southsider2k5 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-s...ov=ap&type=lgns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danman31 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Don't have to deal with him at IU! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Greasy won't be too happy. Smith has a good chance of bein picked in the top 5 though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Eh...he left us hanging forever...but I wasn't surprised....IU did sign this 7 footer from Cali that's supposed to be really good. He chose IU over 'Zona and UCLA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Eh...he left us hanging forever...but I wasn't surprised....IU did sign this 7 footer from Cali that's supposed to be really good. He chose IU over 'Zona and UCLA. Manute Bol? Gheorge Muresan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Robert Rothbart IU's recruiting class grows with latest commitment Analyst says getting center Robert Rothbart helps take away sting if Josh Smith goes to NBA. The addition of a 7-1 center improves Indiana University's 2004 basketball recruiting class, whether or not Josh Smith remains in that class, according to a national recruiting analyst. Robert Rothbart, from Sacramento, Calif., gives the Hoosiers an immediate inside presence, said Van Coleman, publisher of Future Stars magazine and Hoopmasters.com. Combine Rothbart with highly regarded power forward D.J. White and Indiana should have some inside scoring options that were unavailable on last year's 14-15 team, he added. "I think D.J. and Robert give an inside presence that they haven't had, and the young shooters they have coming in will open up a lot of the game and take some of the pressure off of Bracey Wright next season," Coleman said. "I think the addition of Rothbart, no matter what Josh Smith decides to do, solidifies the ballclub for next year to be a team that could be immensely better in a hurry." Rothbart is expected to sign a national letter of intent on Wednesday at a ceremony at his high school. His addition will ease the pain of the potential loss of Smith, a 6-9 power forward from Powder Springs, Ga., who is expected to announce later this week whether he will attend IU or go to the NBA. To play at Indiana, Smith, considered one of the top five high school players in the country, would have to petition the NCAA for his freshman year of eligibility. He played in three postseason all-star games, one more than the NCAA allows. While his prep school coach at Oak Hill Academy (Va.) believes Smith will jump to the NBA, IU coach Mike Davis said he doesn't know what Smith will do. "This remains a decision that Josh is going to have to make on his own," Davis said. "I'm like everyone else on this one. I'm just waiting to see what he does as well." USA Today is naming Smith to the first team All-USA squad today. With him, IU's incoming recruiting class had been ranked No. 1 in the nation. Without him, recruiting analysts drop IU to between 15 and 25. According to Coleman, the addition of Rothbart moves IU's class back into the top 10. Coleman saw Rothbart play last November at a tournament sponsored by Hoopmasters.com. At that time, Rothbart weighed 195 pounds. Two months earlier, when he made his official visit to IU, he weighed 180. Rothbart now weighs 225. His mother, Nada Rothbart, said she believes he could weigh 240 by the time his freshman season begins. "If he can put on the 10 to 15 pounds that his mom feels he can between now and fall, then he becomes a whole different level of player," Coleman said. "He would easily be a top 100 player at 235 pounds. So Indiana gets a solid big man who has excellent offensive skills and probably needs to work a little on the toughness and the strength just because he hasn't had that body before now. "But I think Rothbart is a very solid Big Ten recruit." As a senior at Natomas High School, Rothbart averaged 21 points, a state-high 15 rebounds and five blocked shots per game. As a junior at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, Calif., his numbers were similar: 26 points, 14 rebounds and 5.5 blocks. Rothbart chose the Hoosiers over UCLA. His also considered Arizona, Missouri and California. Others in IU's 2004 recruiting class are White, a third team all-USA selection; Indianapolis Star Indiana Mr. Basketball A.J. Ratliff from North Central; former Pike standout Robert Vaden; and Fort Wayne Elmhurst's James Hardy. Hardy is coming to Indiana on a football scholarship and won't count toward IU's 13 scholarship allotment. IU has 12 scholarship players committed for next season. Smith would be No. 13. That number also includes shooting guard Bracey Wright, who told Davis late last week he would return to IU for his junior season. There had been speculation Wright might declare himself eligible for the NBA draft. "I sat down with Bracey and his mother and he told me that this was where he wanted to be next season," Davis said. "I think that's the right decision. We need Bracey to concentrate on what he needs to do to make our team better next season." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 21, 2004 Author Share Posted April 21, 2004 Eh...he left us hanging forever...but I wasn't surprised....IU did sign this 7 footer from Cali that's supposed to be really good. He chose IU over 'Zona and UCLA. They REALLY need some help up the middle. In a sad sort of way, this guy will help IU more. now if they get some help at PG, and rebounding they will be OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Yeah...I'm really glad we got Rothbart...I feel this team will be a contender next year though. I think Bracey really wants to and needs to improve himself this next season. It's publicly known that Wright is one of the guys Moye was claiming to be a cancer in the locker room. I think bringing in all these guys and having Wright, Strickland, etc. still around will make IU a well-rounded team next year. On a side note, I can't wait friggen' wait to go to these games next year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 21, 2004 Author Share Posted April 21, 2004 Yeah...I'm really glad we got Rothbart...I feel this team will be a contender next year though. I think Bracey really wants to and needs to improve himself this next season. It's publicly known that Wright is one of the guys Moye was claiming to be a cancer in the locker room. I think bringing in all these guys and having Wright, Strickland, etc. still around will make IU a well-rounded team next year. On a side note, I can't wait friggen' wait to go to these games next year! If you can, you'll have to get me some tickets sometime. I have never been to a D1 game. Unless you count the game where we as Manchester College played Ball State. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greasywheels121 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Yeah...I'll definitely look into doing that. I know as a student you're only alotted so many tickets during the basketball season, but that's definitely doable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aboz56 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Yeah...I'll definitely look into doing that. I know as a student you're only alotted so many tickets during the basketball season, but that's definitely doable. As a former IU season ticket holder as a student, there's a rule that you can't use a student ticket without a student ID. This is done to prevent students from scalping their tickets to non-students. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 21, 2004 Author Share Posted April 21, 2004 As a former IU season ticket holder as a student, there's a rule that you can't use a student ticket without a student ID. This is done to prevent students from scalping their tickets to non-students. Ah, Thanks AB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aboz56 Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Ah, Thanks AB. Then again, maybe you could pass as me if I gave you my old ID... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 21, 2004 Author Share Posted April 21, 2004 Then again, maybe you could pass as me if I gave you my old ID... Nah, I am much better looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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