2011 Indiana Basketball Recruiting Recap

Today is the last day of the late signing period, meaning barring some last-minute bargaining, Indiana’s D1 Universities are finished recruiting.  Here’s how I rank the classes. (Note: Star Rankings go by Scout, then Rivals, then ESPN. NR gets 1 star)

1. Indiana

PF Cody Zeller – * * * * *

SF Austin Etherington – * * *

SG/SF Remy Abell – * * *

NOTES:  Next year’s class is actually IU’s best, but this one is solid as well.  IU fans shouldn’t expect Zeller to come in right away and turn the program around, however.  As witnessed by his brother, it takes some time for the big man to be ready.  Etherington and Abell are decent pickups, but it will be interesting to see if they can contribute at the Big 10 level.  Right now, that is of some concern.

2. Notre Dame

SF Patrick Connaughton – * * * *

PF Eric Katenda –  * * *

NOTES: Connaughton is certainly the prize of this class for ND, who also had offers to BC, Miami(FLA), and Minnesota.  Katenda is a lankier PF, with offers to Iowa, GT, Michigan and Wake Forest.  Replacing Ben Hansbrough will be a chore to say the least, as Notre Dame is likely to fall back a couple notches this year in the Big East.

3. Butler

PG Jackson Aldridge –  * * *

SF Roosevelt Jones – * * *

PF Andrew Smeathers –  * * *

PF Kameron Woods – * * *

NOTES: This may be Butler’s most solid class since they got Matt Howard.  Roosevelt Jones is a big time recruit, making it just past the Rivals top 100, and is expected to push for the starting lineup the moment he steps on campus.  Smeathers is your typical Butler player, hard nosed, can shoot well, and Woods is a nice body inside to complement Smith and Marshall.

4. Purdue

PF Jacob Lawson – * * *

PF Donnie Hale – * * *

NOTES: While Purdue didn’t catch the world by surprise with this year’s class they did a good job of filling needs.  Purdue is dreadfully thin at big men, and they got a couple of nice prospects here.  PU offered both of these guys early, so they didn’t get many offers from other teams.  Lawson could make a push for solid playing time his freshman year, as Travis Carroll is the only big Boiler with experience.

5. Indiana State

PF Justin Gant – * * *

NOTES: It’s looking like just 1 commit for 2012 for Indiana State, and they got their big target from Terre Haute to stay home.  ISU’s done a great job in the past of getting solid Terre Haute HS players to play for them, and Gant is no different.  Gant had an offer from Iowa, and many solid mid-majors, but will join ISU, who made the tournament last year, in the fall.

6. Ball State

PG Zeke Chapman – * *

PF Aaron Adeoye – * *

NOTES: Similar to IU and ISU, Ball State has much more attention geared towards 2012 than 2011.  Billy Taylor managed to work some late recruiting magic.  Adeoye was Illinois’ plan C.  They ended up getting their plan B. Zeke Chapman, the son of Suns great Rex Chapman looks like a great late find.  Chapman was recruited to UCLA, Zona, ASU, and Stanford his sophomore year, but missed all Jr year with ankle surgery.  That’s when the big boys backed off.  He also attended NBA’s top 100 prospects camp.  Chapman had offers from UAB and Utah St among others.

7. IUPUI

G Ian Chiles – JUCO

G Jordan Shanklin – * *

F Lionell Gaines – *

NOTES: The JUCO Ian Chiles was the big get for the Jaguars.  Chiles also held an offer from Wright State, but chose IUPUI due to his connection with new coach Howard.  Shanklin held many low-major offers, so he was a decent get for the Jags.  Gaines is a big body that could help down low.

8. Valparaiso

PF Dino Jakolis – * *

PF Justin Edwards – *

NOTES: Valparaiso is going to be in a big time rebuilding year.  They lost star forward Cory Johnson to graduation, and Horizon League first team G Brandon Wood will transfer to Michigan State.  Jakolis is a native of Croatia, and while no other offers, could surprise some people and be a solid force for VU in the future.  Edwards is a JUCO, with Valpo his only offer.

9. IPFW

SF Mike Brigham –  *

PF Demario Hines – *

PG Jonny Marlin –  *

NOTES:  I will say it here first, Jonny Marlin is going to surprise some people.  Marlin was arguably one of the top 5 players in Indiana this past year at Center Grove.  He’s the proverbial too tiny, too small, not athletic enough PG, and I think will be a nice player for IPFW. Damario Hines had an offer to Robert Morris as a JUCO, and Brigham, another JUCO had an E. Tenn. St. offer.

10. Evansville

SG Jordan Nelson – *

PF Dustin Clements – *

NOTES: Evansville had a rough year, losing a lot of recruits to Horizon League teams.  Nelson is a SG with his only offer being UE.  Clements is a big man JUCO transfer, who got a look from Utah State, but his only offer came from Evansville as well.

All Indiana Recruits 1st team:

PG Zeke Chapman – BSU

SG Remy Abell – IU

SF Patrick Connaughton – ND

PF Jacob Lawson – PU

C Cody Zeller – IU

 

All Indiana Recruits 2nd team

PG Ian Chiles – IUPUI

G/F Roosevelt Jones – Butler

SF Austin Etherington – IU

PF Justin Gant – ISU

C Eric Katenda – ND