Indiana Basketball Recruiting: 2019 Team Camp Observations

The Daily Hoosier attended Saturday’s Archie Miller team camp at Assembly Hall and Cook Hall.

For those that are not aware, team camps are events put on by college programs that allow several high school teams to come to campus and play against one another in front of the coaches and staff.

The college coaching staff is allowed unlimited access with the players and their families during the camp.

Most of the IU players were in attendance as well, including helping out with very aspects including running the scoreboard and clock.

These camps drew some attention towards the end of the Tom Crean era after he stopped hosting them.

This was the second of two team camps in Bloomington.  According to the recruiting services, the standouts from session one last weekend were Trey Kaufman, Blake Wesley and Jalen Washington.  Indiana offered scholarships to Kaufman and Washington last weekend.

Here are some of the standouts that The Daily Hoosier watched:

• Khristian Lander (2021) – Evansville Reitz:  Easily the most complete high major ready talent at the camp.  Lander is elite off the dribble, has a quick release on his jump shot, and has a fluidity in the way he moves that screams elite athlete.  His shot wasn’t always falling on the day, and he seems better off the bounce than off the catch.  But you didn’t need to see the ball go in every time to know why he might be the top 2021 point guard in the country.
• Anthony Leal (2020) – Bloomington South:  Leal does a little bit of everything.   He knocks down shots, he can beat you off the dribble and finish at the rim, and he runs the floor well.  He is struggling with knee soreness, but that didn’t stop him from making hustle plays.  An area of continued development will be the speed of his release on his jump shot, and it is legitimate to wonder how effective of a defender he will be at the high major level.  But there is no questioning the effort.
• Caleb Furst (2021) — Blackhawk Christian:  Furst might have been the tallest player at the camp, but he surprises you with his ball handling ability in the open floor, and he is a very good passer out of the post.  As a good athlete with skills, it is clear why he is a high major talent.  It will be interesting to watch how his game evolves over the next two years.  He might not be big enough to play on the block and finish at the rim in the Big Ten at his current height, and he doesn’t currently have the perimeter game to play away from the basket.
• Luke Goode (2021) — Homestead:  As a top 100 in-state talent in the 2021 class, a lot of eyes were on Goode today.  Most of the IU coaching staff including Archie Miller were watching almost all of his games.  Known as a shooter, Goode struggled most of the day despite an impressive stroke with a quick release.  He played within himself and didn’t force shots but couldn’t get it going despite playing better as the day wore on.  Goode surprised us with above average ball handling skills and even played point guard at times despite being around 6-foot-6.
• Pierce Thomas (2021) — Brownsburg:  Thomas is the most explosive athlete we saw.  His ability to quickly spring off the floor is elite.  While his form on his shot looks better than what we’ve seen in the past, he wasn’t knocking down shots from the perimeter or finishing effectively.  If he can prove himself as a scorer his recruitment will take off.
• Jayden Brewer (2021 — Avon:  Brewer isn’t a big kid by any means, but he has good length and doesn’t play soft on either end of the floor.  He has an attack mentality that allows him to get to the rim and finish.  He is a good athlete that will need to put on weight and show the ability to knock down perimeter shots.

UNDER THE RADAR NAMES THAT PERFORMED WELL

• Owen Dease (2021) — Evansville Reitz:  The 6-foot-6 Dease will be a name to keep an eye on during his final two years.  Perhaps overshadowed by his teammate Lander, Dease impressed with his ability to confidently knock down long three-pointers, and he played with a high motor and wasn’t afraid to mix it up — including against Furst.  He may not be there yet, but Dease could develop into a power five conference wing.
• Connor Hickman (2021) — Bloomington South:  Hickman is another guy that can get overshadowed by his better known teammate Leal, but he is a very talented guard that knocked down a lot of shots on the day and showed strong skills as both a ball handler and a passer.  He clearly has a chance to be a star as an upperclassman and appears destined for Division One.

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