There isn't a lot of focus on college basketball during the month of July, but if there is any news, it usually involves recruiting.
And with no game reports to read, a couple of recruiting stories caught my eye this morning (okay, it's 1:30 PM).
First, ESPN.com's Pat Forde wrote a great article on how college coach's recruiting targets are getting younger and younger. For example, USC's Tim Floyd received a recent verbal commitment from 14-year-old Ryan Boatright. To top his interstate rival, Ben Howland offered a scholarship to a 9-year-old dog.
The story doesn't mention the Hoosiers by name, but it does talk about Fort Wayne's DeShaun Thomas and his commitment/de-commitment to Ohio State.
The second story that drew my interest was a story on whether our obsession for basketball, and its summertime recruiting news, has gone over the line? Gasp.
A couple of other notes:
* The annual Hoosier barnstorming tour is beginning to take form. Dates are already scheduled in New Albany (Aug. 2), Batesville (Aug. 3), Fort Wayne (Aug. 4), Elnora (Aug. 7) and Muncie (Aug. 9). Expect for another date to be added in the Indianapolis area. For those not familiar with the tour, this will be Hoosier fan's first chance to catch Eric Gordon and the rest of the first-year players in action.
* One more link (sorry). I'll get straight to the point: Earl Calloway calls Pacman Jones a "good guy." I'm speechless.
