Overview: Elston is a 6-9, 225 pound junior forward from Tipton, Ind. As a sophomore, Elston averaged 4.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Elston played in all but one of IU's 32 games, starting in ten of them. The junior shot 51.2 percent from the field and was one of three Hoosiers to shoot better than 50 percent. A first team all-state player at Tipton High School in his senior year, Elston was ranked 90th overall in the 2009 class by Rivals.com.
Best case: Elston gives the Hoosiers a low-post scoring threat off the bench. Barring injury to an IU big, it is unlikely that Elston will crack the starting lineup this season. However, with the transfer of Bobby Capobianco, Elston sees a more increased workload than his usual 15 minutes per game. Elston is able to provide an offensive boost when he gives Tom Pritchard a breather. His game develops more on the interior, instead of his usual mid-range game. Defensively, the more physically-defined Elston is able to match up against the biggest opposing player, allowing Cody Zeller to avoid foul trouble.
Worst case: Last year's step back takes another step back. By season's end, Elston fell out of favor with IU Coach Tom Crean. His playing time hit the skids, registering single-digit minutes in each of IU's last two games. That chain gets even tighter for Elston in his junior year and by Big Ten play, he has earned a spot in Crean's doghouse. Elston continues to struggle finding an offensive identity and IU suffers to defend the interior when he subs for Pritchard. Elston's lack of emergence forces Crean to either go with a smaller lineup off the bench or experiment with the likes of walk-on Jeff Howard.
Outlook: The way last season ended for Elston did not leave IU fans thinking optimistic thoughts about his future. Many believed he would transfer instead of Capobianco. Now, Elston has an ideal opportunity to rack up significant minutes being the only IU post player off the bench with any ounce of experience. Pritchard has never had any problems racking up fouls so Elston will likely see minutes similar to that of a starter. What he does with those minutes will largely be determined by whether or not he matures defensively and learns to score on the low block. If Elston can do that, IU finally won't be physically dominated in the post when Big Ten play rolls around.
