Illinois State gets a new commit

[Da Coach]

Austin Hill, a 6'1" shooting guard from Southeastern Illinois College takes ISU's last available scholarship. He averaged 15.2 ppg and shot 34.4% on threes, but he only made 21 threes all year (21/61)-

http://pantagraph.com/articles/2009/...9054608039.txt

http://www.sicfalcons.com/roster/5/4/15.php

[tornado]

That is interesting....because I think Bradley knew about Austin Hill while he was in high school at Covington Holmes...but Hill wasn't going to qualify and went to juco.

But BU began to get interested in another kid from Covington Holmes recently, and have kept an eye on him ever since.
Bradley has offered Covington Holmes' Ricardo Johnson who led his team in the Ky State tourney and was the State Tourney MVP over Vee Sanford.

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11882

http://nkysportsblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/ricardo-johnson-receives-first-offer.html

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20090322/SPT0302/903220384/

[meth]

ISU has a six man recruiting class, that's a lot of new players. Then they have Hill, Robinson, Mishler, and Thornton who are also all essentially new guys as well.
I notice most are wing players and shooting guards. None is a true point guard nor a center, so they all overlap at the same positions.
Johnson is the one they say is a point guard but he was 4th on his own team in assists, and yet took more shots than anyone else on North Lawndale, even though he wasn't the leading scorer.
OE, Odiakosa, and Phillips (if he's still there) are starters, but who else. It'll be interesting, as I am surprised he didn't go for some experienced junior college big kid instead of so many freshmen.

[OrangeandBlack74]

I would think if Bobby Hill is healthy, he will start at one of the forward positions.

[Da Coach]

I assume you mean Bobby Hill, because this new commit, Austin Hill at 6'1" is clearly a shooting guard. I agree, that if Bobby Hill is back to 100% he should see a lot of opportunity to play at a forward position. Jeremy Robinson and Kellen Thornton are their freshmen big men who didn't play much this year, but will get a chance next year. And they just got a commit from Jackie Carmichael, a prep school big man (6'9", 230 lbs).

My inside source for ISU says Bobby Hill is a bit of a question mark as he had a setback with his knee, and may not be ready to play big minutes next season.

[OrangeandBlack74]

I assume you mean Bobby Hill, because this new commit, Austin Hill at 6'1" is clearly a shooting guard. I agree, that if Bobby Hill is back to 100% he should see a lot of opportunity to play at a forward position. Jeremy Robinson and Kellen Thornton are their freshmen big men who didn't play much this year, but will get a chance next year. And they just got a commit from Jackie Carmichael, a prep school big man (6'9", 230 lbs).

My inside source for ISU says Bobby Hill is a bit of a question mark as he had a setback with his knee, and may not be ready to play big minutes next season.

Yes, I meant Bobby Hill, and edited my post to reflect my intent.

[RedbirdFan21]

My inside source for ISU says Bobby Hill is a bit of a question mark as he had a setback with his knee, and may not be ready to play big minutes next season.

He is a HUGE questions mark... After he had ACL surgery in June, he had minor set back in January and then was practice on a regular basis in February before rupturing his Patella Tendon in February and requiring more surgery. It was pretty commonly accepted that he was going to redshirt anyway, but this was an addition and seperate injury that obviosuly set him back.

If he is healthy, he and Dimna will start with Kellen and J-Rob backing up both of them.... if he is not, one or both of them will have to step up and play big time minutes... Kellen seems to have the inside track as he is a year older (prep school before ISU) and a little more experience but they have both show flashes that they can be successful in the limited minutes they have played...

Not that Kellen and Jeremy are "knowns" but the big unknowns will be if Blake Mishler or Jackie Carmichael can contribute if need be. It is safe to assume Mishler would probably be "more ready" since he has been practicing with the team for a year and a half now...