Saturday, May 10, 2008

Keeping up.

Things have been busy around here, bit Tom Crean has continued his efforts to rebuild the basketball team's decimated roster. The latest news, from this morning's Washington Times and elsewhere, is that Jeremiah Rivers, son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers, will transfer to IU. Rivers announced a couple of days ago that he would leave Georgetown, where he apparently was considered a defensive stopper but not much of an offensive threat. [UPDATE: Per the Hoosier Scoop, Rivers has not committed. That's what I get for trusting a paper owned by Reverend Moon]. There has been a flurry of news since my last post a week ago:
  • It's not accurate to say that Crean didn't pull any punches, because he didn't provide much detail, but Crean left no doubt that he believes something untoward led to Eli Holman's transfer from IU to Detroit, where he will play for former IU assistant Ray McCallum. The Sampson era is a gift that keeps on giving. Based on what I and others of you have heard behind the scenes, we may not have heard the last of this situation.
  • Champaign guard Verdell Jones seemed certain to enroll at Minnesota, but he surprised everyone by announcing that he would attend Indiana. Jones is a senior, so he will be on the roster in 2008-09.
  • Per Inside the Hall and others, Maurice Creek, a 6-4 guard from Connecticut, has verbally committed to IU. Creek is a junior, so he joins Derek Elston of Tipton and Bobby Capobianco of Ohio in the 2009-10 freshman class.

In summary, here's what we have now:

Returning scholarship players: Jordan Crawford (Soph.), Brandon McGee (Soph.), and former invited walkon Kyle Taber (Sr.).

Incoming scholarship players who will be eligible in 2008-09: Tom Pritchard (F/C from Ohio, freshman); Matt Roth (G from Illinois, freshman); Devan Dumes (guard from Decatur Central/Eastern Michigan/Vincennes, junior); Nick Williams (guard from Alabama, former Marquette recruit); Verdell Jones (Illinois).

Returning walk-ons: Brett Finkelmeier (sophomore guard).

Incoming walk-ons: Daniel Moore (guard from Carmel); Kory Barnett (guard from Rochester).

Incoming scholarship players who will be eligible in 2009-10: Jeremiah Rivers (two years of eligibility).

Incoming freshmen, 2009-10: Derek Elston (Tipton); Bobby Capobianco (Ohio); Maurice Creek (Connecticut).

Am I missing anyone? Crean has been on the job since April 2, and has added six five scholarship players already, including three who are eligible to play next season. Not bad.

1 comment:

T-Mill said...

Keeping Elston is a good one. I've seen him play several times and he reminds me of Luke Recker without the attitude. He's a better passer and rebounder as well.