Big Ten Class of 2013 Early Signing Period Recap

Hoosiers continue talent grab

The relative shambles that the Indiana Hoosiers‘ basketball program was in when coach Tom Crean took over has all but been erased from the minds of college basketball fans at large in a few short years, and a significant reason is because of their outstanding success on the recruiting trail.

Noah Vonleh – (photo credit: adidas)

After a stellar 2012 class, the 2013 group is once again the top rated in the Big Ten, following the early signing period. With six signees, capped by elite top-10 prospect Noah Vonleh, Indiana will once again reload at the conclusion of this season, as they are expected to face significant losses. Vonleh has the tools to be a veritable star, a face-up mismatch at forward with an ever ticking motor. After reclassifying from the 2014 class in recent months, he quickly made the call to the Indiana Hoosiers.

Joining Vonleh is a high-ceiling athlete in Troy Williams and skilled guard Stanford Robinson, among the six man signing class. A star, depth and a variety of skill sets are all present in the group.

Coach John Groce’s first signing class at Illinois is a good one, as he dipped into Simeon (IL) to land a backcourt combo in Kendrick Nunn and Jaylon. Given the pipeline of talent in the Simeon program, it’s an important bridge to create for the Fighting Illini. Overall, there’s no slouch in the five prospects signed by Illinois, as in-state wing Malcolm Hill has the frame to impact, and big men Austin Colbert and Maverick Morgan have a shot.

In adding a guard, wing and post, the Michigan Wolverines are ably addressing future departures. The key to the class might be heady point guard Derrick Walton, who figures to have a huge role when current sophomore Trey Burke departs for his NBA career. Sharpshooter Zak Irvin and no frills big man Mark Donnal are both top-100 prospects.

Two signees landed for the Ohio State Buckeyes, but they’re both dandy players. Small, but potent shooting guard Kameron Williams scorched nets all summer long, and smooth wing forward Marc Loving has every look of a successful Big Ten wing forward. Ohio State quality with this tandem on the way.

The Purdue Boilermakers have a strong trio for their perimeter, as Kendall Stephens can be a major factor in stretching defenses with his shooting ability. Also, Basil Smotherman has upside when the Purdue staff harnesses his gifts.

It’s rare that the Wisconsin Badgers make waves on the recruiting trail, but their results speak loudly. In-state guard Bronson Koenig is underrated nationally, and the rest of the class consists of no nonsense players that value their team.

The Northwestern Wildcats have two players that fit their mold in combo guard Jaren Sina (a previous Alabama Crimson Tide commit) and wing Nathan Taphorn.

Depth was added by the Penn State Nittany Lions and Nebraska Cornhuskers, with four and three new additions, respectively. The Minnesota Gophers and Iowa Hawkeyes each added some fresh blood, while Michigan State hasn’t signed anyone in the 2013 class, but is considered a frontrunner for elite forward Jabari Parker, along with the Duke Blue Devils.

Superlatives

Best Player: Noah Vonleh, Indiana
Best Potential: Noah Vonleh, Indiana
Best Scorer: Kameron Williams, Ohio State
Best Shooter: Kendall Stephens, Purdue
Best Rebounder: Noah Vonleh, Indiana
Best Passer: Derrick Walton, Michigan
Best Defender: Kendrick Nunn, Illinois
Best Glue Guy: Bronson Koenig, Wisconson

Class Rankings

1. Indiana

Name	Height	Position	School (State)	Type	Status
Stanford Robinson	6′-3″	SG	Paul VI (VA)	HS	Signed
Luke Fischer	6′-10″	C	Germantown (WI)	HS	Signed
Devin Davis	6′-6″	SF	Warren Central (IN)	HS	Signed
Collin Hartman	6′-5″	SF	Cathedral (IN)	HS	Signed
Noah Vonleh	6′-8″	PF	New Hampton (NH)	HS	Signed
Troy Williams	6′-7″	SF	Hampton (VA)	HS	Signed

2. Illinois

Name	Position	Height	School (State)	Type	Status
Malcolm Hill	6′-5″	SG	Belleville East (IL)	HS	Signed
Maverick Morgan	6′-10″	C	Springboro (OH)	HS	Signed
Kendrick Nunn	6′-3″	SG	Simeon (IL)	HS	Signed
Jaylon Tate	6′-1″	PG	Simeon (IL)	HS	Signed
Austin Colbert	6′-9″	PF	Gill St. Bernard (NJ)	HS	Signed

3. Michigan

Name	Height	Position	School (State)	Type	Status
Mark Donnal	6′-9″	PF	Wayne (OH)	HS	Signed
Derrick Walton	6′-0″	PG	Chandler Park (MI)	HS	Signed
Zak Irvin	6′-5″	SF	Hamilton Southeastern (IN)	HS	Signed

4. Ohio State

Name	Height	Position	School (State)	Type	Status
Marc Loving	6′-7″	SF	St. John’s (OH)	HS	Signed
Kameron Williams	6′-2″	SG	Mount St. Joseph (MD)	HS	Signed

5. Purdue

Name	Height	Position	School (State)	Type	Status
Kendall Stephens	6′-5″	SG	St. Charles (IL)	HS	Signed
Basil Smotherman	6′-5″	SF	Heritage Christian (IN)	HS	Signed
Bryson Scott	6′-1″	PG	Northrop (IN)	HS	Signed

6. Wisconsin

Name	Height	Position	School (State)	Type	Status
Bronson Koenig	6′-3″	PG	Aquinas (WI)	HS	Signed
Riley Dearring	6′-5″	SG	Minnetonka (MN)	HS	Signed
Nigel Hayes	6′-7″	PF	Whitmer (OH)	HS	Signed
Vitto Brown	6′-8″	PF	Bowling Green (OH)	HS	Signed
Jordan Hill	6′-3″	SG	Phillips Exeter Academy (NH)	HS	Signed

7. Northwestern

Name	Height	Position	School (State)	Type	Status
Jaren Sina	6′-2″	PG	Gill St. Bernard (NJ)	HS	Signed
Nathan Taphorn	6′-7″	SF	Pekin (IL)	HS	Signed

8. Penn State

Name	Height	Position	School (State)	Type	Status
Geno Thorpe	6′-3″	PG	West Oaks Academy (FL)	HS	Signed
Julian Moore	6′-9″	PF	Germantown Academy (PA)	HS	Signed
Payton Banks	6′-5″	SF	Orange Lutheran (CA)	HS	Signed
Graham Woodward	5′-11″	PG	Edina (MN)	HS	Signed