Indiana's preseason is official over and the weekend stand in-between the program and the start of the regular season when Morehead state comes to Assembly Hall. We will have more on Morehead state this weekend, but for now it's recapping the two exhibitions.
They are exhibitions, so you can't take a ton away, but Indiana looks like the team everyone expects as the season gets going. Last night it defeated St. Francis 104-59 and while clearly the better and more athletic team, there were still some things to look at.
For starters, Indiana's freshmen are good. And not just good, but smart and very talented. That is something Indiana hasn't had in quite some time. The duo of Jalen Hood-Schifino and Malik Reneau look to be one of the better freshmen duos in the country, in my opinion. They are physically and mentally 'college-ready' which isn't always the case.
Here are a few key quotes about that duo this preseason:
Malik Reneau on his performances and role: "Just being an energizer off the bench and just showing that I'm able to do anything on the court, helping my team out with rebounding, posting up, stepping out and handing the ball on the perimeter. It's just showing that I can do a lot of stuff and just being a spark plug off the bench."
Malik Reneau on Hood-Schifino: "What you can expect from Jalen Hood-Schifino is just a leader, someone that's going to be there every day working hard every single day and ready to go. He has a pro bag. He gets to his spots. He's a very impressive player to me."
Mike Woodson on Hood-Schifino: "He's competing. He competed when we first started five months ago, and he's put himself in that position. You know, I didn't know who was going to start but you know, I thought having two guards that can handle the ball and make plays, and then you can take them out and play them with the second unit... But Jalen earned the right to start. He's put in the work."
Mike Woodson on both Reneau and Hood-Schifino: "That's going to come more and more with practicing games, but I thought tonight, everybody was pretty much on par in terms of how we defended. I look at Jalen and Malik, they came out of a system in Montverde that that coach is a damned good coach, and he pushes guys to play hard and do the right things on both ends of the floor. I think the transition for them coming in, especially for Jalen has been easy for him because the kid works.
"Malik, I thought tonight was fantastic. He did a lot of good things defensively. He rebounded the ball, and we know he can score the ball. So I mean, it was kind of nice. I mean, starting those two guys, first time at the college level, I thought they passed with flying colors tonight."
Jordan Geronimo on Malik Reneau: "Malik is a great man with a great touch, you know what I mean, and he can do everything, you know what I mean," IU forward Jordan Geronimo said. "As you've seen it, he can bring the ball up himself. He can shoot the ball. He can work in the post as you all saw tonight. Malik, he can do everything, you know what I mean, at I believe like 6-9, I think he's like 235. He's a monster down there."
More of my takeaways:
indiana.rivals.com
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Now to recruiting.
2024 four-star Combine Academy (NC) guard Rakease Passmore has his official visit to Indiana this weekend. He will be joined by his His guardian and step brother.
Originally, Passmore was going to be here for the season opener, but because of the dead period (Nov 7-10), he had to change that slightly. So his visit begins later today and will rap up on Sunday.
Passmore currently holds offers from programs like Indiana, Kansas, Tennessee, NC State, Illinois, Auburn, Oregon, Virginia, LSU, Memphis, Houston, Ole Miss and others.
Passmore is a 6-foot-5 guard who is a tremendous athlete. He is a big, physical guard who can get to the rim at will and when he does, is looking to finish through contact. He has good elevation and that is an added boost with his size and length. He has a very quick first step and turns the corner at will.
"Rakease is an electrifying two-way combo guard that is elite in transition and plays above the rim with NBA level athleticism," Combine assistant coach AJ Jones told TheHoosier. "High motor, tough defender that plays with an edge. True three level scorer who can score both on and off ball."
Indiana assistant coach Kenya Hunter visited Passmore earlier this week.
Passmore is ranked No. 48 in the Rivals150.
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2024 four-star 6-foot-11 big man Somto Cyril of Overtime Elite (GA) scheduled his official visit to Indiana earlier this week and it is set for next weekend Nov. 12.
Cyril holds offers from Kansas, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Memphis, Florida, Tennessee, Ole Miss and more. He is also a candidate to go the pro route.
Indiana assistant coach Yasir Rosemond is well connected in the Atlanta area and has visited Cyril a few times this summer and fall.
