AJ Hammons (Commit Other)

[whitesox]

6'11" C from Carmel, Indiana. We have offered him.

Rivals: http://rivals.yahoo.com/gavarsity/basketball/recruiting/player-A.J.-Hammons-94068

Currently ranked 14th in ESPN's top 25 for class of 2012.

In Indy Star today: "IU is a good school," he said. "My mom went there and it has a good tradition. Ohio State has a great campus. I like Xavier a lot, too."

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100503/SPORTS0203/5030314/1361/SPORTS0615/IU-close-on-Davis-Fellow-recruit-is-pushing-hard

[Benxman]

It is gratifying to see we are in the hunt for a quality big man. I just lamented on the Jakar Sampson thread that we need to stock up a few guys bigger than 6'8". I hope Mack can land someone this size who is a quality player.
Go Muskies!:)

[Atlas]

I always thought we need big men as well but I am beginning to find that quick, athletic players who can shoot and drive the bucket are much better to have on the team. Jordan Crawford is a perfect example. I will take a smaller fellow with speed over a big man who needs work anyday. You can't teach speed.

[MADXSTER]

Actually you can teach speed, through speed training. You can't teach height.

[whitesox]

Actually you can teach speed, through speed training. You can't teach height.

True, but only to an extent. Speed training can make someone a little faster, but it does not make up for a natural lack of speed.

[Benxman]

Actually, you need both speed and height. I wasn't saying we don't need players like Crawford, but even there, I'll take Crawford at 6'4" over an equally fast and talented player 6'2'. Get the point?
Of course a great athlete at 6'7" or 6'8" is better than an average player who is taller, but you need all types to make a great team, and all other things being equal, I will take the taller athlete every time.
GO MUSKIES! :logo:

[xunorm]

Actually, you need both speed and height. I wasn't saying we don't need players like Crawford, but even there, I'll take Crawford at 6'4" over an equally fast and talented player 6'2'. Get the point?
Of course a great athlete at 6'7" or 6'8" is better than an average player who is taller, but you need all types to make a great team, and all other things being equal, I will take the taller athlete every time.
GO MUSKIES! :logo:

Athletes don't always equal success, you need guys who can actually play the game, and add an attribute to a team. Look at Dayton, all athletes, very little attributes other than rebounding the past couple years. Hammons would be a good get because of his size. Sure, speed could be a detriment, but not many guys in the A-10 are as big as he is; and skill can still come as he is in the 2012 class.

[bobbiemcgee]

http://www.indystar.com/article/99999999/SPORTS0615/399990542

[Xman95]

http://www.indystar.com/article/99999999/SPORTS0615/399990542

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Hammons, DSR (or Gary Harris) and a PF if we don't grab one with the 3rd scholarship for 2011 (FYI - I view Sampson and Finney-Smith as SF).

[DoubleD86]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Hammons, DSR (or Gary Harris) and a PF if we don't grab one with the 3rd scholarship for 2011 (FYI - I view Sampson and Finney-Smith as SF).

I want DSR and Gary Harris.

Also, why do you see Sampson and DFS as SF? They are both 6'7" and play well around the basket. Also with guys like Canty and Martin (and Walsh), the three will have plenty of people to play already. I see either one as a 4 who could play the 3. Other than one of them, who else is going to play the 4? McKenzie and Robinson are the only ones if I am not mistaken once Taylor and McLean leave.

[SixFig]

http://www.indystar.com/article/99999999/SPORTS0615/399990542

We could have an entire class of Indiana players...and all of them be 5 star prospects!

Oh to dream!

[A10fan]

Looks like Hammons is taking his game to Oak Hill next year. I think he's gonna be harder to get now. Tons of exposure and no longer in the neighborhood.

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&c=2&cid=981599&nid=4187755&fhn=1&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fscouthoops.scout.com%2fa .z%3fs%3d75%26p%3d9%26c%3d2%26cid%3d981599%26nid%3 d4187755%26fhn%3d1

[Woodburn]

More of the same from the Indy Star http://www.indystar.com/article/20100702/SPORTS/100702015/Carmel-star-Hammons-an-IU-target-heading-to-prep-school. Disagree re: exposure = diminished chances. It's not like Carmel is in the hill country. Everyone knew about A.J. yesterday, and the fact that he's transferring to Oak Hill won't change that.

[A10fan]

More of the same from the Indy Star http://www.indystar.com/article/20100702/SPORTS/100702015/Carmel-star-Hammons-an-IU-target-heading-to-prep-school. Disagree re: exposure = diminished chances. It's not like Carmel is in the hill country. Everyone knew about A.J. yesterday, and the fact that he's transferring to Oak Hill won't change that.

I think it greatly reduces the amount of time that the coaching staff can be seen watching him in person at his games. Mack and Staff quite often go to their gyms to be seen by these recruits and, believe me, the recruits notice.

[SixFig]

I think it greatly reduces the amount of time that the coaching staff can be seen watching him in person at his games. Mack and Staff quite often go to their gyms to be seen by these recruits and, believe me, the recruits notice.

That's why we keep a private jet baby!

[xufan02]

I know this guy is a target, but our main focus in 2012 is a SG. I think we will get some PF/C depth in 2011, and we have Latham and McKenzie that can give minutes at both the PF and Center spot.

[Xman95]

IU just got a commitment from a big (7'0") originally from the Sudan. Does that remove the Loosiers from Hammons' list?

[xufan02]

This kid is an Ohio State lean.

[Benxman]

It would be great to get Smith-Rivera. I like his body size as well as the other attributes discribed. It would also be nice to get Gary Harris, though either one of these two would still be a great get.

I look at A.j. Harris as icing. We have Jalen Reynolds coming in 2011 and are pretty well stocked with bigs, but if we could get a 6'11", we certainly should try. Good players that size are hard to find and even harder to get.

GO MUSKIES!

:logo:

[xu15]

It would be great to get Smith-Rivera. I like his body size as well as the other attributes discribed. It would also be nice to get Gary Harris, though either one of these two would still be a great get.

I look at A.j. Harris as icing. We have Jalen Reynolds coming in 2011 and are pretty well stocked with bigs, but if we could get a 6'11", we certainly should try. Good players that size are hard to find and even harder to get.

GO MUSKIES!

:logo:

You mean AJ Hammons

[Juice]

BSnowScout Brian Snow
A.J. Hammons will be on campus at the University of Dayton today per AAU Coach Jared Quarles

[Xman95]

BSnowScout Brian Snow
A.J. Hammons will be on campus at the University of Dayton today per AAU Coach Jared Quarles

Has he fallen out of favor with good programs?

[nkymuskie]

Wasn't he a top 25 player at one point?

[XUFan09]

Wasn't he a top 25 player at one point?

Was he? I thought he was at best a borderline top 50 player. His stock has dropped a couple times though, maybe due to lack of significant improvement.

[nkymuskie]

Was he? I thought he was at best a borderline top 50 player. His stock has dropped a couple times though, maybe due to lack of significant improvement.

I guess I used the first post of this thread as my reference but I also had though he was much higher than this

[XUFan09]

I guess I used the first post of this thread as my reference but I also had though he was much higher than this

Ah, I see that now. He has fallen a lot, now that I look at it again:

ESPN #79 Overall (#14 Center)
Scout #84 Overall (#20 Center)
Rivals #90 overall (#15 Center)

Still a top 100 player, but not quite the elite prospect he was before.

[DC Muskie]

He'd be a huge get for Dayton.

[Xman95]

He'd be a huge get for Dayton.

Although he's the wrong shade to fill the role of big, white stiff. So they would still have to find one of those.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

Off to Purdue