Indiana Basketball: What does Trendon Watford in-home visit mean for Hoosiers?

According to multiple reports, Indiana basketball had an in-home visit with Trendon Watford over the weekend.

Per multiple reports, Archie Miller and Indiana basketball were in to see Trendon Watford for an in-home visit over the weekend.

Scheduled to announce his decision on April 20 at the Jordan Brand All-Star Game, Watford has now changed his date with a new timeline to come, though his decision is still expected within the next couple of weeks.

https://twitter.com/Trendon_2/status/1117789690638340096

In addition to Indiana, he has Memphis, Alabama, LSU, and Duke in his final five.

Though LSU and Duke are listed in Watford’s final list, both teams are seemingly out of his recruitment. Holding no offer from Duke, the communication was very minimal are never really picked up any steam. With the news that five-star forward Matthew Hurt canceling his Kentucky and Kansas in-home visits this week, all signs point to him heading to Durham, taking that spot from Watford.

In terms of LSU, it has been in the news since the SEC Tournament that the Tigers are under FBI investigation with connection to head coach Will Wade paying player(s) to come to Baton Rouge. Watford’s interest in the Tigers died down after Wade was suspended during the last few weeks of the season, but announced late Sunday night, he was actually reinstated by the university. Though this does throw a wrench in the recruitment, Watford has seemed to shy away from the program due to the uncertainty for the future.

So where does that leave Watford and Indiana?

As of now, the Hoosiers are still in desperate need for a scorer on the wing and someone who can complement Devonte Green and incoming freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis. There are a lot of role players on the roster who haven’t shown consistent stretches of being a third or fourth scoring option, so the addition of Watford would put the Hoosiers right back in the swing of things in the Big Ten.

Though the specifics of the meeting have yet to surface, all signs point to it going as well as it could have. Now, with the news of his rescheduling of the announcement date, rumors have begun to swirl regarding the visit.

Yes, the in-home visit is a major key a week before his original decision date, but Indiana has two other schools to beat out.

Memphis has presumingly taken over Alabama’s lead for Watford since the departure of ‘Bama head coach Avery Johnson, but new coach Nate Oats has made big strides with the roster and in turn Watford, since taking over.

Both teams sit in good position to land the 6-foot-9 forward, but Indiana could be the dark horse to steal him away.

Though Indiana is trailing both Memphis and Alabama, Bloomington holds a spot in the Watford family’s hearts and may be enough to sway him.