Indiana University Athletics
Accomplished Trio Sign NLI’s To Join Indiana Men’s Golf
11/17/2016 4:56:00 PM | Men's Golf
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Indiana men's golf head coach Mike Mayer announced on Thursday that Raj Chekuri (Pleasanton, California), Ethan Shepherd (Greenwood, Indiana) and Evan Yakubov (Columbus, Ohio) have signed their National Letters of Intent and will join the Hoosiers in the fall of 2017.
"We are thrilled that Ethan, Raj and Evan have decided to become Hoosiers," Mayer said. "All three will bring passion, distinction and honor to our program and university. They all have what it takes to be extremely successful both athletically and academically and they all have what it takes to be Hoosiers."
Chekuri is a senior at Foothill High School in California, where he has a 72.2 stroke average. He has garnered first team all-league as a freshman – just the second freshman in school history to receive that honor. He was also named First Team All-East Bay while playing on the top team in Northern California. He advanced to the state finals as a freshman and sophomore and has been a team captain the past two years. As a junior golfer, he won the 2014 AJGA Preseason Junior tournament at Diablo Grande with a two-round total of 1-over par 145. More recently, he finished T10 at the Future Collegians World Tour Classic at Half Moon Bay in January 2016.
The son of Raju and Geeta, Chekuri also has one brother, Roshan, who was on the IU golf team in 2012-13. Raj intends to pursue a degree in the Kelley School of Business at Indiana.
"After a very successful high school career, Raj has recently concentrated his efforts in amateur golf and this has really helped him elevate his game," said Mayer. "He has won at the top junior and amateur levels and has an extremely strong work ethic and outstanding fundamental skills. He has outstanding ball striking abilities and I think he will develop into an outstanding collegiate golfer."
Shepherd recently completed a stellar 3-year career at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana. He helped Center Grove to a runner-up team finish as a junior and a third place finish his senior year at the IHSAA state championship. His senior year stroke average of 72.31 earned him all-state honors as he also finished runner up at the Indiana State Amateur. He does have a number of tournament wins on his resume, capturing the IHSAA State Preview, the MIC Tournament and the Johnson County Tournament as a senior.
The son of Matt and Jerlyn, Shepherd also has on sister, Erica, and intends to major in Business at Indiana.
"I've had the opportunity to watch Ethan play numerous times," Mayer said, "And each time I watched him, I became more and more impressed with what I saw. Although he is young, he is a tenacious competitor and we need him to bring that competitive spirit with him to IU. His demeanor on the golf course is one of the best that I've seen from someone his age. The highlight of his career to this point has to be his second place finish at the 2016 Indiana State Amateur Championship, an outstanding accomplishment regardless of age."
Yakubov is a senior at St. Charles Prepatory School in Columbus, Ohio, where he posted a 72.2 stroke average this past fall. He won four tournaments during his senior campaign including the OHSAA Division I state title. He also finished second at the AJGA Memorial Junior and tied for fourth at the 2016 Hudson Junior. Competing in the largest division among Ohio high schools, Yakubov helped his team to a runner-up finish in 2014 and 2016. He also lettered in tennis for four years and competed in the quarterfinals of the state tournament.
The son of Steven and Tracey, he has two brothers, Connor and Reece, and intends to major in finance at Indiana.
"Evan has quickly developed into one of the best junior golfers in the Midwest," Mayer said. "He had a great senior season in Ohio highlighted obviously by winning the individual title at the Ohio high school championships. He has incredible passion for the game of golf and an immense desire to be the best player he can be. He will bring a high level of energy and excitement to our program that will do nothing but enhance our team as a whole moving forward."
"We are thrilled that Ethan, Raj and Evan have decided to become Hoosiers," Mayer said. "All three will bring passion, distinction and honor to our program and university. They all have what it takes to be extremely successful both athletically and academically and they all have what it takes to be Hoosiers."
Chekuri is a senior at Foothill High School in California, where he has a 72.2 stroke average. He has garnered first team all-league as a freshman – just the second freshman in school history to receive that honor. He was also named First Team All-East Bay while playing on the top team in Northern California. He advanced to the state finals as a freshman and sophomore and has been a team captain the past two years. As a junior golfer, he won the 2014 AJGA Preseason Junior tournament at Diablo Grande with a two-round total of 1-over par 145. More recently, he finished T10 at the Future Collegians World Tour Classic at Half Moon Bay in January 2016.
The son of Raju and Geeta, Chekuri also has one brother, Roshan, who was on the IU golf team in 2012-13. Raj intends to pursue a degree in the Kelley School of Business at Indiana.
"After a very successful high school career, Raj has recently concentrated his efforts in amateur golf and this has really helped him elevate his game," said Mayer. "He has won at the top junior and amateur levels and has an extremely strong work ethic and outstanding fundamental skills. He has outstanding ball striking abilities and I think he will develop into an outstanding collegiate golfer."
Shepherd recently completed a stellar 3-year career at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana. He helped Center Grove to a runner-up team finish as a junior and a third place finish his senior year at the IHSAA state championship. His senior year stroke average of 72.31 earned him all-state honors as he also finished runner up at the Indiana State Amateur. He does have a number of tournament wins on his resume, capturing the IHSAA State Preview, the MIC Tournament and the Johnson County Tournament as a senior.
The son of Matt and Jerlyn, Shepherd also has on sister, Erica, and intends to major in Business at Indiana.
"I've had the opportunity to watch Ethan play numerous times," Mayer said, "And each time I watched him, I became more and more impressed with what I saw. Although he is young, he is a tenacious competitor and we need him to bring that competitive spirit with him to IU. His demeanor on the golf course is one of the best that I've seen from someone his age. The highlight of his career to this point has to be his second place finish at the 2016 Indiana State Amateur Championship, an outstanding accomplishment regardless of age."
Yakubov is a senior at St. Charles Prepatory School in Columbus, Ohio, where he posted a 72.2 stroke average this past fall. He won four tournaments during his senior campaign including the OHSAA Division I state title. He also finished second at the AJGA Memorial Junior and tied for fourth at the 2016 Hudson Junior. Competing in the largest division among Ohio high schools, Yakubov helped his team to a runner-up finish in 2014 and 2016. He also lettered in tennis for four years and competed in the quarterfinals of the state tournament.
The son of Steven and Tracey, he has two brothers, Connor and Reece, and intends to major in finance at Indiana.
"Evan has quickly developed into one of the best junior golfers in the Midwest," Mayer said. "He had a great senior season in Ohio highlighted obviously by winning the individual title at the Ohio high school championships. He has incredible passion for the game of golf and an immense desire to be the best player he can be. He will bring a high level of energy and excitement to our program that will do nothing but enhance our team as a whole moving forward."
IUWBB Highlights vs. EMU
Sunday, December 14
IUBB Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, December 14
IUWBB Highlights vs. ULM
Friday, December 12
Darian DeVries Pregame Press Conference
Thursday, December 11