CBB Review’s Ethan Carbone goes in-depth on the top 30 college basketball recruiting classes. Next up are the Indiana Hoosiers who come in at 9.
The Indiana Hoosiers bring in the 9th-ranked recruiting class according to 247Sports Composite rankings. This includes combo guard Jalen Hood-Schifino (23rd), power forward Malik Reneau (29th), power forward Kaleb Banks (90th), and CJ Gunn (175th).
What Does Each Player Bring
Jalen Hood-Schifino: 6-5 combo guard
Hood-Schifino comes into Indiana as a must-needed piece and someone who’ll be a key addition to this Hoosiers squad. He is an offensive weapon who uses his body to get past smaller guards while taking it to the hoop or to shoot over defenders with ease. On defense, he is able to force the opposition into uncomfortable positions and defend off the ball making it difficult for the player he’s guarding to get open.
As a freshman, he will start and is the favorite to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He most likely will be in the NBA after one year but if not he will be a focal point for the Indiana Hoosiers for the next few years.
In his debut, Hood-Schifino mustered up 7 points on 3-of-4 shooting, to go along with a team-leading 4 assists. He added a pair of boards and a steal.
Malik Reneau: 6-8 power forward
Reneau is a fundamental big man who comes in ready to do the dirty work as well as get buckets. He boxes out and crashes the boards with ease making sure to set his team up in a better position. Reneau can pass the ball and has good hands that stick to the ball like glue. He’s able to bang in the post and put-up jump shots as well.
A pure all-around power forward, Reneau will come off the bench and bring energy. However, by the time he’s a senior he has the possibility to be one of the best players in the Big Ten, as long as he doesn’t go pro before then.
Reneau starred in the Hoosiers’ win over Morehead State, scoring 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting off the bench. He filled up the entire stat sheet, grabbing 5 rebounds, blocking 2 shots, and adding an assist and a steal. It was one of the most impressive debuts of freshmen this season.
Kaleb Banks: 6-8 power forward
Banks comes to the Indiana Hoosiers looking like a pure paint beast after averaging a double his senior season of high school. Banks shuts down opposing big men in efforts of pure dominance using his body to force them to dump the ball away. On offense, he gets to the basket easily thanks to his size.
Banks will play sparingly as a freshman, however by the time he’s a senior he could very well be the dominant force of Indiana Hoosiers basketball.
In game one, Banks only played three minutes, but did go 2-for-2 from the field and finished with 5 points.
CJ Gunn: 6-5 shooting guard
Gunn comes into Indiana as one of the best possible developmental prospects. With a smooth jump shot that he can hit from anywhere, as well as a powerful drive, Gunn makes for a solid offensive prospect at the bare minimum. On defense, he can lock down the perimeter.
As a freshman he won’t play much, however, he has loads of potential for the future.
Gunn played six minutes against Morehead State, tallying 2 points on 1-of-3 shooting.