I.U.’s Recruiting Class

The Indianapolis Star ran an article today about Indiana Basketball’s recruiting class. You can read the entire article on their website, but here’s how the article opened. Good news for what Tom Crean is doing with the program.

It has been a month but Indiana coach Tom Crean finally was able to sit down, surrounded by his coaching staff Thursday, and talk about the six members of his most recent recruiting class that signed national letters of intent last month. Collectively, the group is ranked as the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation by both rivals.com and scout.com

By now, every IU fan knows a little bit about the group. Here’s a quick synopsis:

*** Devin Davis, 6-6, 200, Forward, Indianapolis (Warren Central)

*** Luke Fischer, 6-11, 215, Center, Germantown, Wis. (Germantown)

*** Collin Hartman, 6-6, 185, Forward, Indianapolis (Cathedral)

*** Stanford Robinson, 6-4, 185, Guard, Fairfax, Va. (Findlay Prep)

*** Noah Vonleh, 6-9, 220, Power Forward, Haverhill Mass. (New Hampton Prep)

*** Troy Williams, 6-6, 190, Small Forward, Hampton, Va. (Oak Hill Academy)

USJN Toledo Blue Star Media Recap

The Cincinnati Angels finished 3-1 over Memorial Day weekend at the USJN Toledo Tournament.  Mark Lewis of Blue Star Media was there providing a few twitter updates which helped those of us who couldn’t get up north for the games.  He had a nice recap of the weekend and featured a couple of Angels players, including my favorite one on the team.  Here’s what he wrote about them specifically.  You can read all of this thoughts on the Blue Star Media site.

The Cincy Angels may have not had a full roster nor did they play their best basketball but its hard not to still take notice of the talent on hand.  Swing player Sydney Brackemyre (Harveysburg, Ohio – 2014) already has major offers on the table but there could be plenty more knocking once July rolls around.  Combining good size at 6-1 with strength and skills makes her a tough assignment defensively.  The ballhandling is there to get to the rim but the form and range will force tight closeouts as well.  There’s a patience to her game on the catch that allows her to read and break down defenders.  The tools are there to defend both the forward and wing spot and she has the agility to be a factor in pressing situations.  Brackemyre is already well suited for the college game and what she does the next two years will determine just how far she can take her game and at what level.

Brackemyre wasn’t the only standout for the Cincy Angels.  Point guard and recent St. Bonaventure commit Imani Outlaw (Cincinnati, Ohio – 2013) demonstrated the game that has Jim Crowley’s staff excited up in Olean.  The 5-8 Outlaw was on constant attack and made things happen both off the drive and from the perimeter.  Using her explosive first step she got by on ball defenders time and again converting at the rim and from a consistent pull up.  She also added several deep jumpers that forced opponents to commit to containing one element of her attack or the other.  Defensively her physical strength offsets any lack of size and allows her to contain and steer opposing ballhandlers.

First Unoffical Visit

If you have been reading much of this blog, I’ve posted a number of things from my daughter’s basketball endeavors and accomplishments.  She experienced a successful summer with her Cincinnati Angels teammates and from that, had exposure to college coaches.  Playing in the OGBR Top 64 also gave her the opportunity to get in front of college scouts again.

This weekend we make our first unofficial visit to a college basketball program.  We have another one lined up for next weekend and a few coaches are coming to watch her at her high school practices or games.

This is all brand-new for us and obviously, pretty exciting. Syd’s desire is to play at the next level and she has been working hard toward that.  We are looking forward to seeing what doors open up for her.

For now we will get as much info as we can and she will continue working on her game.  Be interesting to see what the next few months have in store.