With players graduating, jumping to the NBA, backing out of verbal commitments and a series of other reasons, it's hard to dissect what a basketball team will need 2-3 years down the line. Nevertheless, Kelvin Sampson and his staff are spending the summer recruiting for the not-so-immediate future.
With that in mind, I thought a future roster overview might help our readers understand what Sampson is looking for. In other words, subtracting the players who are graduating or leaving and adding the players who are committed.
So what (or should I say who) do the Hoosiers need in upcoming classes? The question becomes slightly complex when trying to predict when NBA-bound players will enter the draft. For the sake of this discussion, and because life is not fair, I'm assuming Eric Gordon and Devin Ebanks will be one-and-done. Sorry.
2007-2008 * Adam Ahlfeld (senior) * Ben Allen (junior) * Armon Bassett (sophomore) * Jordan Crawford (freshman) * Jamarcus Ellis (junior) * Eric Gordon (freshman) * Eli Holman (freshman) * Brandon McGee (freshman) * A.J. Ratliff (senior) * Lance Stemler (senior) * Kyle Taber (junior) * DeAndre Thomas (junior) * D.J. White (junior) * Mike White (junior)
2008-2009 * Ben Allen (senior) * Armon Bassett (junior) * Jordan Crawford (sophomore) * Devin Ebanks (freshman) * Jamarcus Ellis (senior) * Eli Holman (sophomore) * Bud Mackey (freshman) * Brandon McGee (sophomore) * Kyle Taber (senior) * DeAndre Thomas (senior)
2009-2010 * Armon Bassett (senior) * Jordan Crawford (junior) * Eli Holman (junior) * Bud Mackey (sophomore) * Brandon McGee (junior)
From the lists above, you can tell why the Hoosiers have been focusing a majority of their recruiting efforts on class of 2009 targets. Of course, Sampson's strategy would change if he knew Gordon or Ebanks would be around for a couple of years.
What type of player would you like to see the Hoosiers add? Are there players specifically that you have on your wish list? Angel Garcia? Dashan Harris? Let me know what you think.
Two final notes:
* I hope everyone had a chance to catch the beautiful Basketblog advertisement on the top of today's Indiana Daily Student. Personally, I feel it should be made a permanent fixture.
* And speaking of permanent fixtures...two members of the IDS Hall of Fame (I'm the committee) have started a Hoosier sports blog of their own. Check out what Eamonn Brennan and Ryan Corazza are saying over at Insidethehall.com
