By SEVE COUSINS
Special to ZAGSBLOG
BROOKLYN -- Jordan Hulls is generously listed at 6-feet, but if you ask Indiana coach Tom Crean, Hulls can play in the NBA.
After Hulls put up 14 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in No. 1 Indiana’s 66-53 victory over Georgia here in the Legends Classic before nearly 50 NBA scouts, Crean was singing Hulls’ praises.
“With the number of NBA people here, Jordan Hulls is an NBA guard,” Crean said. To read more of this story, click here
By JOSH NEWMAN
Special to ZAGSBLOG
BROOKLYN -- With nearly 50 NBA scouts and personnel at Barclays Center on Monday evening for the Legends Classic, including Knicks General Manager Glen Grunwald and Assistant General Manager Allan Houston, Indiana University sophomore 7-footer Cody Zeller, the consensus Preseason National Player of the Year, didn’t exactly give them much to write home about.
Zeller, who has been tabbed as a top 3 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft should he declare, finished with six points on 2-for-4 shooting, four rebounds and four turnovers as No. 1 Indiana ran away in the second half from a feisty Georgia team, 66-53. To read more of this story, click here
Indiana scored a huge commit Saturday night when it landed Noah Vonleh, a 6-foot-9 power forward from New Hampton (N.H.) who had reclassifed to 2013 from 2014.
The news was first by reported by ESPN.com.
“From Day One, Indiana has been recruiting me the hardest,” Vonleh told ESPN.com. “They were just letting me know how they could develop me into the player I want to be at the next level. Their academics are good, they’re the No. 1 team in the country and they’ve got another great class coming in next year.”
Vonleh pledged to Indiana on his official visit this weekend. His cousin, Tevin Coleman, is a freshman running back on the Indiana football team.
Vonleh also considered Syracuse, Georgetown, UConn and North Carolina.
The Rivals No. 7 prospect in the Class of 2013, Vonleh could slide in and potentially replace Cody Zeller, should the sophomore big man head to the NBA after this season. To read more of this story, click here
On the brink of a new basketball season, top-ranked Indiana has lost freshmen Hanner Mosquera-Perea (pictured) and Peter Jurkin for nine game each for accepting impermissible benefits, the NCAA and Indiana announced Tuesday.
“While in high school, Jurkin and Perea accepted approximately $6,000 and $8,000, respectively, in impermissible benefits from an Indiana University booster,” the NCAA announced in a statement. “These benefits included plane tickets, meals, housing, a laptop, cell phone and clothing. Jurkin will be required to repay $250 to a charity of his choice. Perea must repay approximately $1,590 to charity. In determining the amount of repayment, the staff considered the mitigation presented by the university.”
Indiana announced that each player will be “withheld from the first nine games of this basketball season.” To read more of this story, click here
The long and winding recruitment of Troy Williams has come to an end.
As reported on my Twitter earlier Sunday, the 6-foot-6 wing out of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy has committed to Indiana.
“Troy is a freak athlete who can help any team on both ends of the court,” Oak Hill coach Steve Smith told SNY.tv. “A high-energy guy who rebounds his position as well as any player in the country. He is continuing to work on his shot and getting stronger in the weight room. He thrives in transition and is a really good passer. That is a skill most people don’t realize he is so good at.” To read more of this story, click here
Coming off an official visit to Indiana last weekend, DeMatha Catholic big man Beejay Anya will take an official to N.C. State beginning Friday.
Anya previously told SNY.tv that he has a few connections to the Wolfpack.
Anya said N.C. State commits Anthony “Cat” Barber and Kyle Washington have been in his ear.
“They were both on my [Nike] Global Challenge team,” Anya said of the Wolfpack’s newest commits. To read more of this story, click here
Troy Williams came away impressed with his weekend visit to Indiana and the school remains a viable option for him, his uncle told SNY.tv.
“Oh, he’s seriously considering Indiana,” legendary AAU coach Boo Williams said Sunday by phone after spending Friday with his nephew on the visit..
“I think they will use his athletic ability not only in transition but they work on his half-court offense. They’re going to use him in different situations offensively and defensively. They did a good job of breaking it down.” To read more of this story, click here
Oak Hill wing Troy Williams is headed to Indiana this weekend for Hoosier Hysteria after having visited North Carolina for Midnight Madness last weekend.
“I’m looking forward to it a lot,” the 6-foot-6 Williams told SNY.tv. “I heard a lot about Hoosier Hysteria. I heard there will be a lot of people there and it’s a lot of fun and I think it’s going to be fun.
Uncommitted big man Beejay Anya and committed guard Stanford Robinson are among those expected to join Williams at Indiana this weekend. To read more of this story, click here
Oak Hill small forward Troy Williams will take a visit to North Carolina this coming weekend.
“He’s going to Midnight Madness, ‘Late Night With Roy,’ Friday,” Boo Williams, Troy’s uncle, told SNY.tv. “He’s just going unofficial to that.”
The following weekend Williams will take his first official to Indiana for Hoosier Hysteria, along with Stanford Robinson and Beejay Anya.
“They’re coming pretty hard,” Boo Williams said of Indiana’s interest.
Indiana is also involved with reclassified 2013 forward Noah Vonleh, but he is more of a power forward, while Williams is a small forward. To read more of this story, click here
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Tom Crean isn’t Norman Dale and Cody Zeller isn’t Jimmy Chitwood.
No, these Hoosiers aren’t anybody’s underdogs and Crean knows it.
The 2012-13 Indiana basketball team will enter this season with much hype and hoopla surrounding them, and Crean can see, hear and feel the expectations as he walks around Bloomington.
“Oh, it’s big, absolutely,” Crean said Friday at the Brayden Carr Foundation clinic at Rutgers. To read more of this story, click here