Cyril is an interesting prospect. Came to the US earlier this year and has emerged as one of the best forwards/center in the country. Sources have indicated that while the pro-route is an option, people around him think college is the better option. He is also a candidate for reclassifying. He's older for his grade and there is also a strong feeling he could move into the 2023 class.
Indiana is heavily interested in getting at least one 2023 big. Portal or reclassifying.
Indiana is very interested in Cyril and this visit is a very intriguing one at the moment. He has taken just one other one, to Cincinnati.
More on Cyril:
indiana.rivals.com
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2024 five-star guard from Don Bosco (NJ) Dylan Harper scheduled his official the other week to Indiana -- taking place the same weekend (Nov. 12) as Somto Cyril. A very big weekend with two top-30 prospects on campus.
I still remain a big hesitant on this one as sources I talk to continue to have Rutgers out in front and then Duke behind. He also took an official visit to Michigan.
We will see what comes of the visit, but obviously this was a big step in even having a shot in this recruitment.
More on Harper:
indiana.rivals.com
---
2024 three-star forward from Lutheran East (OH) Jesse McCulloch took an unofficial visit to Indiana a few weeks back. He is a 6-foot-9 skilled forward who likes to showcase his full skillset rather than be a traditional big.
He has taken visits to Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Virginia Tech in addition to Indiana.
At the moment, Michigan State seems to be in a good spot. Things can change, obviously, but I would put him on the back burner of your mind as it pertains to Indiana.
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Other names to continue to keep an eye on in the 2024 class are:
Five-star forward Asa Newell
Four-star guard Liam McNeeley
Four-star forward Derik Queen
Four-star forward Raleigh Burgess
Four-star guard Jaeden Mustaf
Three-star wing Caleb Williams.
I look at, as it stands today, those players in addition to the ones mentioned above are the group you should focus on in the 2024 class.
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Small note...
I truly think this Indiana team is going to be very good. My expectations were pretty high before the season, but after seeing how some of the pieces fit into the roster through two games, I really do this is a Big Ten title team.
Long time before now and then, so temper expectations. But, this is the best and most talented Indiana team in nearly a decade, in my opinion.
They are exhibitions, so you can't take a ton away, but Indiana looks like the team everyone expects as the season gets going. Last night it defeated St. Francis 104-59 and while clearly the better and more athletic team, there were still some things to look at.
For starters, Indiana's freshmen are good. And not just good, but smart and very talented. That is something Indiana hasn't had in quite some time. The duo of Jalen Hood-Schifino and Malik Reneau look to be one of the better freshmen duos in the country, in my opinion. They are physically and mentally 'college-ready' which isn't always the case.
Here are a few key quotes about that duo this preseason:
Malik Reneau on his performances and role: "Just being an energizer off the bench and just showing that I'm able to do anything on the court, helping my team out with rebounding, posting up, stepping out and handing the ball on the perimeter. It's just showing that I can do a lot of stuff and just being a spark plug off the bench."
Malik Reneau on Hood-Schifino: "What you can expect from Jalen Hood-Schifino is just a leader, someone that's going to be there every day working hard every single day and ready to go. He has a pro bag. He gets to his spots. He's a very impressive player to me."
Mike Woodson on Hood-Schifino: "He's competing. He competed when we first started five months ago, and he's put himself in that position. You know, I didn't know who was going to start but you know, I thought having two guards that can handle the ball and make plays, and then you can take them out and play them with the second unit... But Jalen earned the right to start. He's put in the work."
Mike Woodson on both Reneau and Hood-Schifino: "That's going to come more and more with practicing games, but I thought tonight, everybody was pretty much on par in terms of how we defended. I look at Jalen and Malik, they came out of a system in Montverde that that coach is a damned good coach, and he pushes guys to play hard and do the right things on both ends of the floor. I think the transition for them coming in, especially for Jalen has been easy for him because the kid works.
"Malik, I thought tonight was fantastic. He did a lot of good things defensively. He rebounded the ball, and we know he can score the ball. So I mean, it was kind of nice. I mean, starting those two guys, first time at the college level, I thought they passed with flying colors tonight."
Jordan Geronimo on Malik Reneau: "Malik is a great man with a great touch, you know what I mean, and he can do everything, you know what I mean," IU forward Jordan Geronimo said. "As you've seen it, he can bring the ball up himself. He can shoot the ball. He can work in the post as you all saw tonight. Malik, he can do everything, you know what I mean, at I believe like 6-9, I think he's like 235. He's a monster down there."
