Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Thomas Bryant saga is over.
The 6-foot-10 McDonald’s All-American from Huntington (W.V.) Prep committed to Indiana on ESPN, choosing the Hoosiers over Syracuse, Kentucky and Missouri.
“I’m very excited,” said Bryant, a native of Rochester, N.Y. “I’ve been thinking about this long and hard. I’ve been talking it over with my mom and coaches. [Huntington Prep] coach Arkell [Bruce] and everything, just mostly my mom. We just felt like being at Indiana was the best decision for me.”
Bryant is Indiana’s third commit for 2015, following 6-8 forward Juwan Morgan and 6-7 forward O.G. Anunoby, who committed in the fall.
Bryant recently visited Indiana, as did big man Thon Maker of Orangeville Prep (Ontario).
“I loved the Indiana visit,” Bryant said, according to the Louisville-Courier Journal. “Seeing all those guys, they all accepted me when I walked in, and it was like a family atmosphere there. Great fans always come out and support. It was really nice. … They need that one big man in the paint right there with them. If they get that, they could be a real good team down in the long run.”
Bryant recently said he hadn’t heard from Syracuse or Kentucky since January, but was also considering Missouri.
This is a huge get for head coach Tom Crean and assistant Chuck Martin in that it provides a skilled, low-post big man who can complement guards like Yogi Ferrell and others.
“[Bryant] is a winner and a great person,” said AAU coach Oz Cross, who coached Bryant with the PSA Cardinals. “He’s going to play hard and bring energy. He is a great teammate.”
Bruce offered these observations on Bryant last fall:
“His best days are ahead of him. He just turned 17 a couple months ago, so he’s a young pup. Still figuring it out. Long, 7-foot-6 wingspan so he has the potential to make money at basketball one day. But he’s not going to rely on that because he’s a very smart kid.”
He added: “He needs to work on his core strength which we do with him. But he also needs to refine his post skills like all young big men. He’s shooting the ball way better, out to 23 feet. He’s shooting the 3 easy, mid-range, he’s really shooting the ball great. Finishing with both hands. But strength is the main thing [he has to work on], being able to absorb contact and finish.”
Photo: Alicia AndersonFollow Adam Zagoria on TwitterAnd Like Zags on Facebook
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Thomas Bryant saga is over.
The 6-foot-10 McDonald’s All-American from Huntington (W.V.) Prep committed to Indiana on ESPN, choosing the Hoosiers over Syracuse, Kentucky and Missouri.
“I’m very excited,” said Bryant, a native of Rochester, N.Y. “I’ve been thinking about this long and hard. I’ve been talking it over with my mom and coaches. [Huntington Prep] coach Arkell [Bruce] and everything, just mostly my mom. We just felt like being at Indiana was the best decision for me.”
Bryant is Indiana’s third commit for 2015, following 6-8 forward Juwan Morgan and 6-7 forward O.G. Anunoby, who committed in the fall.
Bryant recently visited Indiana, as did big man Thon Maker of Orangeville Prep (Ontario).
“I loved the Indiana visit,” Bryant said, according to the Louisville-Courier Journal. “Seeing all those guys, they all accepted me when I walked in, and it was like a family atmosphere there. Great fans always come out and support. It was really nice. … They need that one big man in the paint right there with them. If they get that, they could be a real good team down in the long run.”
Bryant recently said he hadn’t heard from Syracuse or Kentucky since January, but was also considering Missouri.
This is a huge get for head coach Tom Crean and assistant Chuck Martin in that it provides a skilled, low-post big man who can complement guards like Yogi Ferrell and others.
“[Bryant] is a winner and a great person,” said AAU coach Oz Cross, who coached Bryant with the PSA Cardinals. “He’s going to play hard and bring energy. He is a great teammate.”
Bruce offered these observations on Bryant last fall:
“His best days are ahead of him. He just turned 17 a couple months ago, so he’s a young pup. Still figuring it out. Long, 7-foot-6 wingspan so he has the potential to make money at basketball one day. But he’s not going to rely on that because he’s a very smart kid.”
He added: “He needs to work on his core strength which we do with him. But he also needs to refine his post skills like all young big men. He’s shooting the ball way better, out to 23 feet. He’s shooting the 3 easy, mid-range, he’s really shooting the ball great. Finishing with both hands. But strength is the main thing [he has to work on], being able to absorb contact and finish.”
Photo: Alicia Anderson
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