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April 16, 2009

College signing day: ISU keeps talent close to home

Sycamores load up on local football, basketball standouts

By Todd Golden

TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State coach Kevin McKenna bolstered the Sycamores’ guard depth and cut down on the expense report to boot.

“When you look at the whole recruiting for this year. It’s not like we weren’t recruiting outside of 30 miles,” ISU coach Kevin McKenna jested.

Yet each of the four players who signed letters-of-intent on Wednesday — Terre Haute’s Jake Odum, Marshall, Ill.’s Lucas and Logan Eitel, along with one-time Marshall and Vigo County resident Jake Kelly — all hail within a stones’ throw of the Hulman Center.

Kelly and Odum earned scholarships to play for ISU. The Eitel’s come as walk-ons.

The local talent — Rockville’s R.J. Mahurin signed last fall — means a lot more to the Sycamores than the gas savings. All four are guards and will bolster ISU’s backcourt depth significantly and help the team play McKenna’s desired style, which involves pressing and a quicker offensive pace. All of the recruits have their legion of fans in the area and have created more buzz for the ISU program than its had in the last decade. McKenna wants to hone that energy in the right direction — recognizing the potential of the players, while not wanting to create “too much, too soon” expectations that could sidetrack any one of them.

“We’re excited to have local players join our program. Time will tell whether these guys develop into productive players, but they’re quality kids, and I think they’re a good fit for our program. We’re glad to have them,” McKenna said.

Kelly transferred to ISU after two years at Iowa, stating a desire to play closer to home after his mother died in 2008 (see related story). Odum, the Eitel’s and Mahurin all showed an early desire to become Sycamores.

Mahurin made a verbal commitment during his sophomore season with the Rox. Odum committed as a walk-on last fall. The Eitel’s both committed as walk-ons in January.

Odum’s case was the most fluid. He was eventually offered a scholarship by ISU after a sterling senior season where he averaged 22 points, 6.4 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 steals. There was conjecture that he might head elsewhere to seek a scholarship, but he ultimately earned what he wanted from the Sycamores.

“My senior year, it was huge,” Odum said. “Obviously I impressed the coaches enough to get that scholarship. It’s a huge honor for me. I grew up watching Michael Menser and Matt Renn. Its been in my head to work hard to get that scholarship.”

McKenna was also swayed by Odum’s fine senior campaign.

“The more I watched him, the more he grew on me,” McKenna said.

McKenna also likes the way the Eitel twins fit into the program. Marshall’s system is similar to ISU’s, and the Eitel’s ability to score, rebound and pass is one thing McKenna liked about them.

“They fit in real well with the way we play. They pass, handle, shoot. They need to get bigger, stronger, faster. But I say that about every player we bring in. They’re very, very well-coached,” McKenna said.

The influx of guards begs several questions. For starters, how are all of the backcourt minutes going to be doled out? McKenna believes his system will allow for players to play the kind of minutes he prefers.

“We play four perimeter guys anyway, so I consider the 1-to-4 spots interchangeable. Jake [Kelly] can play 1-3, Dwayne Lathan is a 2-4, [Carl] Richard is a 3-4, Koang Doluony is a 3-4, [Aaron] Carter is a 3-4, [Jordan] Printy is a 1-3. [Rashad] Reed and Harry [Marshall] are both 1-2’s,” McKenna said.

“I think we have enough versatility. I don’t want Marshall playing 38 minutes, I don’t want Printy playing 37. I want them to play less minutes, but be able to play them harder when they’re in. If they can, their production should be about the same,” McKenna added.

It also raises the possibility that the incoming freshman could be redshirt candidates, though McKenna said he doesn’t approach player expectation that way.

“I tell all of our players, work like you’re going to play. Regardless of whether redshirting is a possibility, be ready … you’re going to work out and get ready for season,” McKenna said. “I’ve never forced anyone to redshirt. For example, Koang wanted to redshirt, it was best for him developmentally, it was best for him and best for our program.

“We haven’t had any conversations with R.J. or Jake [Odum], but do they have some need to get stronger? Yes they do, along with the Eitels,” McKenna added. “Very few freshman are ready-made big-bodied, strong athletic players. Our selling point is to develop them as players … as far as any set thing? Plan on playing and we go from there.”

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