Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Basketball Recruiting Truth -- IU Needs Zeller, Perea

Here’s the basketball recruiting truth -- IU needs to get, has to get Cody Zeller and Hanner Perea. Absolutely has to. Both are elite big men and if you’ve followed Indiana basketball, you know how much the Hoosiers need elite big men.

Their last dominating inside player was D.J. White, who developed into a double-double machine by his senior season. IU doesn’t have to have that from a player (although it sure would be nice), but it does need someone who can consistently score inside, rebound, play defense and, well, kick some rump.

Zeller and Perea showed signs of being able to do that at the Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis this week, although Perea’s sprained ankle limits him.

He’ll heal, of course. His future remains as bright as LeBron James’ contract prospects.

Zeller has a recruiting list longer than my son used to have at Christmas. Indiana is on it. So are Purdue, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Texas, Florida Michigan, Wake Forest and, yes, Butler. The list might grow after Zeller’s opening day performance in front of a bunch of big-time coaches.

Yes, it helps that he’s 6-10 and that he has a strong basketball pedigree with brothers Luke and Tyler. Luke went to Notre Dame. Tyler is at North Carolina. He has a lot of big-time moves and a work ethic that keeps him developing even more.

But maybe more than anything else what makes Zeller special is his attitude. He’s not swayed by style as much as substance. All the bells and whistles associated with major college program facilities, including IU’s Cook Hall practice facility, are nice, but aren’t his top priorities.

Zeller wants to make sure he makes the right decision. He plans on making all five of his official visits this fall. He’s set to make his final decision in time for the November signing period, which is different than Branden Dawson, who likely will wait till the spring before making his decision.

Yes, this leaves IU coach Tom Crean and all the rest of the contenders hoping that in the end, they’ll prevail.

Signs of where Zeller will go are all over the map. Some days IU seems to have the edge. Other days Indiana seems out of the picture. The bottom line, if IU wants to return to big-time status, and it does, it needs big-time players. Zeller and Perea are two of the biggest in their classes.

You can’t get much more truthful than that.

11 comments:

  1. The pining for 17 year old kids like a 13 year old girl pines over Edward in Twilight is going to make the schadenfreude all the much better when Scott Drew gets Perea and Brad Stevens gets Zeller.

    You had to know this thought process is pathetic when you wrote it, right?

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  2. You got it! The case cracker....iu needs zeller. Thank you captain obvious

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  3. Perea has never been on Baylor's campus....He has been on IU's campus at minimum 20 times.It is all about relationships

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  4. Unfortunately, the Zeller brothers could all pose for a magazine cover standing next to each other, the cover story titled "IU Heartbeakers". The Zeller boys have become pros at it and Cody being the 3rd, I am sure he will not disappoint his family by continuing the family tradition of disappointed by disappointing all the IU faithful. Unfortunate but seems to be the truth.

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  5. IU and Bloomington offer an atmosphere unlike any other in college basketball. Great school, great faculty, great basketball facilities and traditon, a young team which, with just a couple of more pieces, will be a contender in another year. A nice option for players of this caliber.

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  6. No team HAS to get anybody. True, it would really help the program, but there is a lot of talent out there these days and sometimes a not-so-celebrated kid turns out to be better than expected because his head is not so "full of himself". Zeller has a lot to live up to in college, and the pressure to succeed is enormous. Give me a blue-collar big man with something to prove.

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  7. no we do not need zeller!!!! we need steve alford, bring him, hoosiers will follow. starts at the top, then pieces fall together.

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  8. Why would either of them go to IU who is still rebuilding? They are going to go to an established program that is deep with talent.

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  9. So far the Zellers haven't exactly been tearing up the college scene. Certainly not the way Kent Benson and Eric Montross did.

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  10. I think Anonymous probably has it right , unfortunately. Why doesn't the NCAA get off its duff and so something about this disgusting recruiting game? Top programs recruit the "one and doners" year after year and win tournaments.Who cares about education or ethics?

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  11. YOUR "TRUTH" IS TOTAL BS. YES, INDIANA WOULD LIKE HAVE THESE KIDS, BUT INDIANA WILL IMPROVE AND BE A CONTENDER UNDER CREAN IN 2 YEARS WHETHER THEY GET THESE KIDS OR NOT.

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