IUplanet caught up with new IU commit Tijan Jobe’s junior college coach, Mike Burris of Central Olney College, today for some of his thoughts on Indiana’s newest scholarship player. He confirmed that Jobe signed the letter of intent earlier today.
"He’s got a Big Ten body now. When people see him, they’re going to be shocked at how big and strong he is"
Here’s what Burris had to say about the 7’0”, 250 lb prospect:
On the offer and signing:
Yea, Tijan Jobe (Tee-jahn JOB with a long o), he signed a letter of intent to Indiana today. He’s been in Bloomington lately, he’s got a girlfriend who lives in Bloomington…He’s been to the place a couple of times unofficially, we met with Coach Crean this morning and he extended an offer to Tijan.
On Tijan’s game:
Tijan, I think his game is better suited to the four-year level than the junior college level. We don’t see many 7-footers in junior college, we see more 6’5”, 6’6”, under-sized post players. He’s very physical, he’s 7’0”, 250 lb, with a 7’5 ½” wingspan. He’s extremely long, he’s athletic, he runs the floor extremely well. Overall with some things on offense, he scores with the jump hook from his left shoulder, dunks everything within five feet…just a monster dunker in the paint. He can block shots…he’s just going to get better and better. He’s only been in the US for four years, he’s just going to get better with time.
On Tijan’s origins in Africa and his adjustment to college life in America:
Yea, he got over, Mark Adams, through the
A-HOPE foundation, has helped a lot of kids from Nigeria and other African countries come over to the States and play basketball for their education. He’s one of those kids.He’s adjusted very well. He spent a couple years at Laurinburg Prep School in North Carolina, then he signed with Butler County Community College in Kansas. He transferred to our place a year and a half ago, he left their place after his first semester, and was sitting out. We’re a little over two hours from Bloomington, so he’s got a lot of friends and a support system in Bloomington. He’s been able to get back to Bloomington quite a bit, and people were able to come over and see him. He’s adjusted quite well to the States, he’s adjusted to the game…he’s just got to continue developing some skills on offense, but you know, with Coach Crean’s system, and Coach Crean’s history of developing players, I’m really excited for Tijan and I know he’s really excited to join the Indiana basketball family.
On Tijan’s potential in a D-I program:
His potential is untapped. With a lot of foreign kids, they go to junior college, and it’s not at junior college where you see their best basketball. It’s usually in their third and fourth year at a Division I school where you really see them take off and blossom, because it takes some time to adjust to the American game. The more he plays, the better he’s gonna be. He’s got a tremendous work ethic, a tremendous body…He’s got a Big Ten body now. When people see him, they’re going to be shocked at how big and strong he is. He’s just really put together, he’s like a Greek God. He’s got huge arms, very very strong. And above all, I know Coach Crean and his staff are really excited about, he’s a phenomenal person. He’s a great kid, high character kid, he’s a kid who’s going to represent Indiana basketball and the town of Bloomington the right way.
On Tijan’s relationship with Emmanuel Negedu, who is re-evaluating his college decision and has interest in Indiana
I know they know each other, I don’t know how close they are, but I know they played some AAU ball together at the best AAU program in the nation, the Indiana Elite. I think they’ve played together a little bit, and they’ve both gotten some support from Mark Adams, who’s the founder of the A-HOPE foundation, and they spent some time together over the Christmas holidays in Bloomington. I know they know each other, but to what extent I do not know.
On his overall thoughts about Tijan’s opportunity:
I’m just really excited for Tijan. I grew up 30 miles from Bloomington, I went to Eastern Greene High School, and I’ve been a die hard Hoosier fan all the time. I’m really excited about Coach Crean and his staff, and what they’re going to do to bring Indiana back.
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