The state of Indiana produces a ton of high level basketball talent and lists multiple prospects in the top 50 rankings nationally year in and year out. But the brand of New England prep basketball has made its presence felt in the Hoosier state.
Not only is the state of Indiana college basketball as a whole have succeeded recruiting in New England, but schools Notre Dame, Indiana and Butler have been able to load up on multiple commitments from prospects in the area. For a head coach, it can only add to their recruitment strategy as players are often looked at to convince potential recruits to commit to that school.
New England is looked at now as a recruiting hot bed. Programs hope to get in good with some of the elite AAU programs in the area along with the prep schools to hopefully land a prospect. If a player were to commit and sign with a school and find success with the program then a possible pipeline could form.
In the past few years, the state of Indiana has been called home for a number of former New England prep products. Players such as Francis Kiapway (Ball St. – St. Thomas More) 2014, Noah Vonleh (Indiana – New Hampton School) 2013, Max Hoetzel (Indiana - Wilbraham and Monson Academy) 2014, Emmit Holt (Indiana – Vermont Academy) 2014, Rene Castro (Butler – Worcester Academy) 2013, Andrew Chrabascz (Butler – Cushing Academy) 2013, Jacquil Taylor (Purdue – Beaver Country Day) 2014, Pat Connaughton (Notre Dame - St. John's Prep) 2011, Zach Auguste (Notre Dame - New Hampton School) 2012, Bonzie Colson (Notre Dame - St. Andrew's School) 2014 have made their way to Indiana.
Many times people want to see local kids stay closer to home and create a perfect story book ending similar to the one of Shabazz Napier. Napier, a local kid who grew up a UCONN fan and decided to attend college in Storrs, CT, has everyone back rooting for him to succeed and make kids in the neighborhood where he grew up in believe that dreams do come true. Napier goes on to win not one but two national titles then moves onto the NBA.
But many of the players who have decided to move to Indiana have found success in their own ways.
Pat Connaughton, a senior guard for Notre Dame was named to the BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament Team and earned the Notre Dame Defensive Player of the Year Award as a sophomore. Connaughton is also a team captain for the Fighting Irish and successful oitcher who was recently picked in the MLB draft. Noah Vonleh, a 2014 NBA lottery Draft to the Charlotte Hornets was one of the best college freshmen in all of college basketball last season. Andrew Chrabascz, a sophomore forward at Butler was named to the 2013-14 Big East ALL-Rookie Team.
These players are a few who have found success in the Hoosier and could possibly create a pipeline that leads back to New England. It’s no guarantee that a player is always going to pan out what you expect him to be. But one thing is for sure if you do land a player who has success in your program then you’d want to go back and take a look if you can strike gold a second time around where you found the first gem.