thought you previously posted that he wouldn’t be taking both Cross and Geronimo, right? Maybe I misunderstood. In that case my bad.
I think he takes them both, just like he took both Leal and Galloway, playing some position less ball, taking guys who can just play like hell. Who cares what position they play as long as they can score, board and D up.
Archie absolutely wants Cross. If Geronimo were to commit tomorrow (not saying that is happening), Cross is still 100% a take and that is not a secret.
Now, if Cross were to commit before Geronimo, I have no idea what would happen. I do know they like Geronimo, or else they wouldn't be bringing him in for a official visit (we only get so many in a calender school year to use, people forget that). I know people say we need a big, but I'm not entirely convinced we absolutely take one. If we can somehow get a Caleb Love or Davis or Diallo at point, Archie might take them instead. Of course if Dawson Garcia calls and says he wants to come, we make room, but the other bigs on the board really aren't can't miss prospects.
I've said this before. If we get a class of Cross, Leal and Galloway this fall and don't add anyone else to the 2020 class, we may just sit on the extra scholarship and bank it for 2021. That's how good I think that class is.
IU has to land a big guy for the '20 class. They cannot go into next season with Brunk, TJD and Thompson as the only size on the team.
Miller feeds the post in his offense and the playing time is nearly guaranteed if a kid can walk without tripping over his shoelaces. It should not be that hard to land a good inside player.
Miller feeds the post in his offense and the playing time is nearly guaranteed if a kid can walk without tripping over his shoelaces. It should not be that hard to land a good inside player.
First of all....no first hand knowledge on my part, just speculating on what I've been reading....
I think B-F's comment about Archie 'pushing' him to reclassify does indicate that (1) Archie would much prefer to have a 'big' in this class and (2) he's not very confident about getting Loveday or Garcia (Garcia obviously was going to be difficult to get all along). If he doesn't get one in this class, we have only TJD, Brunk, and Thompson for the 4 & 5 spots in 2020-21. B-F, by all accounts, is a project, with a big upside. I think this indicates that CAM would be OK with taking a big to play 5 minutes/game in 2020-21, as long as he had a big upside.
Just as clear is that Archie would prefer to have another point guard in this class. I don't know whether he values a pg over a big, or vice versa, but those would be choices 1 & 2. However, it doesn't look good right now for any of the PGs we're recruiting. Dialla looks most promising, but it looks like his recruiting won't conclude early, and he may reopen it to more schools.
Resident mentioned that he could hold a 'ship for a grad transfer.....yes, he could, but it's pretty obvious, Brunk notwithstanding, that CAM much prefers HS recruits to transfers/grad transfers.
Also, Rivals, at least, IDs Cross as a power forward, and also lists his height & weight as 6'8" 225 lbs. I agree with Resident that, as far as we can see, Cross is better suited for the 3....but Archie might look at him, as well as Hunter, as being guys who could help out at the 4 position. Smith may still be around as well.
We also know that Archie loves wing players, and got Dayton into the tourney with a line-up of nobody over 6'6".
So......with all of this in mind, it would not shock me if, given the chance, Archie would take both Cross & Geronimo, and call it a day for '20. I think it would depend on how high he is on those two........you know, the old 'bird in the hand....'
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Are you sure the schools are limited in the number of official visits they can host? I don't think they are. What is the number? I know the athletes are limited to 5 official visits, all must be to different schools. The NCAA sets that limit but I think the schools set their own limit based on budget.
Cross is about the size Brian Evans was. Evans was pretty solid scoring around the basket, though he preferred to score outside or off the dribble jumper. He was not much of a back down guy, but he could post and turn quickly to get shots off.
If Cross can do that, he may be enough if he can also defend bigger guys, but that would be an absolute necessity if Miller decided to take another smaller wing and leave '20 with no true PF/center.
If Cross can do that, he may be enough if he can also defend bigger guys, but that would be an absolute necessity if Miller decided to take another smaller wing and leave '20 with no true PF/center.
What I've read about Cross is that he's mostly played as a post in HS and, as of now, doesn't have a great outside shot. He does have good form and shoots FT well so there is definitely potential for him to change that. So he may be being recruited as a 3/4 player. That might be why Rivals lists him as a PF.
From the rule book:
13.6.2.6 Number of Official Visits—Institutional Limitation.
The total number of official visits a member institution may provide prospective student-athletes in the following sports on an annual basis (August 1through July 31) shall be limited to:
(a) Football—56.
(b) Basketball—12.
http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/D111.pdf
Not sure I agree. If TJD is going to be as good as we think, he could eventually become a dominant inside scorer for us. But the guards and wings will will do the bulk of the scoring in time.
Thanks. I didn't realize that was the case and didn't find that when I looked.
Does anyone know how often schools use all of them or come close? It seems like IU typically uses only about half those allowed.
If we get Cross, that would be four guys 6'8 or more. That's more than enough for Archie.
Now, if we miss on Cross, I agree. We need to look for a big.
The Caleb Love option seems like a long shot at best. The Kansas issues may hinder their pull, but if it is not Kansas, I know North Carolina feels very strong with Love. If RJ Davis beats him to the punch picking UNC it would help open things up for the remainder of his final 6, otherwise it looks to be Kansas/UNC.
Even in the 2002 championship game with Newton, Jeffries, and Leach, IU was hammered inside (thanks in large part to Juan dixon's wizardry, but still).
Every year it happens. You have to have size to compete in the Big Ten, and in the tourney, whether it be over the back tip ins by Haarms, or midrange post scoring by Haas or Caleb Wesson, or low post scoring by Jared Sullinger, inability to defend bigger guys kills teams in the conference.
I’ve seen him listed from 6’6 to 6’8. Most sites including his AAU roster and high school roster list him at 6’7 and most of those are inflated to a varying degree. Either way we’re arguing semantics. He’s not a true big who will be banging down low. His skill set translates to that of a wing/stretch 4.
Everyone that has scouted him says that he is a four in college. That's coming from multiple scouts. I'm not just reading that on a recruiting profile. I'm reading that from multiple people that have seen him play. The admins that use to run this site, TOS, both rivals and TOS national recruiting guys, all say the same thing. In college, he is a 4 on defense. He would bring size and toughness to our squad next year.
I'm with you.
Hoping that the quick signing of Brunk along with the offers to guys like Tre Mitchell last year and Brown this year that Archie has quickly learned that to win in the big ten, you need some beef.
Hoping that the days of starting a Morgan or a McSwain at the 5 are over unless he's planning on going full court press and trying to score most of our points in transition (which he's not).
Some of our best stretches last year was when Davis was playing well in the post. He just couldn't go for more than 15 to 20 minutes and our backup was Forrester or Moore....so Morgan played the 5 a ton.
TOS brass was the nancies that didn’t want the TOS name mentioned. Let’s be men and call them rivals, 247 or whatever they are.
