Indiana is a state known for the shooters that it produces. Indiana has a reputation of churning out great college players. One thing the state, as a whole, usually does not manufacture is size. Size means a height over 6-8. The 2014 class is looking to change that with multiple transfers into the state.
The 2013 class in Indiana was loaded with wings in the 6-5 to 6-7 range. You were in trouble if you were a coach program looking for a player over 6-8 though. La Lumiere was the main source of height for the state with Torren Jones (6-8), Marin Maric (6-10) and John Paul (6-10).
2012 was one of the best crops of college prospects that Indiana has produced. The class had plenty of size with Hanner Perea (Indiana), Nick Osborne (Loyola), Jay Simpson (Purdue), Austin Burgett (Notre Dame), Trevor Thompson (prep school), Alex Olaha (Northwestern) and Tyler Alderman (Jacksonville) to name a few. The jury is still out on that group since most of them did not have an impact as freshmen.
2011 featured Cody Zeller, Michael Chandler and Justin Gant. Zeller has obviously done fantastically. Michael Chandler is at Northwest Florida State where he averaged 5 points a game. Gant had a solid sophomore season for Indiana State by averaging 7.5 points and 4.4 rebounds a game. Outside of those three, there was very little size to pick from for college coaches.
It looks like the 2014 class is going to break that mold. Trey Lyles (Arsenal Tech 6-9) leads the group of big guys in the class, and he can handle the ball like a guard. Johnathon Wilkins (La Lumiere, 6-10) is an old school post with his shot blocking and rebounding abilities. He can also move well enough laterally to defend high school guards on pick-and-rolls. Wilkins has offers from Marquette and Villanova among others. Mack Mercer (Plymouth, 6-9) can score inside and outside. His outside shot has come a long way in the last two seasons. He has a truck load of mid-major scholarship offers.
The 2014 class has a chance to separate itself from other Indiana classes with the next group of bigs. Lamous Brown (Bishop Noll, 6-10) had to sit out this past season after transferring in from Illinois. His game needs work, but he has many tools that could make him a very good college prospect. Steve McElvene (New Haven, 6-11) is another post that could potentially be pretty good. He has good hands and a nice touch around the basket. Bradley Fisher (Culver Academy, 6-10) and Seth Cox (New Palestine, 6-11) are slightly below Brown and McElvene in terms of projected level but are legitimate bigs. Cox has improved greatly since last summer.
Plus there is a good chance that La Lumiere will bring in another big or two next season. I have also heard a rumor of another big transferring into the state. The current junior class has a chance to be special with their depth of skilled big guys over 6-8. Only time will tell if this class will surpass the 2012 bigs.
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