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Just thought I'd post this again for those that hadn't read it and are interested (I originally posted on the Justin Gant Recruit thread).

Terre Haute North was 17-7 last season and got upset in the second round of Sectionals. They finished 3-4 in conference play and were beat at North Central 41-60. However, from what I've heard North was in the game to start the 4th. One of the 3 conference wins was a convincing one over conference champion Center Grove toward the end of season.

As for this coming season, if the results from this summer have any meaning North will be a very tough team to play. In 30-some games all summer North only suffered 3 losses - by 8 at Avon, a team with multiple D1 signees; and single digit losses to a good Louisville team and good Cincinnati team.

The team does lose an inside presence with the graduation of Thomas Anderson (Olney Central JC) and loses two very good athletes, competitors, and lock-down defenders in Chris O'Leary (redshirt quarterback for the ISU football team) and Andrew Gauer (Vincennes University baseball).

However, there is still plenty of talent to go around (and don't forget, North's JV team won the MIC last year):
- Obviously, we all know what Justin Gant can do.

- Point Guard play has been a question mark the last few years; however, Senior Chase Jones will be running the point for the 4th year and showed vast improvement last year over his first two years on the varsity. Senior Tommie Bolden led the JV team in assists and steals last year and came on strong for the varsity team the second half of last season, earning significant minutes for the team.

- An abundance of shooters will live on the perimeter for North this year. Junior Ross Sponsler and Senior Logan Shipley split starting duties last year and both return. Sponsler had a strong summer in AAU and drew some recognition for his shooting ability; if the kid's on his is hard to stop. Shipley had some huge games scoring wise for North last year (i.e. 25+ at Vincennes), and other games he disappeared. As a senior I look for him to be more consistent. 6'5" Senior Jake Newton gives the team another outside threat off the bench. He is a tall, athletic guard with a nice stroke.

- 6'7" Junior Matt O'Leary should pick up some of the scoring lost to graduation. He was the leader scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker on the JV team last season and saw limited varsity minutes. However, he started every game for the team this summer, leading them in scoring multiple times. After a strong summer in AAU he has attracted interest from a host of D1 schools, notably Evansville (invited to their Elite camp), Eastern Kentucky (has taken a visit there), and Ball State (came to open gym to watch him).

- As has been discussed in other threads, 6'5" Sophomore Calvin Blank is a physical specimen. He will fill the void that Anderson is leaving under the basket with his physical play. Calvin is a talented player and is consider by many to be a Top 20 recruit in the state.

- Other potential contributors:
- Senior Daniel Gabbard and Sophomore Sydney Moore: Both great athletes and have been discussed in a few threads on the Sycamore Football forum (update: I believe Gabbard decided to hang up the sneakers and will not play this year)
- Senior Kalen Alexander: Another athlete with some shooting ability
- Sophomore Nate Jahn: Started at PG on last year's JV team as a freshman. True competitor, leader, and point guard. Size and quickness could be an issue, but I think he could provide some valuable minutes in a backup role (and with his work ethic I wouldn't doubt that he has worked to improve his quickness).
-Sophomore AJ Grady: Big, athletic body (6'2" - 262 lbs.) that could fill in if Gant, Blank, or O'Leary get in foul trouble.

I may be missing some of the other sophomores and I'm not sure if there are any incoming freshmen that could contribute, but based on the above I feel that North will be very formidable this season and could make a deep run in the state tournament.
 

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I went to Center Grove and they have very high expectations this year. As mentioned above they won the MIC title last year and look to do it again this year. They are lead by Smeathers (Butler commit) and Marlin (IPFW commit) Both of these kids can flat out play. I think they also have a few guys that are 6'8 and taller.

