"The rankings are what they are and everybody puts so much weight on that," Bobby Capobianco told me last week.
Well said. Recruiting rankings are just numbers, but that doesn't mean that college basketball fans don't like to analyze them. Rivals.com just posted its latest class of 2009 edition. Derek Elston is ranked No. 96, Maurice Creek has dropped signficiantly to No. 136 (3-stars), while Capobianco has entered the Rivals150 at No. 138.
Chances are IU fans will say, "Who cares? We know Eltson and Creek are better." And they should. There is reason to be optimistic for the 2009-10 season. Although two years is a short time in a program rebuilding process, that is the year that many are gearing up for and anticipating success. IU fans collectively feel that Crean is bringing in the right guys and that two years from now, there could be a lot to look forward to. NCAA Tournament? We'll see, but there does seem to be some promise for that future Hoosiers squad.
Now for some notable rankings:
- #1 John Wall -- Wall has interest in IU...and probably 20 other schools.
- #26 Dante Taylor -- Has been mentioned as one of Crean's targets.
- #36 Nolan Dennis -- Once thought to be very interested in IU, but his interest may have dropped post-Sampson.
- #39 Mfon Udofia -- IU has interest in this point guard, but once again so do many other schools.
- #47 Christian Watford -- The 6-foot-7 small forward was in town last weekend for the AMC and said he plans to be back for another visit.
- #58 Jamil Wilson -- This Wisconsin-native once listed Wisconsin and Marquette as his top schools, but he says he has no favorites right now. IU has come into the picture due to the Crean hiring, but there has been some buzz about Wilson liking Duke.
- #86 Demetrius Walker -- Could be the next '09 recruit to commit.
- #90 Roger Franklin -- Previously unranked, this Texas-native's stock has risen and his interest in IU seems to be rather high
- #121 Stephan Van Treese -- Once a top recruit in his class, the Lawrence North star is now just a three-star recruit. Van Treese is still being targeted by major programs, however. Being an Indiana-native, getting Van Treese could be very telling of Crean's future success at keeping Hoosiers home to play at IU.
- #135 Jordan Prosser -- Eureka (Ill.) forward has been interested in IU for a while now and has remained interest despite all that has gone on within the prorgam. IU is among his favorite six.
