John Wilkins to visit isu this weekend

[thefish7]

Maybe we should start pursuing Cody Larson.

[Da Coach]

He would be a nice MVC player.

[tornado]

Here is another big man (juco) that just reversed his commitment to Valparaiso, and it is reported that Indiana is hotly pursuing him, too.
http://midstatehoops.com/v5/?p=4910

Hmm...this kid's stats actually pale in comparison to the freshman stats of Breland McKnight a couple years ago at ICC...
but then I guess we were told by someone on another board that McKnight was being heavily (no pun intended) recruited by Bobby Knight and Texas Tech...

anyway - in the daily dose of Hoosier silliness...even the die hard Indiana fans are tiring a little of Crean chasing every single recruit known to man, offering most of those living in the western hemisphere, and yet still landing nobody so far but guys like Tijan Jobe (3 ppg scorer at juco), and this year's guys Oladipo & Sheehey - both 3-Star, mid-major caliber player...
Even when he had a truckload of decent recruits for 2009 and had a TOP 10 recruiting class, only one really panned out, and now he's trying to recruit over the others...

Speaking of recruiting over....every kid at D-I has to know, the coach will always be trying to "recruit over" you - so that's your incentive to work & be better than those guys coming in after you...

BUT -- in Crean's case it's different as he said publically at a post game press conference that he was tired of all his kids being lazy and playing no defense, so he actually vowed to go out and land someone/anyone and play them over the guys he already had.
In other words...he flatly said that no matter who he went out & got that they'd replace the lazy guys he had in his Top 10 recruiting class!

That's actually more of slam against his current players ...so is it any wonder a couple of future recruits have already said they don't want to play for Crean.
Are you listening, JW?

[CubbieBear]

Jeff Wilkins certainly can be considered number 2 at ISU.

It has nothing to do with being the conference leading scorer, etc. It has to do with being one of the all time greats at ISU, regardless of where that ranks you nationally or in a conference.

By the way, ISU wasn't D1 when Marberry played there. Difficult to bring that comparison. And I'd venture to say that ISU had more talent during the Wilkins era than lots of MVC teams.

Probably true...I remember him being very good, and their team as being very good. Looking in their archives, they were an Independant (like Notre Dame) and had Rick Whitlow, Roger Powell, Billy Lewis, Bubbles Hawkins etc. on their roster, and some of the teams they played while Wilkins was there included Ball State, West Virginia, Butler, Marshall, UNLV, Oral Roberts, St. Louis, Florida State, Pacific, South Alabama, Drake, Indiana State, SIU, and us...maybe a BETTER schedule than they have now

[Future Walk-On]

Hmm...this kid's stats actually pale in comparison to the freshman stats of Breland McKnight a couple years ago at ICC...
but then I guess we were told by someone on another board that McKnight was being heavily (no pun intended) recruited by Bobby Knight and Texas Tech...

anyway - in the daily dose of Hoosier silliness...even the die hard Indiana fans are tiring a little of Crean chasing every single recruit known to man, offering most of those living in the western hemisphere, and yet still landing nobody so far but guys like Tijan Jobe (3 ppg scorer at juco), and this year's guys Oladipo & Sheehey - both 3-Star, mid-major caliber player...
Even when he had a truckload of decent recruits for 2009 and had a TOP 10 recruiting class, only one really panned out, and now he's trying to recruit over the others...

Speaking of recruiting over....every kid at D-I has to know, the coach will always be trying to "recruit over" you - so that's your incentive to work & be better than those guys coming in after you...

BUT -- in Crean's case it's different as he said publically at a post game press conference that he was tired of all his kids being lazy and playing no defense, so he actually vowed to go out and land someone/anyone and play them over the guys he already had.
In other words...he flatly said that no matter who he went out & got that they'd replace the lazy guys he had in his Top 10 recruiting class!

That's actually more of slam against his current players ...so is it any wonder a couple of future recruits have already said they don't want to play for Crean.
Are you listening, JW?

I wouldn't consider asking his players to play defense a "slam"

So you are saying "don't go to Indiana JW if you want a coach that wants you to not be lazy"...

EDIT: If you wanted to hear a "slam"...you should have listened to Bruce Weber on the 1290 AM post game show after their loss to Dayton to end their season.

[SFP]

I wouldn't consider asking his players to play defense a "slam"

So you are saying "don't go to Indiana JW if you want a coach that wants you to not be lazy"...

I believe what T was saying is if you want a coach that will do all that he can do to recruit over you (no loyalty to anyone but himself) and call you out in the press instead of doing things as a team behind doors, then head to IU. It is not secret that Crean over recruits and does not care what he says about his players to the press. It's his style like it or not!

[Future Walk-On]

I believe what T was saying is if you want a coach that will do all that he can do to recruit over you (no loyalty to anyone but himself) and call you out in the press instead of doing things as a team behind doors, then head to IU. It is not secret that Crean over recruits and does not care what he says about his players to the press. It's his style like it or not!

I guess everyone just needs to step it up!

Yeah I always have felt that individual players should not be brought up to the press.

