So I was logging off of Facebook (what do you expect?), and on my front page was a list of the most recent “status updates” among my friends (and “friends”). Right there was an update from a certain high school basketball star named Maurice Sutton, you may have heard of him.

I wouldn’t normally bother posting anything like this on the basketblog because, well, who does that? But I found his update to be rather interesting, especially considering his comments on Friday. This is what it read:

“Maurice is like. . . Indiana University was aight. . . Im tired tho . . . I be on the G5 tmw on my way home. .  . Right back to Villanova on Wednesday . . . Im just TIRED OF IT.”

While it had seemed that he might make a verbal to IU any day now, what do you think of him saying that IU was just all right? On a postive note, at least he knows that he could be playing at Indiana University, as opposed to the University of Indiana (see HOLMAN, ELIJAH).

Jeremiah Rivers plans to enroll at IU, a source told The Washington Times. Rivers, who recently announced his intentions of leaving the Georgetown progam, was on the IU campus for an unofficial visit Friday.

In two seasons at Georgetown, Rivers never scored in double figures, but he had earned the reputation of being a “defensive stopper.” Although Rivers would have to sit out for one year, the 6-foot-4 guard Rivers would bring two years of experience and leadership to a young IU squad next year.

6-foot-10 power foward/center Maurice Sutton is in town this weekend for the adidas May Classic. Sutton was impressed with IU, while he was rather impressive on the court playing with Indiana Elite LNO, both HoosierNation.com and Chris Korman from the H-T reported. Sutton is scheduled for an unofficial visit on Monday, and also has one scheduled still at Villanova.

Demetrius Walker, a 6-foot-4 small forward from Orange County, Calif. told Andy Romney of Peegs.com and Inside Indiana that IU is his top choice right now. The class of 2009 recruit from JSerra Catholic High School is also in Bloomington, playing for the SoCal All-Stars. The three-star recruit is considering Florida, Memphis, Oregon, USC and Villanova too, according to his Rivals.com profile, although that may not be a bit outdated now. While his primary position is small forward, he might move to the 2-spot at the college level due to his height, unless he finds himself in a four-guard lineup.

Last but not least, it has also been reported that Jeremiah Rivers, son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, was on campus for an unofficial on Friday. After two years under John Thompson III at Georgetown, the Winter Park, Fla., native recently announced he is transferring. Rivers was a three-star guard coming out of high school and chose Georgetown over Kansas and Notre Dame. He was, however, previously recruited by Tom Crean at Marquette (his father’s alma mater) and had received a scholarship offer. Rivers is not much of an offensive threat, but could be a welcome addition to the Hoosiers defensively.

Here is a copy of press release sent to the IDS IU Basketball spokesman J.D. Campbell including a statement from IU coach Tom Crean:

Bloomington, Indiana–Indiana University men’s basketball coach Tom Crean has announced that Verdell Jones III, a 6-4, 180-lb. guard from Champaign, Illinois) Central High School has signed a national letter of intent to atend IU and play basketball for the Hoosiers beginning next fall.  He was the Champaign News-Gazette Area Player of the Year and an All-State choice as a senior.

“Verdell is an excellent addition to our recruiting class,” said Crean. “He is a great floor leader with a tremendous ability to direct an offense and he also has the ability to make plays on his own.  His wingspan will make him a tough defender and we like the fact that he has played in so many big-game environments in high school and AAU ball that he will be able to compete for our program right away.  We are very excited about his upside.”

A three-year starter as a prep, he averaged 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists for Coach Scott Davis as a senior and led the Maroons to the Class 3A semifinals as they fell to two-time defending champ Chicago Simeon 51-46. He was named to the Associated Press Class 3A All-State first team after leading his squad to a 25-8 mark and a third-place finish in the Class AAA Tournament. He shot 46.8% from the field, 31% from three-point range and 75.3% from the free throw line. He finished his career with 602 assists, ranking him sixth on the state of Illinois¹ all-time list.  As a junior, he averaged 18.6 points, nine assists and four rebounds and earned All-Area and All-State mention.

He chose Indiana over Kentucky, Arizona and Minnesota.  He also once earned national acclaim as an eighth grader for making an 80-foot shot in helping his middle school to an eighth grade state title.

He is the fifth player to accept a scholarship to play for the Hoosiers joining forward Tom Pritchard (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Edwards), guard Matt Roth
(Washington, Illinois), guard Devan Dumes (Vincennes/Indianapolis) and guard Nick Williams (Mobile, Alabama/LeFlore).  He faced Roth¹s Washington squad in the third place game at the Illinois State Championships and also played against Williams¹ LeFlore squad in a regular season tournament in Missouri.

