Trendon Watford says 'Bama, LSU, Memphis, and Indiana are his top four...
Never underestimate Indiana. Trendon Watford's brother Christian played for the Hoosiers. Trendon calls Indiana a second home. He has seen dozens of Indiana basketball game and the Hoosiers will (no pun intended) roll out the red carpet for Watford. Never underestimate Indiana in basketball recruiting. They have a national reputation helping them. If you are not a real hoops fan you may not quite understand the power of the name Indiana.
French Lick, Indiana is one of my favorite places. It has several world-class spas and a very special golf course designed by Donald Ross. It is the home of the Hick from French Lick a/k/a Larry Bird. More than anything, the town exudes basketball. Every farm has a goal. Every home has a goal. And if you take the time to go to the local barbershop you will be regaled with Indiana basketball history. That would include the Milan Miracle. Tiny Milan High School won the 1954 State Basketball Championship. The Hickory boys beat Muncie in the finals to claim the crown. It also gave birth to the movie, "Hoosiers". That would be like a single A team beating a seven A team.
I met Larry Bird there in the local meat and three. We shared a meal with a group of guys and had an Indiana sweet ice tea. Not one word about basketball was spoken. For a basketball junkie, it was a memorable day. Indiana is immersed in basketball as much as Alabama is by football. It is a 365-day joy or burden depending on how your team played that winter. Downtown French Lick, 25 years ago, was not unlike going back to the 1950s. All that being said, Indiana is deadly serious about their basketball. John Wooden was a three-time All-American at Purdue. Bobby Knight was a brilliant if slightly unbalanced head coach. His 1976 team was undefeated and won the Dance. The Hoosiers knocked off Alabama on a late flurry of calls that gave them the game. Now Archie Miller, late of Dayton, is the Indiana Head Coach. We've seen his brother, Sean, in Tuscaloosa. He coaches the Arizona Wildcats and would be my personal choice if Avery Johnson leaves Alabama. Archie Miller and Indiana want Watford to sign a grant-in-aid. If you ever attended an Indiana basketball game you will immediately understand the love of basketball. None of that is lost on Watford.
There is a lot of talk about Trendon being a lock for Memphis. It's fairly well known is family would rather him stay close to home. I wonder how they feel about his second home? Bloomington is the Mecca of College Basketball to a lot of fans. Alabama is the same for college football. Avery Johnson has made Watford the primary focus of his recruiting efforts. Watford would be an impact player, a starter, a potential freshman of the year in the SEC, and future All-American if he stays for a couple of seasons before departing to the NBA.
Never underestimate Indiana. Trendon Watford's brother Christian played for the Hoosiers. Trendon calls Indiana a second home. He has seen dozens of Indiana basketball game and the Hoosiers will (no pun intended) roll out the red carpet for Watford. Never underestimate Indiana in basketball recruiting. They have a national reputation helping them. If you are not a real hoops fan you may not quite understand the power of the name Indiana. French Lick, Indiana is one of my favorite places. It has several world-class spas and a very special golf course designed by Donald Ross. It is the home of the Hick from French Lick a/k/a Larry Bird. More than anything, the town exudes basketball. Every farm has a goal. Every home has a goal. And if you take the time to go to the local barbershop you will be regaled with Indiana basketball history. That would include the Milan Miracle. Tiny Milan High School won the 1954 State Basketball Championship. The Hickory boys beat Muncie in the finals to claim the crown. It also gave birth to the movie, "Hoosiers". That would be like a single A team beating a seven A team.
I met Larry Bird there in the local meat and three. We shared a meal with a group of guys and had an Indiana sweet ice tea. Not one word about basketball was spoken. For a basketball junkie, it was a memorable day. Indiana is immersed in basketball as much as Alabama is by football. It is a 365-day joy or burden depending on how your team played that winter. Downtown French Lick, 25 years ago, was not unlike going back to the 1950s. All that being said, Indiana is deadly serious about their basketball. John Wooden was a three-time All-American at Purdue. Bobby Knight was a brilliant if slightly unbalanced head coach. His 1976 team was undefeated and won the Dance. The Hoosiers knocked off Alabama on a late flurry of calls that gave them the game. Now Archie Miller, late of Dayton, is the Indiana Head Coach. We've seen his brother, Sean, in Tuscaloosa. He coaches the Arizona Wildcats and would be my personal choice if Avery Johnson leaves Alabama. Archie Miller and Indiana want Watford to sign a grant-in-aid. If you ever attended an Indiana basketball game you will immediately understand the love of basketball. None of that is lost on Watford.
There is a lot of talk about Trendon being a lock for Memphis. It's fairly well known is family would rather him stay close to home. I wonder how they feel about his second home? Bloomington is the Mecca of College Basketball to a lot of fans. Alabama is the same for college football. Avery Johnson has made Watford the primary focus of his recruiting efforts. Watford would be an impact player, a starter, a potential freshman of the year in the SEC, and future All-American if he stays for a couple of seasons before departing to the NBA.
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