jeffries commits to IU

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Jared Jeffries Commits
To Indiana--(Nov. 1, 1999)

We're prepared to eat a large dose of crow on this one. So start cooking all you IU fans. You were right. You told us all along that USC had no chance to get Jared Jeffries. We were nuts. Crazy. Absolutely idiotic to even suggest that USC had a chance, much less that Jeffries was even close to making a commitment to USC. Hey, when we're wrong, we want to be wrong in a reeeaaaallllly big way, and they don't come much bigger than Jared Jeffries (6'-10" Sr. PF) from Bloomington, who today announced that he has given a verbal commitment to Indiana University and coach Bobby Knight. And now that Jeffries has committed, expect his buddy AJ Moye (6'-5" Sr. SF/SG) from Georgia to commit soon too to the Hoosiers.

Actually from the reports we've heard lately, USC was not really even in it at the end, and apparently things came down to a two-way race between Indiana and Duke. No matter though, Jeffries got to take his trip to SoCal. . . now if they'd only get that new arena construction started. . . .

According to published reports at Insider's Report, Jared decided to go with Indiana because he wanted to stay close to his family, and be near his younger brother. "I wanted to be with the people who have supported me all of my life," Jeffries told Insider's Report. "I wanted to watch my little brother grow up and be there for him." Jeffries also had some nice things to say about Duke to Insider's: "They have a great program and a great coach. They made it the toughest decision I ever had."

Recruiting USA was pretty candid about what the impending signing of Jeffries may mean for Indiana (and please, let's not start the nasty mail again; send your comments to Recruiting USA, not us, it's their observation): "Question: Is Jeffries the messiah who is so good that he can carry a team to a national championship? No... Will he be a great college player? He certainly will have the opportunity and should be... Is he the best recruit in the history of Indiana basketball? No... Is he the most important recruit in the history of Indiana basketball? Yes, his commitment restores legitimacy to Indiana's image as one of the nation's top college basketball programs and will certainly impact their recruiting within the state." A pretty sound assessment if you ask us, particularly given the heat that Bobby Knight has been taking lately over his relationships (or alleged lack thereof) with his players and the defections of guys like Hoosier-native Luke Recker.