Indiana Reels In Monster Basketball Recruiting Class
November 9, 2011 - 9:11 pm by Ryan Phillips
It has been a tough few years in the land of the Hoosiers, as the Indiana University’s team has gone 28-66 over the first three years of the Tom Crean Era. Crean had the unenviable task of rebuilding the program from the smoking pile of rubble left by former head coach Kelvin Sampson.
Well, the three years of suffering have finally paid off as Crean and his staff have reeled in the best recruiting class the Big Ten has seen in years. Today as the early signing period opened for basketball recruits, the Hoosiers got all five of their verbal pledges to sign on the dotted line and agree to be part of the process of leading Indiana back to the promised land.
The class is headlined by five-star studs Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell and Hanner Perea. Ferrell is a point guard out of Indianapolis who is the No. 17 ranked player in the 2012 class according to Rivals.com, while Perea is a ridiculously athletic 6’8 power forward who is ranked 16th.
The class is rounded out by four-star small forward Jeremy Hollowell (No. 48), three-star shooting guard Ron Patterson (No. 131) and three-start seven-foot center Peter Jurkin.
The thing about this class that is remarkable, is Crean and company signed one player at each position on the floor, meaning that these guys won’t be taking playing time from each other. In addition to that, all five of them have played together in AAU ball for Indiana Elite, so they’re already used to each other, have chemistry on the floor with one another and obviously like each other if they’ve decided to play together for the next few years.
At one point during the process Patterson dubbed Indiana’s 2012 class “The Movement.” During his commitment ceremony on Wednesday he was asked what it meant and had a very simple answer: “It means hang banners and win championships.”
That has to be music to the ears of long-suffering Indiana fans because if anyone can bring glory back to the school it will be Crean and his 2012 class.
5 Responses to “Indiana Reels In Monster Basketball Recruiting Class”
Kudos to Crean and his staff for bringing in some top talent over the past couple of seasons. It is nice to see some momentum finally starting with the rebuilding process.
I’m a little disgusted, though, by “Hoosier Nation” with the “we didn’t need Gary Harris…” bullshit that I was reading yesterday on the blogs. Wow, sour grapes much, assholes? You bring in a monster recruiting haul and you blow off a potential lottery pick-talent guy because he didn’t think he’d see as much playing time? And I thought ND fans were nuts (and we are…).
Anyway, this makes me ponder picking up a BTN subscription again just so I can watch some Hoosier games. I think I’d really like to see Assembly Hall in HD…
By MJenks on Nov 10, 2011
While some Hoosier fans are definitely expressing a sour grapes attitude towards Harris I actually agree that we didn’t “need” him. He would have been a really nice get but the thing about the guys we did get is that they are all at least three-year players, have all played together in AAU ball for years and fit perfectly together on the floor. Adding Harris to the mix would have been wonderful but he wasn’t a “need.”
So while some were obviously upset that he chose Michigan State (honestly I can’t blame him for doing so) I honestly think him going there will be best for everyone involved because now (theoretically) none of the guys in the 2012 class will take playing time from each other. It really worked out perfectly for everyone.
By Ryan Phillips on Nov 10, 2011
The Hoosiers will have to go through Arizona to get there.
By tucsondon on Nov 10, 2011
Take alook at Kris Byrd,He is a freshmen at IU, waitting to walk on ,and tryout. You won’t be disapointed
By Ernest Byrd on Nov 14, 2011
I agree, with the amount of talent and positions filled in the class, Harris wasn’t a need. He would have been a great fit. I understand why he chose Michigan St and all.
The thing I found distasteful was the sour grapes attitude. It was probably more acerbic when he was still thinking about going to Purdue. Maybe that’s where most of it came from. I haven’t checked the Indiana boards since he announced he was headed to Michigan State, so maybe they’re “nicer” now? Less irrational, maybe?
By MJenks on Nov 14, 2011