(Mike Schumann and Dustin Dopirak both contributed to this report)
Logan Duncomb is on board with the idea of working with a former NBA coach to help him reach that level one day.
The class of 2021 IU basketball signee enthusiastically endorsed the decision by Indiana to hire former player and long-time NBA coach Mike Woodson.
“I thought it was an awesome hire, hiring coach Woodson, a dude with some success in the NBA and knowing what it takes to get to the NBA,” Duncomb told The Daily Hoosier on Sunday. “That’s going to help players develop, knowing what it takes to get to the NBA. That’s going to help players develop, knowing what they have to do to get there. That will make them better, therefore making the team better.”
The Cincinnati Moeller High School senior verbally committed to play for former head coach Archie Miller in April and signed his national letter of intent in November. When Miller was fired on March 15, Duncomb’s father told the Indy Star that he would take a wait-and-see approach as it related to standing by his decision to attend IU.
As a player from Ohio, the news that Indiana also hired former Ohio State coach Thad Matta on the basketball staff resonated with Duncomb too.
“Grabbing Matta too, a dude with a lot of college experience is going to help transition that coaching staff in from the NBA level to the college level,” Duncomb said.
The 6-foot-9 Duncomb hasn’t met Woodson yet, and he only heard about the hiring like most — on social media — as AD Scott Dolson tried to keep the news under tight wraps.
“Kinda found out through people on Twitter, then some of my coaches reached out to me,” Duncomb said. He later heard from IU assistant coach Mike Roberts on Sunday afternoon, and expects to have a chance to meet virtually with Woodson this week.
Duncomb says he is looking forward to hearing about how he will fit into the new system at IU, and he already believes he has a good idea of what to expect.
“I assume he’ll tell me all about his preferred style when we have a conversation,” Duncomb told The Daily Hoosier. “Assuming he’s coming from the NBA, I presume it will probably be more fast-paced, likes to spread the floor. Doesn’t want anyone who can’t move or can’t guard multiple positions. That’s kind of my game. I think I’ll fit well into his system. There will be an opportunity for me to play there, maybe early and have an immediate impact. I don’t know that. I haven’t talked to him, but I just presume that coming from the NBA that’s how they like to run their teams.”
At this point Duncomb’s view is basically that if Woodson wants him and both sides see a good fit, he still wants to come to IU. At least from his perspective, Duncomb expects to be pleased with what he hears from Woodson.
“I want to go to Indiana. If our play styles make sense, if they are looking to utilize me or give me a chance to have an impact on a team, yeah, I’ll go to Indiana,” Duncomb said. “If for some reason I don’t fit the system, if he lets me know I’m just not the guy for the offense he wants to run or something, then if that were to happen, that would be a time I would look elsewhere. I don’t think that’s going to happen based on how he’s run his prior teams.”
GUNN LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING WOODSON
Class of 2022 guard C.J. Gunn verbally committed to IU in February to play for Miller. Like Duncomb, Gunn now has to get comfortable with a new head coach and a new style.
Gunn’s father Christopher told The Daily Hoosier that the family is looking forward to meeting Woodson, and they won’t have any comments on their next step until after that meeting happens.
Gunn was particularly enthusiastic about Miller’s high ball screen offense, and IU sophomore guard Armaan Franklin also played an important role in Gunn’s decision to commit to IU. Franklin put his name in the transfer portal last week but is open to staying at IU pending his own assessment of the new coach.
ROBERTS KEPT RECRUITING
One of Woodson’s next moves will be the completion of his staff including three assistant coaches. It is possible that there could be carryover from the Miller staff.
When Miller was fired Dolson made a somewhat unusual move by retaining two assistant coaches. Kenya Hunter and Mike Roberts both remained with the program on a transitional basis while Dolson looked for a new head coach.
The Daily Hoosier caught up with a couple uncommitted in-state recruiting targets and/or their parents over the last few days and they indicated that Roberts was still actively recruiting high school players, and at least in one case, more aggressively recruiting a player than Miller was. Presumably Hunter was doing the same thing. Hunter is the lead recruiter for several of the top targets on Indiana’s 2022 board.
It will be interesting to see how this ties into the selection of a coaching staff by Woodson, including the possible retention of Hunter, Roberts, or both.
Find us on Facebook: thedailyhoosier
You can follow us on Twitter: @daily_hoosier
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no additional cost to you.
