Patterson Commits; Is Hollowell Next?

Tom Crean is the hottest dude in recruiting these days.

Broad Ripple guard Ron Patterson has just verbally committed to join the Indiana program, so does that mean Lawrence Central guard Jeremy Hollowell is far behind?

We might know by the end of the week.

Here’s what we do know. Patterson, who is ranked as the nation’s No. 65 player in the Class of 2012 by Rivals.com, paid a visit to IU on Sunday and wound up committing. That means the Hoosiers beat out Cincinnati, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Miami (Fla.) and Xavier. It also means the instate groundwork Crean has done in the past two years is paying off.

And you thought he couldn’t recruit.

Patterson joins 6-11 center Peter Jurkin from the Class of 2012. Jurkin, who is from Africa, verbally committed last week.

Suddenly Crean has recruiting momentum. Hollowell, who is a good friend of Patterson and ranked No. 35 nationally by Rivals, might be the next commitment.

Don’t forget Indianapolis Park Tudor point guard Kevin Ferrell, who rates No. 22 nationally in the Class of 2012. As we’ve mentioned before, he has blossomed this summer into the kind of elite player the Hoosiers have to have.

Throw in Hamilton Heights guard Austin Etherington, the 6-6 guard from Hamilton Heights who already has committed from the Class of 2011, and you can see Crean is starting to become an in-state recruiting force.

Hey, he even got Fort Wayne guard James Blackmon (Class of 2014) to make a weekend unofficial visit.

What does this mean for Washington’s Cody Zeller, who has the Hoosiers on his final list along with Butler and North Carolina?

Well, it doesn’t hurt.

And, of course, there is 6-9 Hanner Perea, the super athletic forward from Columbia who is a travel team teammate of Jurkin and who has the Hoosiers and Baylor as his favorites. He, too, is part of the Class of 2012.

Suddenly all things are possible for the Hoosiers. Now all they have to do is win this year. That will show how hot Crean really is.