Recruiting Roundup: Summer evaluation period starts with a bang

News, notes, and any other tidbits dealing with Hoosier recruiting targets

The July evaluation period opened this week, and there was no shortage of events for the top players across the country to showcase their skills. Indiana targets were out in force, mainly at three separate events, each of which are chronicled below.

Peach Jam

- 2016 wing Miles Bridges had a coming out party at the Peach Jam in Georgia this weekend, averaging 22.8 points and 10 rebounds a game. The Huntington Prep standout also narrowed down his list to 5 schools - Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan St, Michigan, and  North Carolina.

- Bruce Brown also had a fantastic weekend, including a 24 point, 10 rebound perfomance in front of Tom Crean. Brown stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 15.6 points, 5.6 rebound, 2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. Brown is in constant contact with the IU staff, as the Hoosiers are looking to install him as a possible replacement for Yogi Ferrell next year.

- Lamar Stevens, a top target in the class of 2016 for Indiana, had a fairly mediocre weekend, only averaging 9.8 points per game on 38% from the field. His Team Final was missing their starting PG, fellow IU target Tony Carr, and skidded to a 1-4 finish.

- While it doesn't involve any specific Indiana recruits, the Peach Jam final featured one of the best buzzer-beaters you will ever see. Jordan Barnes of Team CP3 hoisted this double-clutch, falling away miracle to pull off one of the most memorable finishes to a basketball game that you will ever see.

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Under Armour All-American Camp in Charlotte

- Thon Maker's resurgence as an #ELITE prospect has been well documented across the recruiting landscape. Here is our recap on him after his performance at the UA camp last week.

- Fellow Indiana target and as well as a top 100 recruit in the class of 2016, Curtis Jones had a solid week, as he displayed his offensive skills throughout the week. Jones, who recently visited Bloomington, made specific mention on where IU fits into his official visit plans.

"Most definitely, they made it clear that they really wanted me, needed me, things like that," Jones said. "I most likely will be going back for an official visit. Probably in the fall, before school season gets going." (Source)

- If it feels as if Eron Gordon's name has been around forever, it's because it has. In a recruitment that began almost five years ago, some of the shine has worn away from his prospect status. But do not mistake that for a dropoff in skill, as Eron Gordon still is one of the top prospects in the 2016 class. After Tom Crean watched him play this weekend, Gordon updated his recruitment.

"Indiana and Auburn, they really picked back up," Gordon said. "I had been recruited by both of them, been offered a scholarship by both of them and they really started to pick back up. I've been in more contact and have gotten more comfortable with them."

His increased interest in Indiana also has to do with the personnel outlook.

"The players that they've been getting," Gordon said. "Thomas Bryant is huge. James Blackmon, I know him and his brother Vijay. I really see how much better James is getting. I'm not sure how much longer he'll be at IU, but he's gotten really good. It's Yogi's last year and I feel like he's going to make a push to take them far in the tournament. I feel like I have gotten closer to them outside of my brothers being there.

"Once my brothers left I became more of a recruit. I have always been a part of the IU family. It's been sort of weird. But that is sort of where I stand now. It was sort of a transition from being family to being a recruit." (Source)

- The dynamic duo of 2017 Indy Hoosiers recruits, Paul Scruggs and Kris Wilkes, were on display as well. The top-30 prospects had all of their skills working, as Wilkes' high-level athleticism and Scruggs' offensive prowess were clear throughout the weekend.

Adidas Gauntlet

- After announcing he is transferring out of his NYC roots to a prep school for his senior year, Rawle Alkins (pictured above) showed why he has become one of the most prized recruits in the 2016 class. In front of Tom Crean, Alkins has 24/10/6 in an 87-77 victory over Indiana Elite. Alkins went on to average 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in 4 games while leading his NY RENS team to a title.

- De'Ron Davis and his Colorado Hawks also suited up at the Adidas Gauntlet, and performed very well, finishing in 3rd place. Davis was solid throughout, showing flashes of what makes him such a sought-after prospect. In one victory against an Ohio team, Davis finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Davis also was resolute in his answer when he responded that Indiana will "definitely" get one of his five official visits.

- Other Hoosier targets in attendance in Atlanta were De'Riante Jenkins and Braxton Blackwell.

- As always, keep up to date with our ever-changing recruiting board.