New Indiana coach Archie Miller wasted no time in reaching out to his new recruits.
Miller spoke with Al Durham Jr. and Clifton Moore, two Indiana signees who had requested their releases after Tom Crean was fired.
“The messaged was [Miller] wants him to stay,” Al Durham Sr. said. “He’s a priority and they need him for this new era of Indiana basketball. He watched him on the EYBL circuit and thinks he was one of the best players on the circuit.
“He fits his style of play with his guards and how he will use them the same as he did at Dayton. He’s supposed to get out here ASAP to meet with us face-to-face to discuss everything.”
A 6-foot-4 left-handed shooting guard from Lilburn (GA) Berkmar ranked as a four-star by ESPN.com, Durham Jr. also had offers from Georgia, Florida, Virginia Tech and South Florida.
Durham Sr. played high school ball at St. Raymond’s in The Bronx and knows former Indiana assistant Chuck Martin from their connection there.
Meantime, Miller also spoke with Cliff Moore Sr., the father of the 6-10 forward from Hatboro-Horsham (Pa.) whose stock exploded last summer at the Elevate Hoops events in Philadelphia and Ardsley, N.Y.
“He wants Cliff to stay,” his father said. “Archie will talk to Cliff.”
As for Justin Smith, who signed an NLI to Indiana, it’s unclear if Miller has reached out but it would make sense that he would have.
“I know Al, Justin and Cliff are real close,” Durham Sr. said, “so it will be interesting.”
