Indiana Basketball: Adidas Gauntlet, D1 Circuit EYBL weekend roundup
By Alec Lasley
In the only spring live recruiting session for college coaches, the Indiana basketball program was well represented in both tournaments.
In one of the major AAU kickoffs this weekend, both the Adidas Gauntlet and D1 circuit were well represented by Indiana basketball.
With the new recruiting regulations, this will be the only live recruiting session for college coaches in the spring, and the only one until June 13, not giving them too much time to see some of these kids play.
There were numerous Indiana targets in action whether in Dallas or Atlanta, so the coaching staff had to spread out and travel all over the country to take in as much basketball as they could, checking in with current targets, or trying to find new ones.
Let’s find out how some of the top Indiana prospects played.
Adidas Gauntlet (Dallas, TX)
Zach Loveday (Wildcats Select, 2020 C)
Putting up consistent numbers, Loveday didn’t stuff the stat sheet particularly well, but was a force in the paint against Mass Rivals as he had six blocks in the two-point win.
Though he didn’t have an offensive rebounds on the weekend, something he needs to continue to improve on with his height, he manned the defensive glass. Scoring just seven points in the weekend opener, he had more chances as he went just 2-of-6 from the free throw line. Still growing his three-point game, he went 1-for-2 on the weekend.
Donovan Johnson (Wildcats Select, 2020 SF)
Spending time on both the Nike D1 Circuit and Adidas Gauntlet in his high school career, Johnson continued his terrific Adidas Gauntlet season. Scoring 25 points in the opener against Riverside Church, he scored in a variety of ways going 5-for-8 from the free throw line and 4-for-5 from three.
Struggling a bit more in their final game, he shot just 29.4 percent from the field, though still scoring in double-digits. He also showcased his versatile game, grabbing four offensive rebounds on the weekend.
Anthony Leal (Indiana Elite, 2020 SG)
In what was an inconsistent weekend for Leal, he struggled to find a rhythm all weekend.
Shooting 38.4 percent from the field, he shot 3-of-10 overall and 0-for-6 from three in their second game, after a great 18 point, 10 rebound performance in his opening matchup. He finished with five assists and turnovers as well, coughing up the ball four times in their second game. Finishing off the weekend, he chipped in 12 points.
Khristian Lander (Indiana Elite, 2021 PG)
The backcourt mate with Anthony Leal, Lander put up consistent numbers this weekend. In double-digits all of their games, scoring wasn’t much of an issue for him, it was more so efficiency, especially at the free throw line. Shooting around 60 percent on the weekend from the line, that is a part of his game he has been working on throughout the last year.
Struggling to hang on to the ball, Lander had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio by almost tree times as many turnovers than assists. Showing off his versatility though in game one, he finished with eight rebounds to make up for his 33 percent shooting from the field.
Tre Galloway (Indiana Elite, 2020 SG)
Another member of the trio in the Indiana Elite backcourt, Galloway probably played the best out of all three. Shooting 63.6 percent from the field this weekend, most points came from the mid-range areas or in the paint, though he did have a good weekend finale, finishing 3-for-4 from three for 22 points.
Scoring in double-digits in every game this weekend, Galloway also chipped in the defensive end with 1.5 steals per game.
D1 Circuit – EYBL (Atlanta, GA)
Caleb Love (Bradley Beal Elite, 2021 PG)
Though his team went just 1-3 on the weekend, Love showcased his skills and versatile game shooting 50 percent from three (9-for-18), while having just one game with an overall shooting percentage below 50 percent, finishing 52.9 percent for the weekend.
Love also used his good size for a lead guard, at 6-foot-3, to get to the foul line 19 times shooting 78.9 percent. With a 2.5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, he only had one game in which he struggled with holding on to the ball, their last game of the weekend when he had five turnovers against Alabama Fusion
Caleb Furst (Indy Heat, 2021 C)
Part of one of just four teams to make it out of the weekend undefeated, Furst played a major role in it. Shooting 68.4 percent from the field, he had three games above 77 percent including a 7-for-8 game to kick off the weekend.
Knowing his game, he took just one three on the weekend, which he made, but spent the majority of his minutes in and around the paint. Struggling a bit from the free throw line, he shot 61.1 percent (11-for-18). For someone who will spend a lot of time at the line, he needs to continue to improve on that part of his game.
Terrence Clarke (Expressions Elite, 2021 SG)
One of the best prospects in the country for any class, Clarke put on a show all weekend long for coaches. Putting up 24 and 26 points in his first two games of the weekend, Clarke shot a combined 18-of-28 in those games. I would like to see him be more aggressive in seeking out contact, as he had two games with just two free throw attempts.
Struggling against MOKAN Elite in their third game, going just 3-of-13, Clarke finished the weekend averaging a 49.1 shooting percentage while shooting 44.4 percent from deep.
Ethan Morton (N.Y. Renaissance, 2020 PG)
Playing in a different division than Clarke and Love, Morton struggled with his shot all weekend long, going just 4-of-17 from the field and 1-for-7 from three in their three games. Making up for his poor shooting, he went 14-of-16 from the free throw line.
His best game was their second one against Team Final, scoring 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting and two assists. A very good ball handler and decision maker, Mortan didn’t have a single turnover this weekend.