Hoops247: Head coach Billy Donlon, and Wright State University have signed Class of 2012 LaLumiere Academy (IN) star Antonio "Bobo" Drummond.
Drummond, a 5'9 point guard, starred his first three years at Peoria Manual High School (IL). Drummond was initially set to go to Southern Illinois, but became available again following a coaching change.
Drummond competed on the travel team circuit with the Illinois Wolves.
The Hoosier Scoop: Newly hired assistant coach Kenny Johnson is apparently already helping Indiana build a pipeline to a Washington, D.C. area.
Stanford Robinson, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound shooting guard in the Class of 2013, committed to the Hoosiers on Wednesday night. The No. 88 player in the class according to Rivals.com told recruiting websites earlier in the day that he had narrowed his list of schools to four in Indiana, Maryland, Texas and Villanova, but then apparently made up his mind quickly. Robinson had taken an unofficial visit to Indiana on Monday.
Robinson plays at Paul VI in Fairfax, Va., which is where the newly hired Johnson coached as an assistant from 2007-2011 before spending a year at Towson.
By N.D. Kendrick
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Bloomington, IN - This weekend we traveled to a town that is rich with basketball history to take a final look at some of the top talent in the Midwest. In the past the adidas May Classic was held on the campus of Indiana University, but this year the AMC was spread about several towns that made viewing some what of a challenge. Despite the travel time to venues, we were able to get a nice feel for the talent present.
Without a question, the MVP of the event has to go to 2013 Purdue verbalBasil Smotherman. Smotherman played much more aggressive than he has all Spring. He was able to knock down open jumpers, attack the basket with force and play solid on ball defense. He also had the play of the tournament when he grabbed a rebound and within the same motion threw the ball over his head for a unreal end of the half buzzer beater. In the same game he had a game winning tip in as the clock expired to give the Eric Gordon All-Stars a victory over Indiana Elite South.
The following are player evaluations from several top performers from the weekend.
Dayton Daily News: In the end, Markus Crider needed little convincing that Georgia State University was where he should continue his basketball career.
It was all about the system employed by Dayton native Ron Hunter, the former Miami University player and IUPUI coach.
“I fit right in with the style they play,” said Crider, a 2011 Wayne High School graduate. “It’s run-and-gun. It allows me to do what I’m best at.
“I’m expecting to come right in and make an impact.”
Crider, a 6-foot-7 forward who spent a year at Bridgton Academy in Maine after originally committing to Providence but changed his mind after a coaching switch, chose GSU on Monday over Iona (New Rochelle, N.Y.), the only other school he visited.
Springfield News Sun: Dyshawn Pierre of Whitby, Ontario, has had vast international experience in basketball, and he’s found one facet of his game is appreciated wherever he goes.
The 6-foot-6 forward, who signed a national letter-of-intent with the University of Dayton on Monday, entered a dunk contest while playing in Italy last September and emerged with the title.
“I did an off-the-backboard windmill,” he said. “I tried to go through my legs a couple times, but it was the last day and my legs were too tired. I did do some 360-off-the-backboard dunks, and luckily I was able to get it done.”
Asked if he might try to go between his legs if he has a breakaway jam for UD next season, Pierre chuckled and said: “That’s a little more risky. I think I’ll just go for the two points off a layup.”
Pierre may be able to play above the rim, but it’s his solid all-around game that was most impressive to the UD coaches. He helped the Canadian 17-and-under team to a bronze medal in the FIBA World Championships in 2010, and he established himself as a rising star in his country during the U-19 games last summer.
YUKU Dukes:Quevyn Winters a prep forward became the third player to commit Duquesne. Originally from Wisconsin, Winters spent the last year two years at Oldsmar Christian Academy for his senior season and Mack Prep in North Carolina for a post graduate year.
Winters had a strong prep year, but based on reports, he was somewhat inconsistent. He seems to be a bit of tweener and I've seen him listed anywhere from 6'4'' to 6'6''.
He is described as an aggressive on the interior and a solid rebounder with the ability to hit the outside shot along with strong vision. If he is a legit 6'5'' or better, he should make for a very good swing or even fill in at the 4/5 in Jim Ferry's system.
With excellent length, he could play taller than his traditional height would suggest.
Read more...
Sporting News: Texas Tech transfer Terran Petteway has signed a letter of intent to play for the Tim Miles-coached Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Petteway, a 6-6, 185-pound wingman, confirmed to HuskersIllustrated.com his decision to transfer to Nebraska, where he will have to sit out the 2012-13 season, leaving him with three seasons of eligibility starting in 2013-14.
The decision to transfer from Texas Tech comes after he played on an 8-23 Billy Gillispie team. Petteway averaged 3.1 points in 13 minutes per game for the Red Raiders as a freshman.
Caris LeVert, a 6-foot-5 wing from Pickerington (Ohio) Central, decided he wanted to accept U-M’s 2012 scholarship offer on his visit a week ago, but he had to wait to announce it publicly.
He finally got the chance today when he tweeted: “Just officially committed to the University of Michigan! #blessed #goblue.”
LeVert signed with Ohio University in the fall, but when Ohio coach John Groce left for Illinois this spring, LeVert was released from his letter-of-intent and able to pursue other schools. He picked U-M over Xavier, Dayton and Purdue.
YUKU Dukes: Jim Ferry received his second commitment as head coach of Duquesne Dukes when 6'3'' shooting guard Jeremiah Jones verbally committed.
Jones, an Indiana native, spent the past season at St. John's Military Academy. In his senior season at Merrillville High School, he averaged 17 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 rebounds.
Jones was rated a 3 star prospect on Rivals. Coming out of high school, he had offers from Indiana St, VCU, Northern Illinois, Valpo, Cleveland St, and College of Charleston.
Butler was also said to be in the mix for Jones, but did not offer before he elected to reclassify. It is unclear at this time what schools continued to pursue him after he attended prep school.
All Eyes on U Hoops: 6'4 DeAndray Buckley stared at Romulus high school and then went to New Hampshire, however things didn't work out for DeAndray there, and he left for power house junior college Indian Hills. Thursday night, the 10th, he officially announced he will be coming back to Michigan as he committed to Central Michigan and new coach Keno Davis.
"It came down to CMU and Louisiana Monroe." Buckley told All Eyes on U Hoops. "It was a tough choice, but the opportunity to be part of all the new guys coming in, with the new staff and be closer to my friends and family made CMU the choice for me." Buckley added "The staff welcomed me with open arms and that helped too."
Buckley visited CMU last week with Derrick Richardson from Ypsilanti, who had committed prior to his visit. "It was a good visit, I was impressed with how nice everything was up there." Buckley added "It was nice having Derrick there with me, we knew of each other a little from back when he was a sophomore and I was a senior."
Hoops247:
The Hoosier Scoop:
