Sutton feels the love at IU
Recruit likes Hoosiers, too, and the 6-10 center plans to make a decision in next few weeks
By Terry Hutchens
Posted: May 11, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Maurice Sutton had heard about how much Indiana residents love basketball.
The 6-10 Indiana University recruit from Upper Marlboro, Md., experienced that passion firsthand Friday afternoon when he stopped at a local Subway for lunch. While in line, someone walked up to him and said, "You're Maurice Sutton, right? I just wanted to welcome you to Bloomington.''
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The acknowledgement hit its mark with Sutton, and his father, Maurice Sutton Sr. They were still talking about the recognition Saturday morning -- as well as Monday's unofficial visit with IU coach Tom Crean -- after Sutton's second game playing for Indiana Elite LNO in the annual adidas May Classic.
"From the first moment I walked in (Assembly Hall), I knew this was a special place,'' Sutton said. "There's so much tradition here. Bob Knight, the five national championship banners, it just speaks for itself. I'm just honored to be here.''
His dad said even though he and his son had been in Bloomington for a matter of hours, they felt welcome.
"It's important to feel comfortable in a place and I think we've felt comfortable right away,'' his father said. "When you think of Indiana, you think of basketball.''
The younger Sutton, who has been called J.R. since he was young because he was always junior, is a member of the 2008 recruiting class. He could play in the fall. He has narrowed his list of schools to IU, Villanova, Seton Hall and Kentucky. But he said Saturday he clearly has a leader.
"Indiana is at the top (of my list),'' Sutton said. "Coach Crean recruited me at Marquette, and Indiana called a few days after he got the job there. I'm planning to make a visit to Villanova next weekend and then I hope to make a decision.''
Sutton had solid numbers in helping lead his team to a pair of pool victories Friday and Saturday. He had 15 points, five rebounds and three blocks Friday night, and added 11 points, four rebounds and two blocks Saturday morning. He admitted it was difficult playing with new teammates this weekend.
"The guys back home are like my family and so it's just different,'' Sutton said. "But I feel like I've done all right here. I feel like I've helped my team win games, and that's really all I want to do.''
One play in Saturday's game got the attention of a large group of IU fans who turned out to see Sutton. Sutton was 6 feet above the 3-point arc when his teammate, Terone Johnson, put up a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
As the shot left Johnson's hands, Sutton glided down the lane, leaped in the air, and in one fluid motion grabbed the ball well above the rim and slammed it home. He was also fouled on the play and made the free throw.
"I was just following the ball,'' Sutton said. "Good things happen when you follow the ball.''
Sutton's tournament day was done at 10 a.m. Saturday. He said he planned to "see the sights'' in Bloomington and relax.
"I don't usually get to sleep much on the weekends, so that actually sounds pretty good,'' Sutton said of a potential nap. "I'm just looking forward to spending a little more time in Bloomington.''
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080511/SPORTS0601/805110359
Lovely. Just lovely.
I love how recruits are open and honest about their recruitment as Sutton was in the above article.
Looks like Judas wasted no time. I wonder who contacted him, though. I guess the assistants weren't yet officially named at IU, so it must have been Judas himself!
the IU boards feel he is leaning towards Kentucky.
"Indiana is at the top (of my list),'' Sutton said. "Coach Crean recruited me at Marquette, and Indiana called a few days after he got the job there. I'm planning to make a visit to Villanova next weekend and then I hope to make a decision.''
1. What do we expect Crean to do? Not call the kids he already knows? There is a reason why he recruited them in the first place... he thinks they can play.
2. Isn't this what most/all coaches do?... or is Crean really the only guy doing this?
I'm asking these questions in an honest manner because I'm really not sure what everybody's expectation of "Judas" is.
We are learning who the Crean recruits were and who the Marquette/Buzz recruits are. Sutton wasn't coming to MU because of academic issues. The coaching staff was all over him last year until it was determined he might not get in. They moved on to Ben-Eze and then O'Tule Apparently, Sutton can get into the large state university easier than the small private one. Crean is simply using the contacts and relationships he already had to fill out his roster at his new gig. The only player he has actually pulled from MU is Nick Williams, who stated all along that he wanted to play for the coach that develped D. Wade. That is Crean, not MU.
I know we don't Crean recruiting these guys, but they are unsigned players and anyone can go after them - and certainly he would - as stated above. So while it does gnaw at my stomach a little because I love MU so much, I can't say that we wouldn't want our new coach to do the same thing. Unsigned is unsigned - they are still on the market, so to speak.
We just need to fill our recruiting pipeline and work it better than anyone else - GO MARQUETTE!
All that Jay Wright at Villinova has to do is show Sutton some tape on how TC uses bigs and at the same time restricts their creativeness and if he has any brains, he'll say thanks but no thanks to IU.
For a guy to pick a school because someone came up to him and says hello is the height of insecurity.
One should select a school for BB based on how he fits the offensive scheme-----if he hasn't checked that out he's a candidate for transfer. To date TC hasn't secured any better recruits at IU than at MU----in fact not as good.
He says he wants to "build his team" around a 3 star recruit (Demetrius Walker).
Considering everything that has happened in the last 30-40 days, I think TC is losing his marbles!
Your making the assumption he had marbles to begin with.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on May 11, 2008, 09:16:51 PM
Your making the assumption he had marbles to begin with.
might have had marbles, but definitely didn't have any stones.