Post-2009 Hoosier Recruiting

As promised, let's take a look at where Tom Crean's staff is turning their attention in recruiting now that the 2009 class is seemingly wrapped up. With the self-imposed sanctions upheld by the NCAA, IU will have limited scholarships to work with after having to immediately rebuild the program from shambles with two sizeable classes. IU will lose only former walk-on Kyle Taber to gradutation, and there is always a likelihood that some players will not return. With that said, the belief is that Crean would like to add three players for the 2010 class. Here are some of the options that Coach Crean has, players on IU's recruiting radar who have mutual interest.

Kids with HIGH Interest in IU

Kyrie Irving (6'1" PG/SG, St. Patrick's HS, NJ)- Irving is a consensus top 50 player. He is a 'tweener as a player, and is more of a scoring guard with handles rather than a pure point man. Irving has visitied IU unofficially and has high interest in the Hoosiers. His pursuit by IU began, again, with Coach McCleod's connections in New Jersey. Crean has made Irving one of his top priorities in this class. The Hoosiers' main competition for Irving is coming from Villinova, Memphis, Notre Dame, Kansas, and Pittsburgh.

Brandon Mobley (6'9" PF, Windsor Forest HS, GA)- A versatile big man with superior athleticism, Mobley seems to fit nicely in to the Tom Crean mold for bigs. Brandon claims to be ambidextrious, able to score with either hand effectively around the rim. Mobley calls Indiana his clear leader, and was tempted to commit to them before his mother asked him to wait and test the recruiting process a bit more. He is an under-the-radar type of kid, but is expected to rise in the rankings, and his ability is apparent by schools like Cincy, Clemson, Georgia, and Memphis courting his services. He played on the same AAU team as current IU commit Christian Watford, so he hears good things about IU from him. Again, Mobley has forged a connection with Roshown McCleod, which is one of the main things IU has going for them in his recruitment.

Aaron Cosby (6'4" SG, Jeffersontown HS, KY)- Cosby, another unofficial visitor to IU, has high interest in the Hoosiers, as well as Tubby Smith's Minnesota Golden Gophers. The former UMass commit visited Bloomington for Hoosier Hysteria this fall, and was very impressed. Besides offers from these two teams, he has offers from Oklahoma State, Miami (OH), and Western Kentucky, and interest from several high profile schools.

Kids with MODERATE Interest in IU

Lavonte Dority (6'3" PG, Foreman HS, IL)- Dority at one time called IU his leader. He has an offer from the Hoosiers and is looking at several other schools, including DePaul, Illinois, Wisconsin, and others.

Stacey Poole (6'3" SG, Jacksonville Raines HS, FL)- Poole has an IU offer, and is looking at the three top state schools, and other schools in the south. He is a top 100 player.

Robert Goff (6'9" PF, Cowley County C.C., KS)- The former Broad Ripple standout, now a JUCO option, is another guy the Hoosiers are interested in. His grades and overall raw skill set forced him into the JUCO route, but his development is good enough to intrigue top teams. The thought is that Goff would love to return home to Indiana to play for the Hoosiers, but he will probably be one Crean will wait around on.

Donnie Hale (6'8" PF, New Albany HS, IN)- Hale is a very versatile player, who can defend player much bigger with his Tayshaun Prince-like reach. He is very slight of build and will have to get stronger. IU's main competition for Hale will be Purdue and Xavier.

Kids with LOW Interest in IU, or LONGSHOTS

Harrison Barnes (6'6" SF, Ames Senior HS, IA)- With offers from national powers like Duke, UNC, Kansas, Texas, and UCLA, the rebuilding Hoosiers will be hard pressed to steal Barnes, a top 5 talent, away from these perennial contenders.

Josh Smith (6'10" C, Kentwood HS, WA)- Smith, with offers from EVERYONE, is another top 5 talent. He has an NBA ready body, although he could slim down a bit. He has an array of post moves with which he physically overpowers the competition. It will take a miracle to get him off the West Coast.

Ray McCallum (6'2" PG, Detroit Country Day HS, MI)- Once a shoe-in to be a Hoosier as the son of the former IU assistant of the same name, the younger McCallum will be tough to get into the candy striped pants. It is clear that his dad left IU on less than great terms, so bridges will have to be rebuilt on this one. He is a top 100 talent who is currently favoring Kansas and his dad's (and Eli Holman's) new school, Detroit.

Other Indiana Kids with IU Interest

Jesse Berry (6'1" PG, Lafeyette Jefferson HS, IN)- Berry, who poured in 51 points in his season opener, is on IU's radar.

Jordan Manuel (6'8" SF, Pike HS, IN)- Manuel, the TC Howe Academy transfer, is a versatile player who can do a little bit of everything. He will find a D1 home, but IU is a longshot.

DeShaun Thomas (6'6" SF, Ft. Wayne Bishop Luers HS, IN)- Thomas, an Ohio State commit, has wavered in the past on his verbal pledge to Thad Matta's Buckeyes. He is currently solid with his choice, but the nature of verbals are dicey, and Thomas is a top ten talent who Tom Crean would love to have.