[tornado]

ah ha...I am hearing some rumbles of an interesting ploy ISU is using to snag Wilkins.....gotta wonder if they've been reading this board...

[JMM28]

ah ha...I am hearing some rumbles of an interesting ploy ISU is using to snag Wilkins.....gotta wonder if they've been reading this board...

Retiring Pop's jersey while young Junior Wilkins is playing his first home game at that terrible basketball facility..that'd be quaint...maybe theyll even let the young Wilkins wear the number too..how cute. Or maybe I am thinking the wrong direction..?

Gag me.

Jersey retired at ISU = a womans underpants nailed to the ceiling in a bar.

[BUfan14]

I don't know maybe I am just biased, but I don't understand of the 4 teams why BU isn't by far the best option even if you take the fans and support and who wants him worst (you know that is BU fans) out of it.

Iowa St. is in the cellar with a coach on the hot seat.

Indiana is way in the deep dark corner of the cellar with a coach on the hot seat who doesn't care about his players at all as he has shown.

Illinois St. may have been better the last year or 2, but overall the programs history doesn't even compare on the court or academically. Besides we at least got a Sweet 16 recently, what has ISU's couple of good years brought them? They didn't win a conference title, nor did they even make the tourny once. I also think they will not be near as good this year.

Bradley at the absolute minimum you know will finish top half of the Valley next year, great chance of top 1 or 2. They have a coach who was in the NBA, and has gotten a guy there before. If JW is looking at that, ISU's coach couldn't get their sure fire NBA player King O into the NBA. I think we give him his best shot to make the NBA of the teams. Also we have helped him with everything along the way in this long process, that should be considered. We also have a great Business program, which according to the SE CC website is his major.

Just seems obvious to me. He would still be close to his dad as well. I cannot fathom why being a guy who is neutral to fans and is on a losing team, is better than being a guy adored by fans who has a great shot at winning.

[DeltaBrave03]

I don't think anyone on this board could find a reason why a recruit would pick isu over BU.

[GoBirds]

I could

[tornado]

I got an idea - promise to play their "jersey retirement" game as a throwback game...
wear these old, ugly jerseys, and hold the game over at Horton...that'll impress!!


they look like the Globetrotters!!

[GoBirds]

They actually wore the striped shorts in 95 maybe I cant remember. Im a fan of any throwbacks just not as far back as when the shorts were accompanied with a belt.

[tornado]

Here's a rough list of all the big men (One dozen - plus one PG) Indiana/Tom Crean has either "offered" or is pursuing...
Gotta wonder how many are in line ahead of Wilkins...most are kind of obscure...

1. Brandon Young - PG from Baltimore. He is friends with Creek and Oladipo. Averaged 15 PPG and nearly 10 APG this year. Big guard. 6'3". IU has been in contact. Creek is recruiting him.

2. Cody Larson - 6'9" 225 PF.Former Iowa commit. IU staff met with him on Sunday.

3. Dwight McCombs - 6'8" 240 Center. #4 overall Juco player in the country. IU is one of the final four teams he is listing. Averaged 23 PPG, 13 RPG and 5 BPG

4. Will Yeguete - 6'7" PF. Looks to most likely be headed to Florida. The staff doesn't seem to be recruiting him any longer

5. John Wilkins - 6'9" PF from France. Not much is known about him since he hasn't played competitive basketball in nearly 2 years. IU is likely in his top 3. His dad would like to see him end up at IU. Rumors are that Bradley and Iowa State are strong.

6. Beas Hamga - 7'0" 230. The staff was in Texas to see him a couple weeks ago. Has had a troubled basketball career due to things out of his control. There are no stats available for his season at Weatherford Juco this year.

7. Carson Desrosiers - 6'11", 220. Is a current Wake Forest commit. IU has been in contact with his high school coach to express their interest if he were to decommit and be released from his LOI. He is an extreme longshot unless IU were to be fortunate enough to hire Wake assistant, Jeff Battle as the 3rd assistant.

8. Maurice Walker - 6'10" 280. IU is expressing late interest. Rumors he committed to Minnesota are false. Pitt really wants him, but has no scholarships.

9. Moses Abraham - 6'9" 230. Has only been in the country since Thanksgiving. Committed to Georgetown about 2 weeks ago. Told reporters at the Derby Classic that he is still in contact with the IU staff and he may change his mind. Basically this recruitment has been a circus.

10. Goodwin Okonji - 6'8" 230 Plays at Findlay Prep. Was a glue guy. Averaged around 9 PPG and 8 RPG. Is picking up late interest from a lot of programs. Still raw offensively.

11. Ben Mills - 6'11" C. Recent decommit. Staff may have interest. He has been on the IU campus before for an Elite Camp.

12. Kevin Noreen - 6'9" PF Was committed to BC and may ask out of his LOI due to coaching change. Was Minnesota's Mr Basketball averaging some really gaudy numbers. 37 PPG and 16 RPG. Plays in the smallest class in Minnesota.

13. Moussa Gueye - 7'0" Verbal to Valpo but is having second thoughts. IU has been in contact. So has Illinois, Mizzou, Xavier, Butler, Southern Cal and Alabama. Averaged 10 PPG and 8 RPG at Juco