Indiana Basketball: Analyzing 2020 recruiting targets for the Hoosiers
Hassan Diarra – Putnam Science Academy (CT)
PG | 6-foot-2 | 180 lbs | No. 66 overall
One of the top performers at EYBL Peach Jam, Hassan Diarra is going to be a highly sought-after point guard in the class. While competing in five games at the pinnacle event of grassroots basketball, he averaged 16.0 points (.406/.308/.690), 4.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game for PSA Cardinals (NY). He is a true lead guard in the way that he dictates the pace of games on both ends of the floor. Diarra seemingly does whatever it takes to help his team win with his abilities as a playmaker, scorer, and defender. Ranked as a top-75 player in the class, it is no secret that several programs will be after his commitment.
Even though the EYBL season is complete, it seems as though Diarra is far from making a college announcement. There are new programs that are still actively entering his recruitment and it is hard to say exactly who the favorites might be at this point. Indiana, though, is clearly still heavily involved and Coach Miller is reportedly sending this pitch (IndyStar): “Just keep getting better. He wants to help me continue to get better. Keep developing, work hard, and he wants to be my coach one day.”
R.J. Davis – Archbishop Stepinac (NY)
CG | 5-foot-11 | 150 lbs | No. 85 overall
Another top-100 guard who excelled at Peach Jam, R.J. Davis has been targeted by some of the elite programs in the nation. In addition to IU, the guard has received scholarship offers from Kansas and North Carolina, among others. This is clearly going to be a difficult recruiting battle but the Hoosiers are hopefully going to get Davis on campus for a visit. At this point in time, it seems pretty likely that Indiana is among the top programs as a result of their long-standing involvement.
Now that the EYBL season is over, it seems as though Davis is ready to take the next steps with his recruitment. This means analyzing the schools in pursuit, scheduling visits, and narrowing down his list from there. He has reportedly already taken an official visit to Georgetown and there are surely going to be more in the future.
DJ Steward – Whitney Young (IL)
CG | 6-foot-3 | 165 lbs | No. 27 overall
Easily one of the top guards in this entire class, DJ Steward is a difference-maker. He is a pure scorer that can seemingly always get it done with the ball in his hands. Steward can fill it up at all three levels and creates for himself at a high rate. Additionally, he is showing growth with regards to his court vision and passing ability, making him a more well-rounded offensive talent. The Hoosiers issued a scholarship offer in early May but they are far from the only ones. Duke currently holds all six Crystal Ball predictions for Steward while programs such as Louisville and North Carolina (among others) have also sent offers.
As a result of these other suitors, it seems unlikely that the Hoosiers will be able to land this talented guard. With that said, though, the program has been actively watching him play and continuing their recruiting efforts. You can check out this article ($$) by Jeff Rabjohns about Steward’s updated recruitment.
Caleb Love – Christian Brothers College (MO)
PG | 6-foot-3 | 170 lbs | No. 25 overall
Considering Indiana has been a heavily involved program in this recruitment for some time, I do not want to be the one to count them out. With that said, though, Caleb Love has launched into the nation’s top-25 for the 2020 class and is being pursued by almost all of the top programs. This includes offers from Kansas, Louisville, and North Carolina (among others). Love is clearly one of the most talented lead guards in this entire class with his abilities to be a lockdown defender as well as a solid scorer and creator. He can do everything well, for the most part, and would be an incredibly valuable addition to the IU program if he ends up committing.
The expectation should be that Love’s recruitment will continue to progress in the coming months. He has already indicated that he will cut his list of schools following the EYBL season (which is now over) and he is bound to take more visits in the near future as well. Love unofficially visited Bloomington last fall and the staff has to be hoping for a return trip.
Andre Curbelo – Long Island Lutheran (NY)
PG | 6-foot-0 | 155 lbs | No. 59 overall
Andre Curbelo has been skyrocketing up the national rankings over the past year and he now resides safely in the top-75 for the class. The Puerto Rican has been absolutely tremendous and his recruitment is starting to gather some serious momentum. Indiana only indicated interest in Curbelo recently but it makes sense. The Hoosiers are definitely in the market for a high-level point guard in this class and they are increasing their number of targets in hopes of landing at least one. Curbelo is an outstanding passer with excellent court vision. While he can be a solid scorer at all three levels, it is his creating that really stands out.
Curbelo, though, will not be an easy recruit to land. Much like the other guards on IU’s radar, he has been offered by several high-profile programs. The Hoosiers are yet to offer a scholarship to Curbelo, but that could come in the near future if there is significant mutual interest. Curbelo is reportedly planning on scheduling visits for later in the fall, so IU has some time to potentially bring him to Bloomington.
Lynn Greer – Roman Catholic (PA)
PG | 6-foot-1 | 165 lbs | No. 135 overall
Even though Lynn Greer is the lowest-rated point guard prospect in IU’s top targets, he is still quite talented. Ranked at No. 135 in the country, Greer is a three-star recruit with plenty of high-major offers. According to an article from late June, Indiana is one of the programs that is prioritizing him most at this point in time. As a result, it is fair to say that the Hoosiers have a solid shot at landing the talented guard. This is especially true when you consider that Coach Miller and Co. have been after him for a long time.
While playing for Team Takeover on the EYBL circuit this summer, Greer posted solid, albeit not incredible, numbers. Across 18 total contests, he averaged 7.2 points (.362/.211/.667), 3.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. There is certainly room for improvement but he is a solid lead guard with plenty of potential to be a difference-maker in college.