Hoosier Deep Throat and Gary Harris

The call came on a crisp, clear Hoosier night. Hoosier Deep Throat was ready to talk again about standout basketball recruit Gary Harris.

“Let’s meet at the saddest place on campus,” he said.

“Do you mean the math department?” we offered.

“No. Memorial Stadium. If you’ve seen those guys play football, you’ve seen sad at its saddest.”

We checked the clock. It was about to strike midnight. We figured the news was grim.

A gate near a side entrance to the North End Zone facility was ajar. We slipped inside. We heard scuffling near a shadow-covered corner, smelled the smoke and Tommy Hilfiger cologne, a new touch. The glowing end of a cigarette pierced the darkness, illuminating nothing but mystery.

“Can you sleep?” Hoosier Deep Throat said.

“Like a baby,” we said. “Why do you care?”

“I don’t care. I can’t sleep. I just wondered if it was just me, staying up thinking about what Harris is going to do, what I would do if I were him.”

“What would you do?” we asked.

Hoosier Deep Throat took a deep drag from the cigarette. The glowing ember trembled, as if the hand holding it had lost its steadiness.

“I’d play football. The kid is, what, 6-6 and 210 pounds? There are a million basketball players that size. There aren’t a million stud receivers that big. He should do what James Hardy did and …”

We remembered James Hardy briefly tried football and basketball at IU, before setting in on a record-breaking football career.

“I thought we were here to discuss Harris’ college choice to play basketball,” we said. “Football isn’t part of his deal. He’s made that clear. He's all in for basketball.”

“Nothing is clear when a teenage guy talks,” Deep Throat said. “Or did you forget that?”

He took another drag. “His Hamilton Southeastern team won a football sectional title. That might affect his college choice. Did you ever think about that?”

Lack of sleep was hitting Deep Throat hard, but the darkness kept us from seeing him.

“So what do you know about Harris’ college choice?” we asked. Harris is visiting Michigan State this weekend. It’s his fourth and final official visit. He previously had visited Purdue, Indiana and Kentucky.

Harris figures to name his school before Wednesday’s beginning of the week-long fall signing period. When he does, it will be big news. It will rival Cody Zeller’s announcement from a year ago when he picked Indiana.

“Kentucky doesn’t need Harris,” Deep Throat said. “The Wildcats have already gotten a commitment from this Archie Goodwin guy who plays the same shooting guard position, but who is higher rated than Harris. It's over kill.

“I know Coach Calipari is saying there’s room in his system for Harris and Goodwin, but that’s hogwash. I know Calipari seems to get everybody he wants, but it’s not a good fit.”

Deep Throat crushed out his cigarette, quickly lit another. His deep hacking echoed in the darkness.

"Not to be repetitive," we said, "but you really need to quit."

"Not to be repetitive," he said, "but I know."

For a moment, we were silent, basking in the state of speculation.

“Indiana already has the best class of 2012 and I don’t give a crap what Rivals.com or anybody says about Arizona’s class,” he said. “Coach Crean has lined up five guys for every spot on the floor. It’s a really, really good group. I don’t know that Crean needs Harris and …”

“Are you nuts?” we asked. “You don’t think IU needs a guy rated as the nation’s No. 3 shooting guard and No. 25 player overall for the Class of 2012? What is it that you’re smoking?”

Deep Throat ignored the comment. “The biggest need is at Purdue and Michigan State. And Spartans coach Tom Izzo already has beaten the Boilers’ Matt Painter to land Branden Dawson, who was supposed to be a lock for Purdue. Now he's a Spartan freshman.

“There’s a reason why the Spartans have been to six Final fours since 1999 and it’s not because of luck. Izzo might be the most likeable coach in America. Guarantee you Harris and his family like him.”

“Yeah,” we said, “but Harris’ mother is a former Purdue women’s basketball standout. His dad went to Purdue. Doesn’t that count for something?”

A dog howled. We noticed a full moon rising and shivered. What, we wondered, if it wasn’t a howling dog?

“Looks like I’m not the only one around here who is spooked,” Deep Throat said.

He crushed out this latest cigarette.

“It pains me to say it, but Michigan State has the best chance at getting Harris,” Deep Throat said. “Then Purdue. Maybe IU and Kentucky are tied for third, but really, if you’re not first, it doesn’t matter.”

Deep Throat sank back deeper into the shadows. After a minute, we realized he was gone. So was his pessimism. Until Harris says otherwise, the Hoosiers are are still very much in it.

That much, at least, we know.