He played his AAU ball for Ft. Sooy No Limit where he was coached by his father, Verdell Jones, Jr.  ESPN.com had him ranked 28th among senior point guards nationally, while Scout.com ranked him as the 30th.  He was rated as the 127th best prospect overall in the country.

Jordan Prosser, a 6-foot-8 class of 2009 prospect from Eureka (Ill.) High School, has told Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal that IU, Iowa, Purdue, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Texas A&M are his favorites at this point in his recruitment.

Prosser, a four-star recruit ranked No. 93 in his class by Rivals.com, will be playing at the adidas May Classic this weekend in Bloomington. While Prosser has been considering IU for some time now, the Indiana Elite forward will be meeting Tom Crean for the first time.

“I don’t know coach Crean,” Prosser told Demling. “But I will keep them on my list and see how things work out. I want to see how he is.”

The adidas May Classic will be held in Bloomington this weekend. Many top prep prospects, including many IU targets and 2009 commit Bobby Capobianco will be playing. Mike Pegram of Peegs.com has posted an article about the event and some of its featured players.

Also, here is a tenative breakdown of when and where they will play.

• Friday
• Saturday
• Sunday: TBA

Tickets are likely $5 or $10 and are good for all sites. Anyone who will be on hand this weekend, please post your thoughts/reactions/analysis with everyone.

Former IU center Eli Holman will be joining Ray McCallum at Detroit-Mercy. “He’s an NBA player. I think he can do a lot of good there,” said Holman’s high school coach, Robert Collins.

I wish Holman the best at UDM, but an NBA player? We’ll see about that. He has hardly seen the court in three years. With Xavier Keeling also playing at UDM, maybe we might see Armon Bassett, Jamarcus Ellis and DeAndre Thomas land there too.

Bored this summer? Anyone for Ray McCallum Basketball Camp?

Jordan Hulls, a 6-foot, 170-lb. point guard for Bloomington South, was offered a scholarship by IU on Tuesday night, according to John Decker over at HoosierNation.com. Decker is also reporting that Purdue offered a scholarship to the high school junior today.

Hulls is a member of the Indiana Elite AAU squad, along with 2009 IU commit Bobby Capobianco and other top prospects such as Stephan Van Treese (undecided), Mason Plumlee (Duke), Jordan Prossser (undecided) and Colt Ryan (undecided), among others.

Hulls had been considered more of a mid-major prospect, but his stock has risen due to his play in recent AAU events. In his junior season at South, Hulls averaged 16 points per game.

I spoke with Maurice Creek and his AAU coach, Keith Stevens, on Sunday night. Here are some more quotes and info that didn’t make it into Monday’s story:

• Creek likes how Coach Crean lets his players play: “He’s going to let you do what you do best,” Creek said. “Seeing how he let Dwyane Wade go off, (I thought that) if he can do it, I can do it…He says he’s going to let me do that. I’m looking forward to it.”
• Creek said the aspect of his game he most needs to improve upon is his rebounding, but in his defense he said he is usually the one “trying to push the (fast) break.” He said his solution to getting better on the glass is simply playing more: “That’s why I play AAU, so I can work on it.”
• Other than playing AAU ball this summer with D.C. Triple Threat, Creek says he will be attending “a couple of camps.” One of those camps will be the CP3 Backcourt Skills Academy, put on by New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul. The CP3 camp runs from June 6-8 and is “by invitation only,” according to ChrisPaul3.com.
• Keith Stevens, Creek’s AAU coach, said that Creek is “very talented” but he has “just got to get stronger.” Creek knows that too, and plans on hitting the gym next season: “My senior year, I’ll just get a personal trainer, try to work with him all summer and try to get ready for college,” Creek said.
• Stevens also talked about Creek’s strengths as a player, which include great shooting and on the ball defense: “He’ll be ready to play when he steps on campus and be ready to contribute.”
• I asked Creek if he models his game after any pro or college stars, past or present, and he gave a a bit of a surprising answer: “I love Eric Gordon,” he said. “He’s the main factor to me. He goes and does his thing and he’s doing what he does.” When Gordon declared for the NBA Draft last month, Creek wanted to continue where Gordon left off. “That’s my goal, to follow behind (in) his footsteps.”
• Creek confirmed that he has never been to Indiana, but he plans on making the trip in the near future: “I will be coming soon though,” he said.

Upon the news that Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis will not be returning to the IU basketball program, three-star guard Verdell Jones again became a hot name in IU recruiting chatter. Jones picked IU on Monday, although many were nearly certain he would choose Minnesota. The Champaign, Ill., native also considered UK.

Look for more on the IU’s newest addition later in the week.