A busy month of July has come to a close and there is quite a bit of reaction to the important trio of visits that Indiana hosted for class of 2023 prospects last week.
We will start with 2023 wing Jamie Kaiser. Kaiser was the first of the three prospects to visit Indiana last week and it was a very good visit. So good, that it basically moved the decision to either Maryland or Indiana.
Kaiser took an unofficial visit on Thursday to Maryland and sources told TheHoosier.com that while no commitment was made official, it seems Kaiser to Maryland is the indication post visit. Sources said an announcement should come 'within the week' but could be sooner.
Heading into this week Kaiser was much more inclined to make a decision sooner rather than later. His dad was okay with waiting and preferred that. It appears that Kaiser Jr. will be the one who has the final say on when he will decide, however.
I don't expect this to be Indiana at this point and unless there is some shift and Indiana gets Kaiser to hold off and visit again in the fall, Maryland should be the answer.
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As for 2023 top-50 forward Arrinten Page from Wheeler (Ga.) -- Indiana continues to sit in a very good spot. Sources indicated this week that Indiana 'checked all of the boxes' it needed to on the visit.
TheHoosier spoke with Wheeler assistant coach Rich McCray who was on Page's official visit to Indiana.
McCray regarding the visit: "The visit was great. Staff is top notch. I felt I don’t think it could have been a better visit. He was able to see everything he needed to see while on IU’s campus. The style of play compliments Arrinten’s game."
McCray on key's to Page's recruitment: "In no particular order: Development, Style of play, and if he will come right in and play/start right away"
Page has taken visits to Cincinnati, Missouri, USC and has another one planned to Miami (Fla.) later this month.
One source told me they think Indiana sits at the top for Page.
More on Page's visit:
indiana.rivals.com
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The final visit was 2023 four-star guard DeShawn Harris-Smith. While initial talk was Indiana did a very good job on this visit and won over his mom -- which was key -- it seems Indiana may be still trailing the likes of Xavier, Villanova and Maryland to an extent.
Indiana offered DHS in the first live session of July and got him to visit two weeks later. That in itself shows you the connections and ability to relay a message to a recruit. Unfortunately, Indiana just wasn't on the radar at all before mid-June and the fact that DHS didn't really know much about Indiana coming into the visit, there was going to have to be a lot of ground to make up. I want to reiterate, there was ground that Indiana made up, just doesn't sound like enough.
Harris-Smith's mom told TheHoosier this week that they still feel very comfortable with the five schools he has taken visits to. There had been some talk about a potential decision that could come in early August, with his birthday being next week, but she said that would be a bit of a surprise at the moment If a decision was made by then.
I don't expect Indiana to be the school here, but if this continues to drag out, there could be more down the line for IU.
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With the 2024 class, top-30 wing Liam McNeeley confirmed with TheHoosier.com yesterday that he has his Indiana official visit locked in for Sept. 23-25.
Indiana had at least one member of its staff at every one of McNeeley's games during the final live period of July.
"Coach Walsh and coach Woodson are talking to me the most," McNeeley said. "Coach Woodson, he's been in the NBA longer than I've been alive. So he knows a lot about basketball and I'm trying to get to the NBA.
McNeeley has a strong impression of Indiana already and the history that comes with the basketball program.
“I mean Indiana is a great basketball state," McNeeley said. "There is a lot of basketball history in the state of Indiana so it’s just a great accomplishment and it means a lot.”
TheHoosier.com was able to see McNeeley multiple times this summer and at Peach Jam to end July. Here are our scouting notes from Peach Jam:
McNeeley is such a good offensive player with and without the ball and a lot of that comes from his high IQ. Whether he is scoring or making plays for his teammates, he does so with such ease and fluidness that is's so repeatable. His ability to get into the lane at will is so impressive and when he does, he is very difficult to stop because he always has two or three potential plays to make. Scoring wise, McNeeley is a tremendous shooter and does so off of the dribble or catch. He has good size and a release that makes it difficult for many defenders to disrupt his shot. When he's attacking the rim, his frame allows him to draw and take the contact and finish at ease inside the paint. While he is listed as a small forward, McNeeley is very much the focal point of the offense and plays very much on the ball.
