The class of 2022 is set so attention has turned and gone full steam ahead to the class of 2023.
Indiana needs a big man in 2023 with guards' Jakai Newton and Gabe Cupps committed and the loss of Race Thompson and Trayce Jackson-Davis after next season.
The top two 'bigs' are Arrinten Page and Xavier Booker. The Hoosiers have made Page a priority during the first two live evaluation periods and have had at least one assistant at every game, including four-deep (with the inclusion of point guard Xavier Johnson as the fourth) for the second live period in Indianapolis.
Page is still taking things slow but continues to reiterate that his communication with Indiana is going well and they talk very consistently.
As for Booker, the in-state product is competing in the USA Basketball U18 tryouts this week in Houston. He has had a phenomenal spring, if not the best out of any prospect in the country. Our Rivals national analyst Rob Cassidy thinks Booker could crack the top-10 in the new Rivals150 when those are released in the next few weeks.
Here is what he said recently:
"You’d be hard-pressed to find a prospect that has had a better spring than Booker, who first came on the national radar last year around this time. The junior looks like a much different prospect now, as he’s gone from “intriguing long-term prospect” to “one of the best bigs in the country” in one calendar year. Booker has added an improved jumper from deep to a game that already included the ability to score inside and consistently block shots. He’s also seen his ball handling improve dramatically. The top 10 is not out of reach for the Indiana-based center."
Indiana has been one of the main groups in the second tier of his recruitment for some time now, but it seems to be changing. IU is starting to push harder for a visit this summer and that's not out of the question. Michigan State is the perceived leader at the moment, but sources confirm that's nowhere near a done deal and he is still very open.
We'll see what happens but Indiana is making it known that it wants to get a visit.
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As for the rest of the 2023 class, as noted in the Hot Board update last week, wings like Jamie Kaiser and TJ Power are clearly the top two wings that Indiana wants. Andrej Stojakovic is still someone that Mike Woodson is actively pursuing and trying to get to campus, but if we are talking truly realistic options, Stojakovic would probably be third out of those three.
Indiana is pushing shooting on the wing and that's why someone like Coen Carr has dropped on the board.
Carr has been out all spring with a finger injury and that really hurt him in terms of his recruitment with Indiana. He visited Indiana officially this spring but hasn't gone elsewhere since. Tennessee is a school to watch. He has visited Clemson and South Carolina is trying to push hard too.
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The Nike EYBL is back in the midwest this weekend taking place in Louisville. TheHoosier.com will be on site providing updates, analysis and more.
Here is a list of some notable players who are expected to be there: Arrinten Page (TSF), TJ Power (BABC), Brady Dunlap (Vegas Elite), KJ Evans (Team Durant), Coen Carr (Georgia Stars), Liam McNeeley (Drive Nation), Jalen Haralson (Indy Heat), Trent Sisley (Indy Heat), Kanon Catchings (Indy Heat) and more.
The event begins on Saturday and runs through Monday.
Here is the link to the schedule:
nikeeyb.com
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Smal note...
Obviously the news came out this week that Indiana would be taking part in the 2023 Empire Classic in New York with UConn, Texas and Louisville. That is yet another high profile set of matchups that Indiana will be taking part in over the next two seasons.
Mike Woodson also spoke at Huber's Winery on Wednesday and made it known he wants Louisville and Kentucky on the future schedule for either a home-and-home or neutral site matchup.
Here is more:
indiana.rivals.com
Indiana needs a big man in 2023 with guards' Jakai Newton and Gabe Cupps committed and the loss of Race Thompson and Trayce Jackson-Davis after next season.
The top two 'bigs' are Arrinten Page and Xavier Booker. The Hoosiers have made Page a priority during the first two live evaluation periods and have had at least one assistant at every game, including four-deep (with the inclusion of point guard Xavier Johnson as the fourth) for the second live period in Indianapolis.
Page is still taking things slow but continues to reiterate that his communication with Indiana is going well and they talk very consistently.
As for Booker, the in-state product is competing in the USA Basketball U18 tryouts this week in Houston. He has had a phenomenal spring, if not the best out of any prospect in the country. Our Rivals national analyst Rob Cassidy thinks Booker could crack the top-10 in the new Rivals150 when those are released in the next few weeks.
Here is what he said recently:
"You’d be hard-pressed to find a prospect that has had a better spring than Booker, who first came on the national radar last year around this time. The junior looks like a much different prospect now, as he’s gone from “intriguing long-term prospect” to “one of the best bigs in the country” in one calendar year. Booker has added an improved jumper from deep to a game that already included the ability to score inside and consistently block shots. He’s also seen his ball handling improve dramatically. The top 10 is not out of reach for the Indiana-based center."
Indiana has been one of the main groups in the second tier of his recruitment for some time now, but it seems to be changing. IU is starting to push harder for a visit this summer and that's not out of the question. Michigan State is the perceived leader at the moment, but sources confirm that's nowhere near a done deal and he is still very open.
We'll see what happens but Indiana is making it known that it wants to get a visit.
---
As for the rest of the 2023 class, as noted in the Hot Board update last week, wings like Jamie Kaiser and TJ Power are clearly the top two wings that Indiana wants. Andrej Stojakovic is still someone that Mike Woodson is actively pursuing and trying to get to campus, but if we are talking truly realistic options, Stojakovic would probably be third out of those three.
Indiana is pushing shooting on the wing and that's why someone like Coen Carr has dropped on the board.
Carr has been out all spring with a finger injury and that really hurt him in terms of his recruitment with Indiana. He visited Indiana officially this spring but hasn't gone elsewhere since. Tennessee is a school to watch. He has visited Clemson and South Carolina is trying to push hard too.
--
The Nike EYBL is back in the midwest this weekend taking place in Louisville. TheHoosier.com will be on site providing updates, analysis and more.
Here is a list of some notable players who are expected to be there: Arrinten Page (TSF), TJ Power (BABC), Brady Dunlap (Vegas Elite), KJ Evans (Team Durant), Coen Carr (Georgia Stars), Liam McNeeley (Drive Nation), Jalen Haralson (Indy Heat), Trent Sisley (Indy Heat), Kanon Catchings (Indy Heat) and more.
The event begins on Saturday and runs through Monday.
Here is the link to the schedule:
EYBL Schedule - Nike EYBL
nikeeyb.com
---
Smal note...
Obviously the news came out this week that Indiana would be taking part in the 2023 Empire Classic in New York with UConn, Texas and Louisville. That is yet another high profile set of matchups that Indiana will be taking part in over the next two seasons.
Mike Woodson also spoke at Huber's Winery on Wednesday and made it known he wants Louisville and Kentucky on the future schedule for either a home-and-home or neutral site matchup.
Here is more:
Mike Woodson discusses potential Kentucky and Louisville series
Mike Woodson was able to speak with the media at Huber's
