Coach Tom Crean has been under the magnifying glass every waking minute during his first few months as men’s basketball coach at IU. But last night, if Hoosiers were to listen ever so closely, they might have heard a hard-earned sigh of relief from somewhere in Bloomington.
6-foot-11 Bawa Muniru of Birmington, Alabama committed to IU last night, closing up any spots in the 2009 recruiting class. The 255-pound center prospect fills any voids
concerning height for next year’s young team and serves as a solid pick.
Muniru’s commitment is great news for IU basketball, but it also symbolizes Crean’s unparalleled devotion to this program. In his first several months as head coach, he has quickly developed relationships with prospects and closed deals using aggressive (but legal) methods, such as bringing along IU legend Isaiah Thomas during visits to bolster his swag.
The Ghana native also had offers on the table from Louisville, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Alabama-Birmingham and Auburn. Academic records from his school, Charis Prep in Wilson, North Carolina, have not been cleared by the NCAA and thus his eligibility as a freshman remains unconfirmed. He played the remainder of his senior year at Madison Academy in Huntsville, Alabama.
Closing out the 2009 squad, Muniru will now join
Christian Watford,
Bobby Capobianco,
Derek Elston,
Jordan Hulls and
Maurice Creek to make for a fantastic lineup.