Peach Jam game-by-game results:
Game one: 12 points (4-of-10 FG / 1-of-4 3pt / 3-of-4 FT), 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 turnover, 29 minutes
Game two: 14 points (4-of-16 FG / 1-of-4 3pt / 5-of-7 FT), 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 27 minutes
Game three: 28 points (10-of-15 FG / 3-of-5 3pt / 5-of-6 FT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 28 minutes
Game four: 14 points (5-of-12 FG / 1-of-3 3pt / 3-of-5 FT), 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 turnover, 27 minutes
Game five: 20 points (6-of-11 FG / 2-of-4 3pt / 6-of-6 FT), 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 28 mintues
Game six: 10 points (5-of-11 FG / 0-of-2 3pt / 0-of-0 FT), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 27 minutes
Game seven: 20 points (8-of-14 FG / 2-of-5 3pt / 2-of-3 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 26 minutes
Game eight: 25 points (10-of-18 FG / 2-of-3 3pt / 3-of-5 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 28 mintues
More on McNeeley:
indiana.rivals.com
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Indiana hosted two class of 2025 visitors this week. Aug. 1 was the first day that rising sophomores could visit unofficially to schools. Indiana hosted 2025 Fishers (Ind.) guard Jalen Haralson on Aug. 1 and then 2025 Heritage Hills (Ind.) forward Trent Sisley on Aug. 2. Both prospects visited Purdue on the other day. Trent Sisley also visited Ohio State on Aug. 3.
Both players will have numerous offers by the time its ready to make a decision and with a decision a ways away, Indiana still has to do a lot. But, both visits went about as good as they could have gone if not better. It was a very strong start.
Indiana has prioritized both players. More than what other programs typically do for class of 2025 prospects at this stage. Indiana went 4-deep to multiple games of theirs at Peach Jam in July. That is sending a message.
More on Haralson's visit:
indiana.rivals.com
More on Sisley's visit:
indiana.rivals.com
---
With summer workouts done, here is what I was able to gather about some standouts:
Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis
Forward Malik Reneau
Forward Kaleb Banks
Guard Tamar Bates
Guard CJ Gunn
Guard Jalen Hood-Schifino
That is just some. But guys like Gunn and Banks were two that stood out more than what was expected.
We will start with 2023 wing Jamie Kaiser. Kaiser was the first of the three prospects to visit Indiana last week and it was a very good visit. So good, that it basically moved the decision to either Maryland or Indiana.
Kaiser took an unofficial visit on Thursday to Maryland and sources told TheHoosier.com that while no commitment was made official, it seems Kaiser to Maryland is the indication post visit. Sources said an announcement should come 'within the week' but could be sooner.
Heading into this week Kaiser was much more inclined to make a decision sooner rather than later. His dad was okay with waiting and preferred that. It appears that Kaiser Jr. will be the one who has the final say on when he will decide, however.
I don't expect this to be Indiana at this point and unless there is some shift and Indiana gets Kaiser to hold off and visit again in the fall, Maryland should be the answer.
---
As for 2023 top-50 forward Arrinten Page from Wheeler (Ga.) -- Indiana continues to sit in a very good spot. Sources indicated this week that Indiana 'checked all of the boxes' it needed to on the visit.
TheHoosier spoke with Wheeler assistant coach Rich McCray who was on Page's official visit to Indiana.
McCray regarding the visit: "The visit was great. Staff is top notch. I felt I don’t think it could have been a better visit. He was able to see everything he needed to see while on IU’s campus. The style of play compliments Arrinten’s game."
McCray on key's to Page's recruitment: "In no particular order: Development, Style of play, and if he will come right in and play/start right away"
Page has taken visits to Cincinnati, Missouri, USC and has another one planned to Miami (Fla.) later this month.
One source told me they think Indiana sits at the top for Page.
More on Page's visit:
National top-50 forward Arrinten Page discusses Indiana official visit
Indiana hosted top-50 forward Arrinten Page for an official visit this week.
---
The final visit was 2023 four-star guard DeShawn Harris-Smith. While initial talk was Indiana did a very good job on this visit and won over his mom -- which was key -- it seems Indiana may be still trailing the likes of Xavier, Villanova and Maryland to an extent.
Indiana offered DHS in the first live session of July and got him to visit two weeks later. That in itself shows you the connections and ability to relay a message to a recruit. Unfortunately, Indiana just wasn't on the radar at all before mid-June and the fact that DHS didn't really know much about Indiana coming into the visit, there was going to have to be a lot of ground to make up. I want to reiterate, there was ground that Indiana made up, just doesn't sound like enough.