They were knocked out early in the first round of the tourney last year by Southport which was very disappointing. They should be a tough team again this year and I know they all have high expectations.
 
http://www.indystar.com/article/20101109/SPORTS02/101109028/?odyssey=mod|dnmiss|sports

Here is a link to the Indy Star's Fab 15. I know that this has the potential to include the Terre Haute schools because south was on this a few years ago. Looks like it may be a rough season in the MIC for THS/N. You can click on year team and there is a write up about what to expect and who are the key players. Most all of these teams have 1 or 2 or maybe 3 Division 1 recruits. I still will argue Indianapolis basketball per capita is the best in the country.
 
jlandrus23 said:
Why does it have to be a joke?

This IS an Indiana State message board, but we have forums for politics and entertainment. What really is the difference?
Click to expand...

Very little difference, as politics, the entertainment world and indiana hs basketball are pretty comical.

END CLASS BASKETBALL
 
KAPat1865 said:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20101109/SPORTS02/101109028/?odyssey=mod|dnmiss|sports

Here is a link to the Indy Star's Fab 15. I know that this has the potential to include the Terre Haute schools because south was on this a few years ago. Looks like it may be a rough season in the MIC for THS/N. You can click on year team and there is a write up about what to expect and who are the key players. Most all of these teams have 1 or 2 or maybe 3 Division 1 recruits. I still will argue Indianapolis basketball per capita is the best in the country.
Click to expand...

South isn't going to be very good, but North is pretty loaded. They have one definite D-1 in Gant, one possible in O'Leary, and one who could be in two sports in Blank. They will probably be 6'8, 6'7, and 6'6 across front line. Two pretty good shooters, and small college prospects in Sponselor and Shipley. PG has been a question mark, but I've heard that Bolden has out-played Jones who is a two-year starter. North is also loaded from 6th grade through 9th grade.

On a side note the Woodrow Wilson 7th grade is the best middle school team I've ever seen. Their closest game has been 16 points and their starters played about one quarter.
 

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It will be interesting to see how THN fairs in the MIC. North and South are the only two school in the MIC that are not on that list.

Who is recruiting O'leary and Blank?
 
KAPat1865 said:
It will be interesting to see how THN fairs in the MIC. North and South are the only two school in the MIC that are not on that list.

Who is recruiting O'leary and Blank?
Click to expand...

The Indy star's list is always just the Indy Metro area. I wouldn't put much stock in it. North is off the radar for sure. North was 3-4 in the MIC last year but had only 2 home games in conference. Well, 3 if u count South at Hulman Center.

From post above, apparently Evansville, Ball St., and Eastern Kentucky have been to open gym to watch O'Leary. Blank is just a sophomore and appears to be a big-time football recruit. Not sure who/if any are recruiting him but he has been listed as a top 20 player in Indiana for his grade.
 
Right on! I agree with you guys all the way, and I come from a state with FIVE classes. I attended one of the last single-class championships with Damon Bailey and BNL at the RCA Dome and I can tell you that was a moment I will NEVER forget. Unfortunately, that will never happen again, period.
 
i like class basketball. makes competition even. a school with 300 kids has less athletes to choose from than a school that has over 2000.
 

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egc1985 said:
i like class basketball. makes competition even. a school with 300 kids has less athletes to choose from than a school that has over 2000.
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What message are you sending the students with 300 enrollment. Is it "You can not compete so we are not going to try?" Life is not that way, colleges do not care if they are from an enrollment of 300 or 4000 neither do employers. Winning is not everything, learning to give the maximum when the challenge seems impossible is just, if not, more important. All class basketball has done is too widen the level of play between the classes and (2) most 4A schools will no longer schedule 1A schools because they have nothing to gain.This ends up hurting the athletes from the 1A schools because they do not get challenged to the maximum and most colleges want to see players against top flight competition this is why recruiting now revolves around AAU, especially for 1A players.
 
SycamoreFan317 said:
What message are you sending the students with 300 enrollment. Is it "You can not compete so we are not going to try?" Life is not that way, colleges do not care if they are from an enrollment of 300 or 4000 neither do employers. Winning is not everything, learning to give the maximum when the challenge seems impossible is just, if not, more important. All class basketball has done is too widen the level of play between the classes and (2) most 4A schools will no longer schedule 1A schools because they have nothing to gain.This ends up hurting the athletes from the 1A schools because they do not get challenged to the maximum and most colleges want to see players against top flight competition this is why recruiting now revolves around AAU, especially for 1A players.
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I support this 100%.
 
