Indiana Basketball: Hoosiers eyeing possible addition to the 2019 class

Indiana basketball remains cautiously optimistic they can land Canadian guard for their 2019 recruiting class.

In a turn of events, just when it seemed all of Indiana’s options were up for the 2019 class, there is another name that may join the Indiana basketball program.

Canadian guard Austin Van Zyl is a name most people have probably never heard, but now there is a possibility of him coming to Bloomington.

According to multiple reports by The Daily Hoosier, Rivals, and 247Sports, Indiana and Van Zyl have been in contact and could be a viable option if he chooses to come to college over playing professionally.

Though there are no specifics publicly as to when Van Zyl could possibly visit, it is an interesting development.

At 6-foot-5, Van Zyl has played the last two seasons in France after spending time at Huntington Prep (WV). Maintaining his college eligibility despite playing overseas, Van Zyl has been tested throughout the whole process.

Playing for the Monaco’s U21 team, Van Zyl averaged 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and shot 31 percent from three in his first season, and averaged 6.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists this past year in just nine games.

He took his game over to Europe in order to have the “best path to get to the goal that i want to reach, which is the NBA”. Though his stats don’t scream a game changing type player, it’s always difficult to dissect that in a Euro league which is historically a lot more physical than that in the United States.

Van Zyl described his game here, saying he wanted to be vocal, aggressive on defense and facilitate the ball.

"“That’s what I do. I’m a facilitator. I wanted to get the main scorers on the team happy with me. Since I was new, everyone said who is this guy. I just wanted to make everyone like me and give the ball up,"

He is a great passer with excellent vision. At his height, he is also able to see over most guards he will be matched up against. Van Zyl is a smooth lefty and has a great shooting stroke. Though he didn’t shoot the ball great overseas, a lot can be pointed to the fact that the international three-point line, which is 22 feet and 1 3/4 inches, is almost three feet farther than that of college basketball.

As someone who is also exceptional in pick and roll action, it may bring a new dimension to the Indiana offense that has struggled over the last couple of years in scoring the ball and having great floor spacing.

Though his recruitment isn’t necessarily in the later stages, with most members of the 2019 class across the country arriving on their respective campuses within the next month, if not already there, Van Zyl will have to make a decision relatively soon.