Harris-Smith's mom told TheHoosier this week that they still feel very comfortable with the five schools he has taken visits to. There had been some talk about a potential decision that could come in early August, with his birthday being next week, but she said that would be a bit of a surprise at the moment If a decision was made by then.
I don't expect Indiana to be the school here, but if this continues to drag out, there could be more down the line for IU.
---
With the 2024 class, top-30 wing Liam McNeeley confirmed with TheHoosier.com yesterday that he has his Indiana official visit locked in for Sept. 23-25.
Indiana had at least one member of its staff at every one of McNeeley's games during the final live period of July.
"Coach Walsh and coach Woodson are talking to me the most," McNeeley said. "Coach Woodson, he's been in the NBA longer than I've been alive. So he knows a lot about basketball and I'm trying to get to the NBA.
McNeeley has a strong impression of Indiana already and the history that comes with the basketball program.
“I mean Indiana is a great basketball state," McNeeley said. "There is a lot of basketball history in the state of Indiana so it’s just a great accomplishment and it means a lot.”
TheHoosier.com was able to see McNeeley multiple times this summer and at Peach Jam to end July. Here are our scouting notes from Peach Jam:
McNeeley is such a good offensive player with and without the ball and a lot of that comes from his high IQ. Whether he is scoring or making plays for his teammates, he does so with such ease and fluidness that is's so repeatable. His ability to get into the lane at will is so impressive and when he does, he is very difficult to stop because he always has two or three potential plays to make. Scoring wise, McNeeley is a tremendous shooter and does so off of the dribble or catch. He has good size and a release that makes it difficult for many defenders to disrupt his shot. When he's attacking the rim, his frame allows him to draw and take the contact and finish at ease inside the paint. While he is listed as a small forward, McNeeley is very much the focal point of the offense and plays very much on the ball.
Peach Jam game-by-game results:
Game one: 12 points (4-of-10 FG / 1-of-4 3pt / 3-of-4 FT), 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 turnover, 29 minutes
Game two: 14 points (4-of-16 FG / 1-of-4 3pt / 5-of-7 FT), 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 27 minutes
Game three: 28 points (10-of-15 FG / 3-of-5 3pt / 5-of-6 FT), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 28 minutes
Game four: 14 points (5-of-12 FG / 1-of-3 3pt / 3-of-5 FT), 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 turnover, 27 minutes
Game five: 20 points (6-of-11 FG / 2-of-4 3pt / 6-of-6 FT), 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 28 mintues
Game six: 10 points (5-of-11 FG / 0-of-2 3pt / 0-of-0 FT), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 27 minutes
Game seven: 20 points (8-of-14 FG / 2-of-5 3pt / 2-of-3 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 26 minutes
Game eight: 25 points (10-of-18 FG / 2-of-3 3pt / 3-of-5 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 28 mintues
More on McNeeley:
2024 top-30 wing Liam McNeeley sets Indiana official visit
Class of 2024 wing Liam McNeeley has set his official visit to Indiana.
---
Indiana hosted two class of 2025 visitors this week. Aug. 1 was the first day that rising sophomores could visit unofficially to schools. Indiana hosted 2025 Fishers (Ind.) guard Jalen Haralson on Aug. 1 and then 2025 Heritage Hills (Ind.) forward Trent Sisley on Aug. 2. Both prospects visited Purdue on the other day. Trent Sisley also visited Ohio State on Aug. 3.
Both players will have numerous offers by the time its ready to make a decision and with a decision a ways away, Indiana still has to do a lot. But, both visits went about as good as they could have gone if not better. It was a very strong start.
Indiana has prioritized both players. More than what other programs typically do for class of 2025 prospects at this stage. Indiana went 4-deep to multiple games of theirs at Peach Jam in July. That is sending a message.
More on Haralson's visit:
2025 guard Jalen Haralson impressed with Indiana following unofficial visit
Class of 2025 guard Jalen Haralson of Fishers (Ind.) and the Indy Heat AAU program took an unofficial visit to Indiana.
More on Sisley's visit:
2025 forward Trent Sisley has a very good unofficial visit to Indiana
Indiana hosted class of 2025 Heritage Hills (Ind.) forward Trent Sisley for an unofficial visit on Tuesday.
---
With summer workouts done, here is what I was able to gather about some standouts:
Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis
Forward Malik Reneau
Forward Kaleb Banks
Guard Tamar Bates
Guard CJ Gunn
Guard Jalen Hood-Schifino
That is just some. But guys like Gunn and Banks were two that stood out more than what was expected.
