I caught up with the four Class of 2009 guys on Monday, and we ran a story this morning. Here's some more from the guys, especially Bobby Capobianco, who is always easy to talk to and always so enthusiastic about playing for IU.
(On a side note, I just saw A.J. Ratliff shooting around at the SRSC and draining just about everything)
Bobby Capobianco:
On this summer's play with Indiana Elite: "I thought it went real well. I feel blessed just to have been able to commit to a school early because that way I can use the summer, instead of worrying about what coaches are watching or what was going on...instead of worrying about all that, I could just take that time and work on my game and get better. We won some good tournaments; we played well as a team. I thought overall it went real well."
On his current excitement level about coming to IU:: "I've always been excited. I knew, I knew the first time I talked to Coach Crean--even when he was at Marquette--that he was the guy that I wanted to play for and that he was going to get the right things done. Even though the team and Indiana was kind of in shambles, I knew from the minute that I committed...this has all kind of played out the way I knew it would. He's a standup guy."
On his relationship with his recruiting class and expectations for this year's team: "I've been friends with Jordan for a long time, since we've played on the same AAU team for so long. Me and Derek have been friends for a while. We played against each other. I don't know Maurice, I've actually never met him before, and I'm still banking that either Roger or Christian will commit and that would be good. I'm excited. I know that with the guys Coach Crean has brought in ...I'm looking forward to everything. This year when they start playing, then it will really kind of show what he can do with what kind of little he has. He starts Wednesday (yesterday) being able to actually coach and hold practice. I think it'll be really, really good."
On attending the Elite Camp as an IU commit: "That was great. Not only did I get to talk to (the coaches) about what else they wanted to work with on, but they got to see the improvement that I had made with the stuff that they had previously told me to work on. It was fun getting there and getting to know everybody and it was actually really cool, I got to be pretty good friends with Matt Carlino, who actually just committed (Saturday). I thought it was fun to get there to hang out with everybody and be able to get to talk the coaches and still talk about the kind of stuff I need to work on."
On class of 2011 commit Matt Carlino: "He actually was on my team when we scrimmaged, and the kid looks like he has a good head on his shoulders and knows the game of basketball. Defensively he played real well; (he) had a bunch of nice steals. He shot the ball very well from the three point line. In layup lines he was throwing down windmill dunks, and any kid that can do that of any height is super athletic. I'm really excited."
On meeting Isaiah Thomas: "That was real neat. I tell you, Isaiah is a great guy and I don't think he really needs a connection to Coach Crean to come back. IU has that ability, that connection with any of their alumni. I felt privileged to be able to meet him and kind of just talk to him and pick his brain about IU and about the game in general. So yeah, I was pumped when he showed up."
On his goals for the next year: "Really the goal is just to get better, to get bigger, faster, (and) stronger. I've really got to prepare myself like I'm coming in. Most freshman guys aren't blessed with the opportunity that my class will be with how we'll be the second group of guys there. We have a good chance to make a really big impact as freshmen. For me it's getting quicker, being able to jump higher, being able to score the ball off the wing, and just being able to play that mid-post area that Coach Crean's runs. I'll keep talking to them and I'll keep talking to who I need to talk to, whether that's the strength coach or maybe Roshown McLeod--whoever it might be--so that I can be best prepared when I get there."
Derek Elston:
On Crean's first two teams at IU: "I have a few buddies of mine that are big IU fans and they're kind of iffy on this year. They don't really know because it's the rebuilding season and that got me kind of wondering...it just depends really. I can't wait to get down there and see Hoosier Hysteria and see the first game, just to really see how we're going to be....my freshman year, I really don't know. I'd like to say that we're going to be a big part of a lot of winning games but it's just how everybody's attitude is and how hard we work and things like that. You're never going to know."
On Crean and the coaching staff: "I've met him four times this summer and if I'm not calling him I'm calling Coach (Tim) Buckley, and this weekend I met all the guys down there. I've met a few of them before, but this time I got to interact with everybody. I've met the whole staff and everybody seems what I like in the staff.
Jordan Hulls:
On personal goals for the next year: "For myself, it's just getting stronger and faster and just keeping on working on my game and getting ready for the next level...I'd say I'm about 5-(foot)11 or 6 feet. I want to get to 180 or 175 (pounds), solid, that's about it."
Maurice Creek:
On his goals for the year: "I just want to get ready for college, stay in shape, do my work (and) qualify, and get ready for Indiana because it's a basketball state and I'm most definitely ready for it."
On the possibility of teammate Chris Braswell joining IU: "You know, me and Chris talk about that. It's up to him...Everybody's going after him, you know, (since) he reopened his scholarship (from Georgetown). Whatever happens, happens and he'll do good wherever he goes."
