Indiana Basketball: AAU season is here – Adidas Gauntlet, D1 Circuit weekend preview

AAU season is here and Indiana basketball will be well represented at the Adidas Gauntlet and D1 Circuit this weekend.

In one of the major AAU kickoffs this weekend, both the Adidas Gauntlet and D1 circuit will be well represented by Indiana basketball.

The Adidas Gauntlet, in Dallas, will see a handful of midwest prospects that the Hoosiers are heavily involved with, while the D1 Circuit will take place in Atlanta, and have more of the nationwide recruits that Indiana is in communication with.

Archie Miler, while still trying to get one or two more players in his 2019 class, is already working extremely hard in the 2020 and 2021 classes with multiple visits over the last week.

Let’s take a look at some of the names to get familiarized with who will be playing.

Adidas Gauntlet (Dallas, TX)

Zach Loveday (Wildcats Select, 2020 C)

A 7-footer from Huntington Prep (WV), Loveday’s recruitment is starting to heat up, led by schools such as Louisville, Ohio State, Florida, and Michigan, in addition to the Hoosiers.

He is a very skilled lefty who is a force on the defensive end, and also has a great inside-out game on the other end of the floor. With his post game being his bread and butter, his size, and above average footwork at his age allows Loveday to make easy work of most defenders in the paint.

Anthony Leal (Indiana Elite, 2020 SG)

Albeit a slow release, Leal is known for his shooting ability. Mainly on spot up shots, he also has the ability to knock down the 10-15 footer on a pull up jumper. At 6-foot-5, loves to use his size and strength when he gets in the paint and has the ability to finish with either hand.

Having an in-home visit with Indiana on Monday, he remains one of the top priorities for Archie Miller.

Khristian Lander (Indiana Elite, 2021 PG)

At 6-foot-1, he isn’t going to blow you away with his size, but it’s his length that makes him that much better than other guards his age. A good shooter, Lander also has the quickness to get in the lane and finish through contact.

A smooth lefty, he was named co-MVP of the underclassmen All-American Game last month. Visiting Lander multiple times, Archie Miller is one of a long list of college coaches who want one of the best guards in the country.

Trey Galloway (Indiana Elite, 2020 SG)

An all-around guard, Galloway has Indiana amongst his favorites early in his recruitment. At 6-foot-5, Galloway is another big guard that Archie Miller is going after. Able to use his size to get in the lane, his game is either in the paint or at the three-point line, though he did struggle during his senior season.

This is a big summer for Galloway, as he is looking to break onto the nationwide scene.

D1 Circuit – EYBL (Atlanta, GA)

Caleb Love (Bradley Beal Elite, 2021 PG)

Love has good quickness and shifty athleticism that allows for him to finish at will in the lane through contact. Having range that stretches out to almost 23 plus feet, he also has a great mid-range game. A solid playmaker and distributor, right now Love is known for his scoring ability. With good size for a point guard, he is a terrific overall rebounder.

One of the best prospects in the country, blue bloods like Duke and Kentucky are starting to amp up the pressure for Love.

Donovan Johnson  (All Ohio Red, 2020 SF)

Meeting with the Hoosiers this past week, his recruitment has really started to heat up, with offers from Arizona and Pitt.

An extremely crafty finisher, Johnson is a lefty who can score in multiple ways. With a soft touch around the rim, he can finish through contact, in the mid-range and even has a floater in his arsenal. Having the ability to stretch his game out past the three-point line, he is most effective slashing in the lane.

Terrence Clarke (Expressions Elite, 2021 SG)

An athletic wing, Clarke has the potential to be the next big time NBA prospect. At 6-foot-6, Clarke has incredible versatility in his game and can do almost anything on a basketball court. Though very ball dominant, he can play all over the court, helped by his good shooting touch.

All the big guns are in on his recruitment, and though he has a long ways to go before his commitment, he has already been on Indiana’s campus and received an offer from the Hoosiers.