KAPat1865 said:
Who is recruiting O'leary and Blank?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure who is recruiting Blank, but I do know he has attracted a good amount of interest for football and is well known around the state in basketball circles.

As for O'Leary, Evansville, Ball State, and Eastern Kentucky are the D1s that have probably shown the most interest. He has spoken to coaches from all three quite a few times, and he was invited to and participated in Evansville's Elite Camp this summer, attended Eastern Kentucky's junior day, and had Ball State coaches come watch him in to open gym this fall. He has also been in contact with NAIA, D2, and D3 schools as well.

Here's a recruiting website for O'Leary:
www.mattoleary2012.com

Here's one for THN PG Tommie Bolden too:
www.tommiebolden.com
 
i can't wait for a union-dugger-north central (indianapolis) match-up

no offense meant to union-dugger
 
KAPat1865 said:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20101109/SPORTS02/101109028/?odyssey=mod|dnmiss|sports

Here is a link to the Indy Star's Fab 15. I know that this has the potential to include the Terre Haute schools because south was on this a few years ago. Looks like it may be a rough season in the MIC for THS/N. You can click on year team and there is a write up about what to expect and who are the key players. Most all of these teams have 1 or 2 or maybe 3 Division 1 recruits. I still will argue Indianapolis basketball per capita is the best in the country.
Click to expand...

best recruiters without a doubt
 

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True Blue said:
South isn't going to be very good, but North is pretty loaded. They have one definite D-1 in Gant, one possible in O'Leary, and one who could be in two sports in Blank. They will probably be 6'8, 6'7, and 6'6 across front line. Two pretty good shooters, and small college prospects in Sponselor and Shipley. PG has been a question mark, but I've heard that Bolden has out-played Jones who is a two-year starter. North is also loaded from 6th grade through 9th grade.

On a side note the Woodrow Wilson 7th grade is the best middle school team I've ever seen. Their closest game has been 16 points and their starters played about one quarter.
Click to expand...

it's an assembled team
 
dr. bucket said:
i can't wait for a union-dugger-north central (indianapolis) match-up

no offense meant to union-dugger
Click to expand...
No offense to you either Doc, but Union-Dugger (I am not a Hoosier so I am assuming this school is similar to Milan) would not have played against any upper level schools UNTIL the tourney started. Once the tourney is on, GAME ON! Then it's survival of the fittest time and anything goes. Milan did it against Munice Central and if the movie was to happen again, Union-Duggar could beat North Central. What I remember of the one-class tourney is that is what made it special. The little guy beating the big guy or David Vs. Goliath. Take that away and look what you have. A disorganized, disjointed tourney that most people could care less about. Instead of 40,000 watching Damon Bailey in the RCA Dome, they have 16,000 in a good year, and that's for TWO games. DRAMA? There is none. I couldn't even watch the game on TV because it wasn't on satellite. I could have in the old days.
 
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School consolidation has had some influence on rivalries also, IMHO. The county I went to in high school had 10 schools during my Jr. high school days.
By my Sophomore year there were only three.

Remember the Wabash Valley Tournament? There were hundreds of schools from IN and IL as participants. I believe it was recognized as the second largest tournament in the U.S..

Just my thoughts that class competition is not the sole cause for fan interest and attendance.

Sidenote: I sat in Butler Fieldhouse as a not quite 10 yr. old and watched my Montezuma Aztecs lose to Milam and Bobby Plump. I've detested the stall strategy ever since as that is what Milam employed in the 4th quarter.
Second game was Crispus Attucks(Oscar Robertson) v.s. Muncie Central(Ron Bonham). http://www.sycamorehoops.com/images/icons/icon7.gif
 
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