Indiana Basketball: Hoosiers face pivotal weekend, host five-star target

The Indiana basketball program is set to host what is likely their lone remaining 2020 target this weekend, and look to close the deal on his recruitment.

It has been a couple of weekends since the Hoosiers have played host to a big time recruit, but that changes this week with the Indiana basketball program needing to put on a show for one five-star target.

Currently a top-10 class nationally, the IU class is made up of wings with Trey Galloway, Anthony Leal, and Jordan Geronimo, so securing a commitment from a five-star big man is crucial for Archie Miller and staff.

Dawson Garcia comes to Bloomington this weekend as it is his last official visit currently scheduled. So far he has been to Memphis and Minnesota with senior year official visits, but visited several schools including another program vying for his commitment in Marquette for junior year officials.

Rivals’ analyst Corey Evans talked about Garcia’s recruitment and what he would mean to the IU program.

"“Memphis has not laid off in its pursuit and the hometown Gophers have a unique sell, but Marquette and the Hoosiers remain in the best position. Indiana has its fair share of wing talent already in tow, but if Garcia committed he would be the face of its 2020 class, and he would immediately impact the program the day that he steps foot on campus.”"

Plus as much as two weeks ago, Evans touched on Dawson’s recruitment saying a commitment from the five-star big was ‘in Hoosiers’ grasp’. While a lot of the talk and rumors have circulated around Marquette and Indiana being the frontrunners, Indiana does have a bit of the upper hand when it comes to one thing; he has never been to IU’s campus.

If Bloomington does turn out to be the last place that Garcia visits, that could mean great things for the Hoosiers as most prospects are becoming more and more impressed with what Archie Miller is doing with the program as well as with the facilities.

Garcia could be a program changing commit for the Hoosiers. Not only would he put the icing on the cake with what could turn out to be a top-5 recruiting class in 2020, but he could be that missing piece for a program looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament in 2021.

While it could come down to who has been involved in Garcia’s recruitment the longest, which would be Marquette, Indiana is not far behind in that matter and has invested a large majority of their time into making the Minnesota native feel at home in Bloomington.

With a need for a big man in the coming classes, a Garcia commitment would be tremendous, not only for the season outlook, but also for fans to see that Archie Miller can compete with the best when trying to land out-of-state targets, something he hasn’t put much of an emphasis on since taking the Indiana job.