Update (It looks as though I might have been thinking wrong):
Report: Jordan Crawford to transfer from IU, Taber lone returning scholarship player
Jordan Crawford came to IU last year fairly quietly, relatively unknown among Kelvin Sampson’s talent-laden recruiting class that featured phenom Eric Gordon, junior college player of the year Jamarcus Ellis, and big man Eli Holman. He arrived a three-star recruit, a far cry from the recruitment of his older brother Joe, who was an elite five-star recruit and the 9th-ranked incoming freshman when he committed to Kentucky in 2004.
A year ago (or even four months ago), who would have thought that the younger Crawford would be going into his sophomore year as a team veteran and the guy that Coach Tom Crean and the young Hoosiers-to-be are going to need to step into a leadership role? Assuming that he stays (Crean has said that nothing has changed for Crawford), Jordan has the potential to become the focal point for the storied but rebuilding program over the next three years.
Crawford was solid for IU right off the bat in his freshman season, scoring in double digits in his first four games, and logging no less than 19 minutes over the same span. He did hit a road block before the game against Georgia Tech, getting slapped with a three-game suspension for breaking “unspecified team rules,” but he came back strong against none other than his older brother in an ultra-hyped game against Kentucky.
Crawford exploded for a game-high 20 points in that 70-51 throttling of the Wildcats, and it was at that point that fans began to realize that Jordan had the potential to be as good as or better than his productive brother, and they let Joe know in kind with a flood of friendly chants.
He then went on to average 9.7 points (fourth on the team) and 3.4 rebounds (most among the guards) on the season. He started eight games and also tallied 69 assists (fourth on the team). He showed the ability to beat people off the dribble and flashed brilliance when finishing at the hoop. When he was hot, he was also deadly from long range, and was efficient running the point (58 turnovers, only seven more than starter Armon Bassett).
On the other hand, he did suffer from severe mental lapses at times, sometimes blowing fastbreak layups and often getting out of position and beaten on defense. However, these are aspects of his game that can be improved with hard work and experience, and Crawford has a world of potential if he can add them to his already proficient offensive game.
Despite the exodus of every Sampson scholarship player except Crawford and Crean’s subsequent infusion of guard talent, Crawford has the talent to be IU’s leader next year, either at the shooting guard spot or as the floor leader from the point. With several other versatile guards like Verdell Jones and Devan Dumes, he will probably see minutes in both positions. I see him bringing the ball up the court more often than not.
Either way, he will be a major player in Crean’s system, and I expect him to make major progress under Crean’s tutelage, provided that he can avoid some of the pitfalls that plagued IU’s recent casualties. If he stays on track, he will be a huge factor in the reclaiming of IU basketball as one of the only bright spots to emerge from the depths of the Sampson saga.
I believe that I speak for many Hoosiers when I say, “Jordan, we’re happy you’re still here!”
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