Indiana Basketball Recruiting: Who’s who in the class of 2018?

Well, it’s that time of year again. Because it’s never too early to distract yourself from present-day recruiting angst, we’re here to help. Just in time for the holidays, we’re back with a tradition unlike any other; Crimson Quarry’s introduction to a new recruiting class full of names you have never heard of who are set to graduate in a year made up of numbers that are guaranteed to make you existentially sad and contemplate your own mortality.

So, without further ado, let’s meet the important (so far!) names on Indiana’s recruiting board for the class of 2018:

The Prettiest Girl in Class

• Romeo Langford 6’5”, 191 lb SG (New Albany Senior, New Albany, IN)

247Composite Ranking: #3 overall, #1 SG

Where IU stands: The crown jewel, the golden goose, etc. Whatever superlative you want to use, one fact is undeniable. He is the highest rated prospect from the state of Indiana since Greg Oden, and he is only getting better. Already a state champion and the all-time scoring leader at New Albany just barely into his junior season, everyone who’s anyone in the country is after him, and for good reason. Considered a Duke lean, Indiana will undoubtedly pull out all the stops to see how enticing the idea of being a hometown hero is to Langford.

People from class who might be more than a friend

• Robert Phinisee 5’11”, 160 lb PG (McCutcheon HS, Lafayette, IN)

247Composite Ranking: #81 overall, #15 PG

Where IU stands: Indiana seems to be the leader in the clubhouse at this very young stage of Phinisee’s recruitment, as he’s already having been on campus many times for unofficials. His game has taken a nice jump since last year, and his already solid ranking should only go higher as the recruiting services begin to take notice.

• Musa Jallow 6’5”, 200 lb SG (Bloomington North, Bloomington, IN)

247Composite Ranking: #130 overall, #35 SG

Where IU stands: The local kid from Bloomington has put up some monster performances in the early going of his junior season. Obviously familiar with the Indiana program, it’s fair to expect Jallow’s name to be thrown around in 2018 conversations with more frequency, as there is a whole lot to like about his dominant presence on the court from the guard position.

• Kevin Easley 6’6”, 210 lb SF (Lawrence North, Indianapolis, IN)

247Composite Ranking: #145 overall, #40 SF

Where IU stands: Once the top-rated 7th grader in the state of Indiana, Easley has already had a whirlwind of a basketball life, and he’s only a junior in high school. The Hoosiers offered during his sophomore year, as he publicly worked through a transition from a big man to focus on his skills as a wing, and his hard work seems to have paid off, as Easley is again forcing coaches to take notice of him at Lawrence North.

People that IU is totally friends with from out of town, you wouldn’t know them

• Darius Garland 6’0”, 155 lb PG (Brentwood Academy, Brentwood, TN)

247Composite Ranking: #9 overall, #1 PG

Where IU stands: The top-rated PG in the class of 2018, Darius Garland can do it all - and he’s got ties to the state of Indiana. He lived in Indiana until 7th grade, and his interest seems to be sincere, as he visited Bloomington this fall for an unofficial visit. Missing out on some of the bigger PG names in 2016 and 2017 might not sting so bad if Garland takes advantage of an open PG spot in 2018 for Tom Crean and the Hoosiers.

• Jon Kabongo 6’3”, 160 lb PG (Huntington Prep, Huntington, WV)

247Composite Ranking: #142 overall, #28 PG

Where IU stands: The younger brother of former Texas guard Myck Kabongo, 2018 PG Jon Kabongo currently plays at Huntington Prep, where both Thomas Bryant and Curtis Jones used to call home. Tom Crean offered in the spring of 2015, so both parties are more than familiar with each other at this point.

• Eric Ayala 6’5”, 180 lb CG (Putnam Science Academy, Hockessin, DE)

247Composite Ranking: #104 overall, #4 CG

Where IU stands: A combo guard who likely projects as a PG at the next level, Indiana offered Ayala just recently. Of note is Ayala mentioning in an interview last week that he is open to reclassifying to the class of 2017, and with Indiana in pursuit of many guards over both the 2017 and 2018 classes, Ayala is a name to keep an eye on.

• Jake Forrester 6’8”, 200 lb PF (Westtown School, Norristown, PA)

247Composite Ranking: N/A

Where IU stands: Playing at DeMatha Catholic this past weekend at the National Hoops Festival, Jake Forrester showed he is cut from the same cloth as another DeMatha-turned-Indiana player that goes by the name of Victor Oladipo. His play caught the eye of Tom Crean, and he was later offered by the Indiana staff. Still yet to develop into his large frame, Forrester uses a high motor to his advantage, add that to his skills on both sides of the ball, and he has the look of a big-time prospect in future rankings.