The recruiting class of 2022 is rapidly coming into sharp focus as players and staffs alike begin to prioritize and narrow their respective fields.
It has been a challenging 14 months for the class during the pandemic, but the return of in-person recruiting in June will add further clarity to the process. Already visits are being set up, and soon staffs will need to determine how to allocate their time on the road at events.
Several tidbits and notes emerged in national reports over the weekend as it relates to IU targets in the incoming high school senior class.
Here is a summary of some of the more interesting notes for players IU is recruiting.
WASHINGTON SETTING UP VISITS
Gary’s Jalen Washington is the top remaining in-state prospect being recruited by IU in the class of 2022.
According to a report by 247Sports national analyst Eric Bossi, the 6-foot-9 Washington has begun the process of scheduling visits for June.
“Washington said that he will visit North Carolina officially on the second of June and Stanford is set for the 12th,” Bossi wrote. “The Indiana native also mentioned that he’s looking at which local schools he can see and when.”
On that latter point, a source tells The Daily Hoosier that an IU visit by Washington is in the works, but nothing has been set up to this point. Washington is a 5-star prospect ranked in the top-20 in the class according to the 247Sports Composite.
TRIMBLE SETTING UP VISITS TOO
In the same report Bossi also noted that 2022 Wisconsin based point guard Seth Trimble is scheduling visits as well.
“So far, he’s set to hit Marquette on June 2nd for an unofficial visit before seeing Michigan (6/13) and North Carolina (6/16), officially, during June,” Bossi wrote.
Indiana offered the 6-foot-3 Trimble last month, and may be fighting an uphill battle here. A top-80 and rising 4-star prospect, Trimble has said on more than one occasion that Michigan and North Carolina each have special significance to him. Look for the Hoosiers to continue to try to secure one of Trimble’s five official visits to see if they can close the gap.
HOOD-SCHIFINO CONSISTENTLY MENTIONING IU
Point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino has led one of the quieter recruitments when it comes to Indiana’s top targets.
But one thing that has clearly emerged in recent weeks — IU is in a good spot with the top-30 4-star.
A former Pitt commit, Hood-Schifino talked with Bossi a week ago regarding Indiana.
“I got a great feel from Mike Woodson,” he told Bossi. “As soon as he got the job, he called me, and I’ve been talking to him and coach Kenya Hunter. He has been telling me that he is ready to turn the program around and they want to get on a zoom with me to show me campus and everything.”
The 6-foot-5 Hood Schifino mentioned IU again to Pro Insight this weekend, and he also told Rivals’ national analyst Rob Cassidy that IU is making a strong push.
“Indiana has been coming hard too,” he told Cassidy. “They want me to come in and be me — you know, play my game, get the ball out and go.”
Top-30 2022 Jalen Hood-Schifino told us he’s been hearing most often from Kansas, Tennessee, Wake Forest, Georgetown, Indiana, Oregon, & Pitt. Expect the versatile 6’5 CG to take on a larger role at Montverde as a SR 📈#TheCircuitLeague pic.twitter.com/j6797f70dn
— Pro Insight (@_proinsight) May 22, 2021
With the consistent mentions, it won’t be a surprise at all to see Hood-Schifino use one of his five official visits in Bloomington. He told Cassidy that Kansas, Tennessee, Indiana, Georgetown, Oregon and Pitt were his main schools, so he will likely cut one from that group or possibly use an unofficial for Pitt.
Hood-Schifino is originally from the Pittsburgh area but now plays his school ball at Montverde Academy.
TAYLOR CONTINUING TO IMPRESS
Virginia based wing Justin Taylor already has an IU visit set up, and he has continued to be a standout this spring.
247Sports national analyst Dushawn London was at an event in Virginia over the weekend and observed this about Taylor, who is playing for Nike EYBL’s Team Takeover.
“Currently ranked No. 56 in the class of 2022, Justin Taylor had a huge night for Team Takeover,” London wrote. “The most impressive part of his game is his shooting, but he really showed he can score in different ways and can lock in defensively. At 6-foot-6 he’s extremely versatile and stretches the floor with his elite shooting.”
Taylor has been reported to have had multiple 30 point games in recent weeks.
EXPECT MORE NAROWING FROM TYRELL WARD
6-foot-7 small forward Tyrell Ward included IU in his top eight schools on Friday, but with only five official visits allowed, that is a group that will be trimmed further in the coming months.
In a report on Friday action at an event in Virginia, London said Ward is planning to take his five officials before the end of the summer.
“Ward currently has a final eight schools and plans on taking five officials to five of his final eight by August,” London wrote.
Ward is currently ranked No. 52 overall in the class by the 247Sports Composite.
GUNN BACK IN ACTION
As we reported a couple weeks ago, IU’s lone class of 2022 commit CJ Gunn was out of action briefly with a minor ankle sprain. He returned this weekend at an event in Fort Wayne. Here is one of his many highlights posted on Twitter by his AAU program, the Indy Heat, during weekend action.
CJ Gunn II pulls up for the 3ball pic.twitter.com/uZ5ZFg9Yn6
— Gym Rats Basketball (@gymratsbball) May 22, 2021
The 6-foot-5 Gunn is currently a 4-star and ranked No. 103 in the 2022 class.
To see more of his highlights from the weekend, go here.
NICKEL MIGHT BE FADING FROM PICTURE
Tyler Nickel is another prolific scoring wing from Virginia who Indiana has offered.
In London’s same Sunday report, Nickel shared a list of likely visits that did not include Indiana.
“While nothing is locked in, Nickel has plans to do visits in the fall between Virginia Tech, NC State, Iowa, Butler, West Virginia, and UNC as of now,” London wrote.
The 6-foot-7 Nickel is a top-70 prospect in the class of 2022.
VISIT SUMMARY
Here are the planned Indiana June visits The Daily Hoosier has already directly confirmed.
- Jeremy Fears (2023) – June 9
- Kaleb Banks (2022) – June 10
- Justin Taylor (2022) – June 15-16
- Kyle Filipowski (2022) – June 15-16
- Xavier Booker (2023) – June 23
We will have more on Fears tomorrow. Look for more visits to be confirmed in the coming days.
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