Already, the prized Indiana recruiting classes of 2011 and 2012 have established a winning foundation prior to their arrival in Bloomington this summer and the following.
Since November, it’s hard to be down about the state of Indiana basketball.
With the 2011 Hoosier team losing its first game in the Big Ten Tournament and receiving no postseason bid, that’s saying quite a lot.
What started off as a home-run signing with the Cody Zeller commitment has turned into an all-out domino effect-an effect that still may not be over and has since been tabbed “The Movement”.
Since Zeller’s recruitment concluded with him choosing Indiana over Butler and North Carolina last November, La Lumiere’s Hanner Perea, Park Tudor’s Kevin Ferrell, and Lawrence Central’s Jeremy Hollowell have all notched a four year stay in Bloomington in the class of 2012. In the class of 2013, Cathedral’s Collin Hartman and Warren Central’s Devin Davis have also given their verbal pledge to Indiana.
What should be even more reassuring for Hoosier fans is that already, there are a combined four state championships in this group, with four more possible next year. Zeller and the Washington Hatchets won their third championship in four years last weekend at Conseco Fieldhouse, while Ferrell and the Panthers avenged last year’s defeat in the 2A championship.
Perea, Ferrell, Hollowell and early signee Ron Patterson of Broad Ripple all have a shot at 2012 state championships.
Right now, about the only thing that could go better for the Hoosiers would be the eventual commitment of maybe the top player in the 2012 class, Hamilton Southeastern’s Gary Harris. Michigan State and Purdue are all said to be at the top of his list as well.
Harris, a wide receiver on the Royals’ football team, has multiple football offers from Division I schools, including Indiana.
When looking for a word to describe these two classes, winning should be the first that comes to mind.
“It’s definitely fun winning it,” Zeller said after his team’s 61-46 win over Culver on March 26. “It’s better every time. I wouldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaches.”
It seems like it really can’t get better for most Indiana fans around the state.
The reality is that maybe it can.
Below is a video from DraftExpress.com from the McDonald’s All-American game.
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THIS will be the greatest sports story ever told!!!
Coach Crean has undoubtedly proven he can recruit but can he coach. That’s what I love about watching Butler. He develop players and they are leaps and bounds better each year. Too bad we lost out on Matt Howard because I wish he was wearing cream and crimson.