Indiana has been playing at an extremely high level over the last month -- and it's pretty incredible to see the change the team has made since the three-game losing streak and that 19-point loss to Penn State.
Obviously leading the charge has been Trayce Jackson-Davis. In Big Ten games, Jackson-Davis is averaging 21.3 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.4 blocks per game. He's also shooting 54.2 percent from the floor and 69.4 percent from the free throw line. Those are monster numbers. In the last eight games, he has two 30+ point games and four games above 25 points. He has six games with 10+ rebounds and four with at least 15 rebounds. He also has four games with at least five blocks.
He was recently named one of the 10 players for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award as well as one of the players on the Naismith Player of the Year Midseason Team.
He's been unstoppable.
Indiana travels to Michigan on Saturday in a critical game to keep up this momentum and show it can win on the road.
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On the recruiting front, there have been consistent whispers over the last week that Maryland is sitting in an even better spot for 2024 four-star Montverde forward Derik Queen. Nothing is a done deal but one source told TheHoosier.com that if he goes to college and 'doesn't choose a pro option, he'll be a Terp.'
Indiana and Maryland have always been the two teams to watch in this one but the job Maryland head coach Kevin Willard has been doing with local kids continues to stand out. The success they've had on the court in his first year hasn't hurt either. Queen is originally from the Baltimore area.
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From one Montverde player to another, Indiana continues to sit in a very good spot for 2024 four-star wing Liam McNeeley. Indiana has been one of the lead teams in this recruitment for quite some time and while there isn't a commitment expected in the near future, there is continued talk around his recruitment that Indiana is the team in the best shape at this moment.
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Michigan, LSU, Texas some of the other programs involved here.
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An intriguing option that popped up this week is 2024 three-star wing Marcus Adams Jr. He is out of Narbonne (Ca.).
He had recently trimmed his list to five: UCLA, Texas, Mississippi State, Syracuse and Oregon but Adams told TheHoosier.com that he is 'very open' at the moment.
He received offers from Kansas, Indiana and Arkansas all on Wednesday.
While timing has to work, don't be surprised if Adams tries to get out for a visit.
Why Adams is intriguing is the option to go 2024 or 2023. He is in the 2024 class right now, but because he took a prep year before transferring back to Narbonne, this is his fourth year -- technically -- in high school.
Adams tells TheHoosier.com that he is open to either class at the moment.
Here's a bit more on Adams:
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2024 four-star guard Rakease Passmore of Combine Academy (NC) continues to be a name on the Indiana radar. He took an official visit to Indiana in the fall.
Duke is a team to watch -- noting multiple times it is his 'dream' school. He has taken an unofficial visit but still doesn't have an offer at the moment.
Some other programs involved are Auburn, Kansas, Wake Forest, NC State, Oregon and others.
Here's a minor update from Rivals national analyst Travis Graf:
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2024 four-star wing VJ Edgecombe of Long Island Lutheran (NY) is a name to keep an eye on. No offer out yet for Indiana but they have seen him play numerous times as he plays on the NIBC Circuit.
There is some interest from the Indiana side. Obviously, the 2024 class is extremely important and Indiana is looking to continue to add athleticism and length on the perimeter. Edgecombe fits that mold.
He leads the NIBC in scoring at 17.4 points per game.
Here's more on Edgecombe:
Obviously leading the charge has been Trayce Jackson-Davis. In Big Ten games, Jackson-Davis is averaging 21.3 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.4 blocks per game. He's also shooting 54.2 percent from the floor and 69.4 percent from the free throw line. Those are monster numbers. In the last eight games, he has two 30+ point games and four games above 25 points. He has six games with 10+ rebounds and four with at least 15 rebounds. He also has four games with at least five blocks.
He was recently named one of the 10 players for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award as well as one of the players on the Naismith Player of the Year Midseason Team.
He's been unstoppable.
Indiana travels to Michigan on Saturday in a critical game to keep up this momentum and show it can win on the road.
---
On the recruiting front, there have been consistent whispers over the last week that Maryland is sitting in an even better spot for 2024 four-star Montverde forward Derik Queen. Nothing is a done deal but one source told TheHoosier.com that if he goes to college and 'doesn't choose a pro option, he'll be a Terp.'
Indiana and Maryland have always been the two teams to watch in this one but the job Maryland head coach Kevin Willard has been doing with local kids continues to stand out. The success they've had on the court in his first year hasn't hurt either. Queen is originally from the Baltimore area.
---
From one Montverde player to another, Indiana continues to sit in a very good spot for 2024 four-star wing Liam McNeeley. Indiana has been one of the lead teams in this recruitment for quite some time and while there isn't a commitment expected in the near future, there is continued talk around his recruitment that Indiana is the team in the best shape at this moment.
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Michigan, LSU, Texas some of the other programs involved here.
---
An intriguing option that popped up this week is 2024 three-star wing Marcus Adams Jr. He is out of Narbonne (Ca.).
He had recently trimmed his list to five: UCLA, Texas, Mississippi State, Syracuse and Oregon but Adams told TheHoosier.com that he is 'very open' at the moment.
He received offers from Kansas, Indiana and Arkansas all on Wednesday.
While timing has to work, don't be surprised if Adams tries to get out for a visit.
Why Adams is intriguing is the option to go 2024 or 2023. He is in the 2024 class right now, but because he took a prep year before transferring back to Narbonne, this is his fourth year -- technically -- in high school.
Adams tells TheHoosier.com that he is open to either class at the moment.
Here's a bit more on Adams:
New 2024 offer - Marcus Adams
Indiana has extended an offer to 2024 three-star wing Marcus Adams. Adams is is a 6-foot-8 wing from Narbonne (Ca.). He had recently trimmed his list to five: UCLA, Texas, Mississippi State, Syracuse and Oregon.
indiana.forums.rivals.com
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2024 four-star guard Rakease Passmore of Combine Academy (NC) continues to be a name on the Indiana radar. He took an official visit to Indiana in the fall.
Duke is a team to watch -- noting multiple times it is his 'dream' school. He has taken an unofficial visit but still doesn't have an offer at the moment.
Some other programs involved are Auburn, Kansas, Wake Forest, NC State, Oregon and others.
Here's a minor update from Rivals national analyst Travis Graf:
Recruiting Roundup: Latest with Rakease Passmore and a FutureCast
Passmore talks about some schools involved in his recruitment, including a few bluebloods.
indiana.rivals.com
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2024 four-star wing VJ Edgecombe of Long Island Lutheran (NY) is a name to keep an eye on. No offer out yet for Indiana but they have seen him play numerous times as he plays on the NIBC Circuit.
There is some interest from the Indiana side. Obviously, the 2024 class is extremely important and Indiana is looking to continue to add athleticism and length on the perimeter. Edgecombe fits that mold.
He leads the NIBC in scoring at 17.4 points per game.
Here's more on Edgecombe:
VJ Edgecombe continues to raise his stock, consider visits
VJ Edgecombe's junior season has colleges buzzing about his potential.
indiana.rivals.com
Metro Classic in N.J.: Cassidy's takeaways after day one
VJ Edgecombe, a wing from Long Island, put on a show by going 12-for-15 from the field while scoring 31 points.
indiana.rivals.com
