College
McKenna: Kelly recruitment ‘unique’
TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State men’s basketball coach Kevin McKenna called the brief recruitment of Jake Kelly, “probably as unique an experience as I’ve ever had.”
Kelly signed his letter-of-intent to play basketball at ISU on Wednesday. It put an official end to a transfer saga that fulfilled Kelly’s desire to play closer to home. Kelly lived in Marshall, Ill., and Vigo County until he moved to Carmel midway through his high school career.
Kelly’s path to ISU is well-known by now. His mother, Julia Kelly, died in a plane crash in Florida in June 2008.
Kelly played his sophomore season at Iowa. He averaged 11.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists, but really came into his own late in Iowa’s season, when he was moved to point guard. Nine of his individual career highs as a Hawkeye occurred in games after Feb. 28.
Rumors regarding Kelly’s desire to transfer began as early as January. Kelly publicly stated a desire to stay at Iowa at one point, but his desire to return to play closer to home was too great and Iowa coach Todd Lickliter granted Kelly his release in late March, provided he transfer to a school close to Kelly’s home.
McKenna heard the rumors, but waited until Kelly’s release was official to act. Kelly announced his intention to come to ISU on March 31, less than a week after he was released at Iowa.
“You hear stuff, people say stuff, but officially we waited until he got released,” McKenna said. “Once we heard there was a possibility, we met as a staff, but we kept recruiting other players.”
McKenna admitted that the circumstances surrounding Kelly’s desire to play close to home are a bittersweet way to get a quality player.
“It’s an unfortunate and tragic way to get a player, but I think for Jake, it’s going to be a good thing,” McKenna said.
When McKenna spoke with Kelly — he said he’s only spoken with and met Kelly once to date — he wanted to make sure Kelly felt comfortable with his family situation first.
“The first thing I said to him was that we’re going to help him along with anything he’s needs help with. Hopefully his family and our support staff can help him along through a tough time,” McKenna said. “There’s a lot of things happening in his head, it’s a major thing that’s goes on when you lose one of your parents at such a young age, it’s the reason he’s coming. It’s not like we’re a proven established program, but it’s home for him.”
Now McKenna and Kelly both wait for the NCAA to determine whether Kelly’s hardship status will make him eligible for next season. Normally, Kelly would have to wait a year to play. McKenna said he has no idea what kind of time frame the NCAA will follow.
Regardless of what decision the NCAA makes, McKenna will sit down with Kelly and his father, Bob Kelly, to determine a plan of action.
“Immediate eligibility … it’s something that’s out there. There’s a lot of things that go into their decision and our decision. Does he want to play right away? Does he want to sit down and get adjusted? We’ll do what’s best for Jake and the program,” McKenna said.
As for Kelly’s game, McKenna likes what he has seen.
“He’s very skilled with the ball, a point guard that makes everyone better. He can shoot, create for himself and create for other people. There’s also some things he can work on. He can get more physical, he can get stronger, he can eliminate turnovers, but he’s maturing as a player and developing. His game evolved last year to the point where he was one of the best in the Big Ten,” McKenna said.
- College
-
-
ISU football coach Miles will hire OC to replace Walters
Troy Walters resignation from Indiana State’s football staff won’t leave the Sycamores a coach down once football season starts. Though ISU players report for practice in a week, ISU coach Trent Miles said he does plan to fill the open offensive coordinator position left vacant when Walters took the job as wide receivers coach at Texas A&M on Monday.
-
College Report: Odds-and-ends from the college world as summer slows down pace
Cleaning out the summer e-mail bag: • Ledune-Bourgasser honored — The University of Southern Indiana softball team had five players named to the All-Great Lakes Valley Conference team.
-
Terre Haute North's Justin Gant to play at Indiana State
Terre Haute North center Justin Gant had a wealth of teams to choose from when it came time to make the decision on where he’d play college basketball. He traveled the country to decide which school was best for him.
-
Ragland to join ISU men’s hoops staff
Indiana State stayed close to home when it hired Greg Lansing to replace Kevin McKenna as men’s basketball coach in June. In turn, Lansing has elected to stay near home when it came to hire his first assistant coach.
David Ragland, who has coached Vincennes University to a 79-20 record in two years at the helm at the successful junior college program, will join ISU’s basketball staff. -
Brazil bound: North product and Hanover post player taking her game to South America next month
Molly Martin wasn’t sure she should accept the Facebook inquiry. The e-mail to her mother was a little more persuasive. As a result, the former Terre Haute North and current Hanover post player — with, fittingly, her parents — is preparing for a basketball trip to Brazil next month with the USA D-3 All-Stars.
-
ISU women’s hoops picks up another recruit from Indiana
The Indiana State women’s basketball team received a fourth straight verbal commitment from within the Hoosier State.
-
Metro Roundup: ISU pole vaulter Hutson eighth at USA Outdoors
Kylie Hutson wasn’t thrilled with an eighth-place finish in women’s pole vault but Major Clay enjoyed a ninth-place showing in men’s high jump as the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships ended Sunday.
-
NCAA cross country nationals changing courses
While this November will be the seventh straight year and eighth time overall Indiana State will serve as host for the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, the NCAA has chosen to rotate the event. The NCAA meet will return again in 2013.
-
ISU track’s Moore not pleased with her performance at USA Nationals
A misstep early in the 400-meter hurdle semifinals cost Indiana State senior Erica Moore a chance to advance to the finals while freshman Stacia Weatherford, racing in the junior event, finished seventh in the finals of the 400 hurdles at the USA Track & Field Outdoor Nationals on Saturday.
- Metro roundup: Strausborger earns national Rawlings Gold Glove award
- More College Headlines
-
ISU football coach Miles will hire OC to replace Walters
