IUplanet caught up with 2009 IU basketball commit
Bobby Capobianco for an interview this afternoon. The 6’8”, 230 lb power forward from Loveland, Ohio, verbally committed on April 17 to play for Coach Tom Crean and the Indiana Hoosiers.
Here’s what he had to say about Coach Crean, his performance on the court, AAU teammate and friend Stephan Van Treese, his thoughts about Indiana basketball, and more:
"This program is going to be doing special things in the near future."
It was real easy. I had always liked IU, it was always somewhere I wanted to go. Coach Crean was the guy I wanted to play for…you know, Coach Sampson didn’t like me, and then we were talking, and as soon as Coach Crean had come back, I had been on campus a whole lot. So yea, I knew that was where I wanted to be and it was the coach I wanted to play for, so it was a really easy decision.
What aspect of IU, besides Crean being here, drew you the most?
You know, I love the campus. The business school is something that really intrigued me. That’s what I think I want to major in. Hopefully I’ll be able to get into Kelley [School of Business] and that’s something that I think will be really cool.
Can you describe your game a little bit?
I’m 6’8”, I don’t play in the post all the time, but I have the ability to play with my back to the basket if I have someone smaller. I’m quick enough off the wing and I have a really reliable jump shot. Not only can I shoot the three, but I have the ability to carry people off the dribble, and beat people that way. I feel there are a lot of different things I can do, and you know my big thing has always been rebounding. I think I have a lot of different aspects to my game.
Sources say you lost some weight this past year, where are you at right now?
It hasn’t really been that recent, it was last year, I lost about 25-30 pounds, then I got down to about 215 over the past year. I’ve been lifting, I’m at about 230 right now. I’ve kind of bulked up a little bit and gotten so much stronger.
Do you have an ideal weight that you’d like to reach by the time you get here?
I’d probably like to be about 240. I feel like if I was 240 and in really good shape, I could be a machine, so that’s the goal.
About your 3-point shooting, I know that you’ve got the range to hit treys at will, but how will the lengthened 3-point line in the NCAA affect your game?
It won’t. My shot’s pretty much the same to about 25-26 feet.
What are your thoughts on the recent additions to the 2008 and 2009 recruiting classes?
From all the guys that I’ve seen, I think that these will be good additions, all of them will be. I’m looking forward to it. It shows how much trust everyone has in Coach, and that this program is going to be doing special things in the near future.
We’ve already talked to your AAU teammate, Jordan Prosser, about his possible college plans. What about Stephan Van Treese? Do you guys talk at all about where he might be headed?
Yea, we talk a lot. He’s still completely up in the air about things. I think he still needs to gather some more information, not necessarily on Indiana the school, but Coach Crean, and how he does things, because he didn’t have a previous relationship with him before he came to IU. So, I think he’s still in the information-gathering stage.
And what would it be like for you if he did come to IU and you could play alongside him?
Oh, that would be awesome. Me and Stephan, that kid’s my best friend. We’re always hanging out and talking, I talk to that kid probably a couple days a week. That’d be awesome, I love that kid, and that’d be cool if he could come. But you know, it’s up to him, and he’s gotta make what decision is right for him.
Do you have any specific goals that you want to accomplish this summer and over your senior year?
I’m just trying to get better. It comes down to me doing what Coach Crean wants me. I’ll continue talking to him and seeing whatever he wants me to continue working on. At the end of this season, I’m going down to AAU nationals, and I’d like to win that, but otherwise, I’m just trying to get better.
Last question. What excites you the most about coming to IU?
The fan support. Being able to bring a college basketball place back where it deserves to be. It’s one of probably the top 6 or 7 most storied basketball programs in the country, and I think right now we’re on the track to get back there. I’m just ready to get there and do everything I can to make sure that happens.
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Sources: Capobianco is Crean's first commit
Bobby Capobianco - Basketball Recruiting
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