Most of you have probably read the story that was on EsPN.com yesterday that involves the Forehead, and Indiana Elite Coach, Mark Adams...but some of you might not have had the chance to read the details...here are some key aspects of the story:
Indiana Elite: One of the best AAU teams in the state of Indiana, if not the nation for producing D-1 talent.
Mark Adams: IU Alum and current AAU team, Indiana Elite, Coach & Founder of A-HOPE (organization that brings kids from Africa and tries to get them opportunities to play D-1 basketball). Being an IU alum, Adams has (understandably) surrounded himself with fellow Hoosier alums inside of the IE
teams and orgainization.
Drew Adams: Son of Mark and former assistant coach of AAU team, Indiana Elite. In spite of thin resume, he was hired by Tom Crean as Director of Basketball operations and Video production (April, 2010). Prior to EsPN’s article accusing Crean & the Adams family of unethical, if not, illegal behavior, he left IU for the same position at New Mexico (hired by Steve Alford).
Mike Barnett: Board of Directors Member/Coach for Indiana Elite and Lead Position for Adidas’ Grassroots. Grassroots sponsors events and teams and has both men‘s and women’s teams and events that it is involved with. Notably, Indiana Elite is an Adidas team (along with 5+ other teams nationwide). Grassroots also helps organize/sponsor a Spring AAU Super Regional Tournament in Bloomington on campus at IU.
Kory Barnett: Walk-on Senior Forward for Indiana University. Son of Mike Barnett.
Timeline of recent Indiana Elite Players committing to Crean:
Indiana Elite produced Bade, Byrd, Jackson and TJohn. Not all of the talent from IE goes to IU.
Here's my take on all of this:
I know Tom Crean can recruit...and really doesn't need to get deep into the muck, mire and dark underside of college basketball recruiting. But, whether he intended to or not, he's placed himself in a questionable position...and there's more than smoke here. He hired a guy to his staff that was under qualified...and the defense for this hire by many is that it's all about relationships and creating a pipeline for talent.
I don't see any violation of NCAA rules here by IU. But, to me, this is another example of how many IU fans will legitimize unethical activity in the name of winning (make that attempting to win). Many did so in the wake of Sampson's issues saying "they were just phone calls" (their story changed after the NCAA was through with their findings)...and now the talking point seems to be "recruiting is about friendships and relationships...that's all this is". As one of my pals put it it's about "Dirty, slimy, sleazy, disease-ridden relationships", but yeah, relationships none-the-less.
I never saw anything unusual with IU getting Zeller & Ferrell...those always made sense to me. But, some of the others didn't...and Perea, the crown jewel of the class of '12, and coincidentally, the guy in the center of this controversy, was the one that made the least sense to me. It made more sense after reading the article.
Let's keep in mind that Crean has had some solid talent that he's brought to his teams since he's been a head coach. But, top-20 talent is another level and is really difficult to hammer down. DWade was great out of high school, but scared some other schools off because of his academic concerns...so his stock wasn't among the elite. But now, on the legs of back-to-back-to-back awful seasons, Crean has found a way to win the hearts and minds of some of the state's most-talented players (following two years of being persona non grata in the Hoosier state). Plus, and more-notably, in this process, he's snagged two truly-elite players and a couple others that were wanted by everybody.
Whether Tom Crean is shrewd or slimy, you can decide for yourself...we already have our own opinion of the guy.
8 comments:
Well said. Violations or not (probably not), this doesn't paint the program in a positive light. Its truly entertaining to watch IU fans explain it away. Their moral compass is just as broken as Crean's.
The thing that bothered me just as much as the Drew Adams hire is this A-HOPE. This organization seems to exploit these kids from Africa. Like, how can they really know what they're getting into? And they seem to be moved around a lot once they get to the US, going to different prep schools.
This may look worse than it is. I say we remember this one if anything else happens, but to be fair Crean should get the benefit of the doubt here.
That said I am not impressed at the way this looks. It may not have violated any NCAA rules, but I think coaches should do everything to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
Crean should get the benefit of the doubt?! After his comment about Purdue in the article and after the most recent creaning?!
I think the most shameful things are:
#1: Crean cheating, legally.
#2: Crean blaming it on Purdue.
#3: The IUStar tripping over themselves trying to get as many positive spin articles out about this as fast as possible. You'd have thought Crean was running for President and this was his election team.
@Purdue Matt. I think Crean gets the benefit of the doubt with regards to the allegations of cheating. I did not mean to suggest Crean wasn't a complete d*ck for blaming Purdue. I view those as separable issues.
I just love that they are working so hard for the "underprivelaged kids" of Africa. That's beautiful.
That said, I am certain all of these "underprivalaged Africans" (Redundent?) are taller than 6'6" and have serious athletic ability. This is truly "people helping people?" Brig over a 5'9" kid that can't even dribble a ball and I will commend your "altruism." How stupid are we? I need to be excused for how broken up I am by this touching story.
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