The next few days will loom as big ones for IU basketball in its efforts to recruit players from the 2026 high school class. If DeVries fails to sign either one of Thompson, Karvala or Diane a number of naysayers will surface.
Which really doesnt matter at all.... a number of naysayers will surface.
But it could be good if start the season hot, help get some buzz going for recruiting.
help get some buzz going for recruiting.
Just my 2 cents. FB has proven that it doesn't require allowing to be held hostage by a 18yr old wanting $2mil to be successful. If, as the coach, felt I was being held hostage. by anyone, then I would know that the culture simply doesn't fit with what I want to build.
I also know that it takes talent, soooo?
Morally Flexible. Kinda.
@openwheel Yes sir. Winning is the remedy for fan negativity. I'm interested but don't get over hyped about the recruiting.
Just my 2 cents. FB has proven that it doesn't require allowing to be held hostage by a 18yr old wanting $2mil to be successful. If, as the coach, felt I was being held hostage. by anyone, then I would know that the culture simply doesn't fit with what I want to build.
I also know that it takes talent, soooo?
Recruits have always tried to exert leverage. Guaranteed starting position, or my HS buddy is part of the package, or you hire my dad or my HS coach as an assistant, or my family back home gets taken care of, etc. Now it's the size of the bag.
Ultimately, a coach wants talented players that buy into the culture he's attempting to create. Trent Sisley may well be one of those types of players but to find and sign such kids is a difficult task.
I'm excited about Sisley. He has really developed in the last year. Looks like he might be a big time college player.
@openwheel Unfortunately, his decision to leave Heritage Hills, and spend a year at Monteverde was probably instrumental in that accelerated development. For higher end players, especially ones with some size, there's just no getting around how much more college prep and development kids get at these Bball factory academies.
And I hate it, because I love Indiana high school basketball more than most.
@iunorth Very excited to see Trent play. After watching him at that Rock Hill AAU event, I thought it would take a couple years to develop him into a consistent guy who saw regular minutes. I really thought he had a long way to go defensively, so I think the year at Montverde really helped him a ton.
@kkott Same. Suprising me how good he's gotten in the last 12 months. Hope it continues against the good teams on our schedule.
@iunorth One of the most consistent things I noticed from the IU media day, was almost every players response to a question I think Coyle was asking everyone (who besides yourself has shown the most improvement this summer?). I'd say 75% or more of the players I heard said Sisley.
Anthony Thompson is announcing at 10:00 am. I would be very, very surprised if he chooses anyone but Ohio State. The Buckeyes are the home-state school and have a rumored offer of 3 million dollars on the table. Indiana has made the decision (a wise one, in my opinion) that they will not be matching that. No one knows for sure but again, I'd be stunned if it were Indiana.
Obviously, "missing" on Allmond and Ethan Taylor and it appears on Thompson is not ideal but Indiana had values on those guys and the market dictated they were going to be paid more than what IU valued them at. So how does IU fill the 2026 class? Prince Alexander-Moody is committed and I think the Hoosiers could get Vaughn Karvala (top 50 wing) if they choose to push. Beyond that, maybe an international prospect or two and then you would think they'd be in position to have a lot of capital to spend in the transfer portal because they chose not to spend it on the 2026 class.
Anthony Thompson chose Ohio State. Most everyone is saying Taylor to MSU is a formality, at this point. While I don't think missing out on these prospects, singularly, is a huge deal. Especially if the main driver is money. I don't think it can be spun that missing out on ALL of them isn't concerning. Hard to believe that CDD would take the recruitments that far, with all those kids, host some of them on visits, etc... if he didn't value them and want them in the program. If IU isn't in a position to pay the going rate for guys that CDD wants, then that isn't good... no matter how you look at it.
@openwheel Unfortunately, his decision to leave Heritage Hills, and spend a year at Monteverde was probably instrumental in that accelerated development. For higher end players, especially ones with some size, there's just no getting around how much more college prep and development kids get at these Bball factory academies.
And I hate it, because I love Indiana high school basketball more than most.
You can thank Woody for Trent heading to Montverde. Maybe the only good thing he left…