The Daily Hoosier was at the Bill Hensley Memorial Run ‘n Slam in Fort Wayne this weekend, watching and talking to IU recruiting prospects.
For this weekend we focused primarily on the class of 2022, because that is where the IU staff has been primarily focused to this point.
We will continue to dig deeper into the class of 2023 and beyond as the spring and summer rolls on.
Here are some of our key notes from the weekend.
Leland Walker is a class of 2022 Indianapolis based guard who has been on the IU radar for well over a year. The North Central High School product told The Daily Hoosier on Saturday that Indiana’s interest has continued after Mike Woodson took over.
“They are mainly just talking to me and trying to get close to me and stuff like that right now,” Walker said of the new Indiana staff.
The 5-foot-10 Walker said he doesn’t have visits set up yet and isn’t sure of a decision timeframe. He is a 3-star recruit and ranked the No. 31 combo guard in the class according to 247Sports.
Playing for Team Teague, Walker is a high volume scorer with elite quickness and ability to play through contact at the rim. He was scoring around, over and through high major forwards a foot taller than him once he got past his man. He said he wants to play point guard in college, and high major coaches who have yet to offer are telling him that they want to see him defend better and getting his teammates more involved offensively. Virginia Tech, Providence and Wake Forest are the main high majors recruiting Walker to this point.
Walker’s good friend and Indy Heat 2022 point guard Tayshawn Comer is another player who has spoken to the new IU staff. Comer is a tough, physical 6-foot facilitator who has made significant strides over the last year — just like he did the year before. Comer’s handle is bordering the elite level, and his shot has improved. Comer really embraces the point guard position and looks to make the right play, whether it is scoring or passing. He scored 17 points in the first half alone on Sunday morning, leading the Heat to a win over Walker.
Comer’s Indy Heat teammate and IU commit C.J. Gunn did not play in the event due to a sprained ankle which his father told The Daily Hoosier was minor. Gunn was at the event wearing an IU mask and was walking without a significant limp.
Trejuan Holloman is a 2022 point guard who Indiana has offered, but the Minnesota based top-60 4-star told The Daily Hoosier that he has not heard from the new IU staff. That is somewhat surprising given that assistant coach Dane Fife was involved with his recruitment at Michigan State. Obviously there is still time for IU to get involved again if they choose to do so, but Holloman doesn’t seem like a priority. He was more of a facilitator than scorer in the two games we watched. Holloman also has power-five football options and hasn’t decided his path for college. Indiana has also recruited him to play safety for the football team.
The Chicago based Meanstreets 2022 Nike EYBL team that features Jalen Washington and A.J. Casey won the Bill Hensley Run-N-Slam event. Washington looked more comfortable and explosive just since last weekend when we watched him play in Louisville. He didn’t face AAU competition at all in 2020 as he recovered from knee surgery and he seems to be reacclimating to the pace and talent nicely this spring. Washington ended his weekend with an offer from North Carolina. Meanstreets also features 6-foot-5 shooting guard Kam Craft, one of the best shooters in the class and someone who has started to receive a wave of high major offers and interest, along with 6-foot-6 small forward Ty Rodgers, who also has plenty of high majors taking a look.
The Daily Hoosier caught up with Washington and Casey last weekend. You can read those stories here: Washington | Casey
Leon Bond is a class of 2022 wing from Wisconsin, and another player that IU has had on its radar for a while.
Former IU assistant coach and current Cincinnati assistant Mike Roberts was Bond’s main point of contact with Indiana. While his name was tied to IU in a report on Friday by 247Sports, Bond told The Daily Hoosier that he hasn’t heard from IU since Mike Woodson took over.
But the 6-foot-5 Bond generated substantial buzz at this weekend’s event playing for JH1 Elite, and as someone Indiana is already aware of, it would not be a surprise to see the Hoosiers reinvigorate those efforts along with a host of other high majors. Bond’s athleticism, quickness and motor were are highly impressive. If there are reservations with Bond, it would be his ability as a 3-point shooter. He said Butler, Marquette, Cincinnati and Tennessee are the main high majors that he is talking to right now.
Jaden Schutt is a 6-foot-4 Illinois based shooting guard with a lot of Big Ten interest. Schutt confirmed with The Daily Hoosier reports of Indiana interest, with new assistant coach Dane Fife leading the way. Schutt is regarded as one of the better pure shooters in the class of 2022.
The Daily Hoosier also confirmed reports of Indiana’s interest in a pair of 2023 Midwest guards, and since they are both playing up a year together with the Midwest Basketball Club, we will talk about them here in this 2022 focused report. Kentucky based shooting guard Reed Sheppard and Ohio based point guard Gabe Cupps both can more than hold their own playing with 2022 competition. College coaches cannot call 2023 players directly until June 15, but both Sheppard and Cupps are well aware of IU’s interest.
The Daily Hoosier will take a deeper dive on Schutt, Sheppard and Cupps this week as part of our “names to know” series.
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