More of my takeaways:
Quick Hitters: Takeaways from Indiana's two exhibitions
Following its preseason wrap-up on Thursday, here are some of the main takeaways from Indiana's exhibition games.
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Now to recruiting.
2024 four-star Combine Academy (NC) guard Rakease Passmore has his official visit to Indiana this weekend. He will be joined by his His guardian and step brother.
Originally, Passmore was going to be here for the season opener, but because of the dead period (Nov 7-10), he had to change that slightly. So his visit begins later today and will rap up on Sunday.
Passmore currently holds offers from programs like Indiana, Kansas, Tennessee, NC State, Illinois, Auburn, Oregon, Virginia, LSU, Memphis, Houston, Ole Miss and others.
Passmore is a 6-foot-5 guard who is a tremendous athlete. He is a big, physical guard who can get to the rim at will and when he does, is looking to finish through contact. He has good elevation and that is an added boost with his size and length. He has a very quick first step and turns the corner at will.
"Rakease is an electrifying two-way combo guard that is elite in transition and plays above the rim with NBA level athleticism," Combine assistant coach AJ Jones told TheHoosier. "High motor, tough defender that plays with an edge. True three level scorer who can score both on and off ball."
Indiana assistant coach Kenya Hunter visited Passmore earlier this week.
Passmore is ranked No. 48 in the Rivals150.
---
2024 four-star 6-foot-11 big man Somto Cyril of Overtime Elite (GA) scheduled his official visit to Indiana earlier this week and it is set for next weekend Nov. 12.
Cyril holds offers from Kansas, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Memphis, Florida, Tennessee, Ole Miss and more. He is also a candidate to go the pro route.
Indiana assistant coach Yasir Rosemond is well connected in the Atlanta area and has visited Cyril a few times this summer and fall.
Cyril is an interesting prospect. Came to the US earlier this year and has emerged as one of the best forwards/center in the country. Sources have indicated that while the pro-route is an option, people around him think college is the better option. He is also a candidate for reclassifying. He's older for his grade and there is also a strong feeling he could move into the 2023 class.
Indiana is heavily interested in getting at least one 2023 big. Portal or reclassifying.
Indiana is very interested in Cyril and this visit is a very intriguing one at the moment. He has taken just one other one, to Cincinnati.
More on Cyril:
Top-30 center Somto Cyril has Indiana official visit scheduled
The Indiana basketball program is receiving an official visit from 2024 four-star center Somto Cyril.
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2024 five-star guard from Don Bosco (NJ) Dylan Harper scheduled his official the other week to Indiana -- taking place the same weekend (Nov. 12) as Somto Cyril. A very big weekend with two top-30 prospects on campus.
I still remain a big hesitant on this one as sources I talk to continue to have Rutgers out in front and then Duke behind. He also took an official visit to Michigan.
We will see what comes of the visit, but obviously this was a big step in even having a shot in this recruitment.
More on Harper:
2024 top-10 prospect Dylan Harper sets official visit to Indiana
Class of 2024 five-star prospect Dylan Harper has set an official visit to Indiana.
---
2024 three-star forward from Lutheran East (OH) Jesse McCulloch took an unofficial visit to Indiana a few weeks back. He is a 6-foot-9 skilled forward who likes to showcase his full skillset rather than be a traditional big.
He has taken visits to Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Virginia Tech in addition to Indiana.
At the moment, Michigan State seems to be in a good spot. Things can change, obviously, but I would put him on the back burner of your mind as it pertains to Indiana.
---
Other names to continue to keep an eye on in the 2024 class are:
Five-star forward Asa Newell
Four-star guard Liam McNeeley
Four-star forward Derik Queen
Four-star forward Raleigh Burgess
Four-star guard Jaeden Mustaf
Three-star wing Caleb Williams.
I look at, as it stands today, those players in addition to the ones mentioned above are the group you should focus on in the 2024 class.
---
Small note...
I truly think this Indiana team is going to be very good. My expectations were pretty high before the season, but after seeing how some of the pieces fit into the roster through two games, I really do this is a Big Ten title team.
Long time before now and then, so temper expectations. But, this is the best and most talented Indiana team in nearly a decade, in my opinion.
