Indiana University Athletics
Recapping Coach Miller At Huber's Orchard and Winery
5/30/2019 10:59:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
BORDEN, Ind. - Trayce Jackson-Davis loomed large at the annual Huber's Orchard and Winery Indiana alumni gathering, and not just because of his imposing size.
The Hoosier freshman, and newest Indiana Mr. Basketball has a huge upside that coach Archie Miller can't wait to develop.
Take, for instance, Jackson-Davis' 6-9 ¾ and 245-pound measurements recorded during Wednesday's IU visit.
"He's a big kid," Miller said during a press conference before the alumni event. "His mobility and athleticism and face-up game are some things we'll look to take advantage of."
Jackson-Davis figures to make a major impact next season, with this key thought -- don't limit him to a traditional role as either a center or a forward.
Miller isn't.
"In this day and age, it's hard to pin a guy down and say what he is. Trayce is very mobile. He's very athletic and long. He's better than a lot of people give him credit for offensively in terms of putting the ball on the floor and facing up. With him, the big thing is development. He has to develop playing on the perimeter. He's a high school All-American and very talented, but he has a lot of room to grow. That's a good thing."
IU is bringing in two other players for next season -- Butler transfer forward Joey Brunk and three-star guard Armaan Franklin of Indianapolis Cathedral.
"Joey is very good in the low post," Miller said. "He can move around.
"Armaan has a chance to help (IU's perimeter shooting)."
The Hoosiers have a couple of remaining scholarships, and will likely use them on the 2020 recruiting class, Miller added.
"For the first time since I've been here, we'll have some roster flexibility with the scholarship situation. It's never good in 2019 to have 13 guys on scholarship. It doesn't work at this level. You have to have some flexibility."
Miller said he'll only add to the current newcomer group if he can sign an "impactful player."
"We won't be hasty. We've had all spring to evaluate things. Going into the 2020 class to have more windows and add more bodies, we look forward to that.
"In this day and age, with the transfer portal, the NBA process, your roster is in constant flux. You have guys coming and going as soon as the season ends.
"You never know. You have guys transferring. You have guys going pro. You have to have more options.
"We're going to be very smart. To have a bigger 2020 recruiting opportunity is very exciting to us."
Having fewer players could also help next year's team, Miller added. Coaches rarely use rotations of more than eight to 10 players.
"They best teams have the best chemistry," he said. "Sometimes, when you have 13 guys, if No. 12 and No. 13 aren't injured, you have some real dynamics you have to deal with as far as playing time.
"To be able to go into this season a little thinner gives guys more light at the end of the tunnel. They have a real purpose and can see themselves being a part of things for the long term."
While standout freshman Romeo Langford, as expected, will stay in the NBA draft, veterans Devonte Green, Justin Smith and Aljami Durham will return to IU.
Yes, that's big.
"All three guys are coming back," Miller said. "We're thankful for that. We're excited to get those guys moving forward."
Green has a strong finish to the season and averaged 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists. His 48 three-pointers led IU.
Smith averaged 8.2 points and 4.5 rebounds. Durham averaged 8.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
"Justin spent the majority of his time in Bloomington," Miller said. "He's in class right now. He's been here working out. He's really put some time in his game.
"Al has been home for the month of May doing his stuff. Devonte also has been home. They've been on their own. Their (NBA) feedback came more from the advisory committee. They were able to put themselves in some situations and able to work out."
Freshman forward Jerome Hunter, who missed all of last season with a lower body injury, is making strong progress. He stayed in Bloomington this month to continue with his rehabilitation.
"He's been elevated in terms of his activity level," Miller said. "He's doing a lot more individual stuff. He's far, far away from any final decision. We're looking at July and August to see what he's capable of doing."
The 6-7 Hunter was a top-50 prospect coming out of high school last season, but never got the chance to showcase the skills that enabled him to total 1,314 points and 729 rebounds for Pickerington North High School in Ohio.
"We're excited to get him back on the floor," Miller said. "He's doing a lot more individual work. A lot more weight lifting and conditioning."
IU must replace a pair of the Big Ten's best in Langford and forward Juwan Morgan. Despite dealing with a thumb injury that required off-season surgery, Langford averaged a team-high 16.5 points. He was second in rebounding (5.4) and third in assists (75).
Morgan averaged 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds. He had a team-leading 54 blocks.
"They are two talented guys," Miller said. "Juwan had a great two-year run with us in terms of his productivity. He'll be greatly missed, but that's a great opportunity for other guys to step up.
"Romeo's freshman season, although everyone wants to nitpick it apart, he did some amazing things. His productivity stacked up against the college basketball world really looks good.
"Think about the league we play in and the talent he was going up against, which was as good as any."
As far as Langford's NBA prospects, Miller said, "Romeo has untapped potential. Physically he's as good as any guy you're going to see.
"From a basketball potential he's still young in terms of learning the game. He's so smart in terms of processing things. It doesn't take him long to pick up on what he needs to do."
Miller added that Langford will impress NBA officials at the Combine and in team interviews.
"That's where he'll really standout. He's such a great kid. He's so humble. You start to feel like you're dealing with a professional, with somebody who knows what's going on. He's not oblivious to what's happening. That's one thing that will give him a great edge – his personality, his humility. He's a very hard worker. You combine those things and he's really going to take off."
BORDEN, Ind. - Trayce Jackson-Davis loomed large at the annual Huber's Orchard and Winery Indiana alumni gathering, and not just because of his imposing size.
The Hoosier freshman, and newest Indiana Mr. Basketball has a huge upside that coach Archie Miller can't wait to develop.
Take, for instance, Jackson-Davis' 6-9 ¾ and 245-pound measurements recorded during Wednesday's IU visit.
"He's a big kid," Miller said during a press conference before the alumni event. "His mobility and athleticism and face-up game are some things we'll look to take advantage of."
Jackson-Davis figures to make a major impact next season, with this key thought -- don't limit him to a traditional role as either a center or a forward.
Miller isn't.
"In this day and age, it's hard to pin a guy down and say what he is. Trayce is very mobile. He's very athletic and long. He's better than a lot of people give him credit for offensively in terms of putting the ball on the floor and facing up. With him, the big thing is development. He has to develop playing on the perimeter. He's a high school All-American and very talented, but he has a lot of room to grow. That's a good thing."
IU is bringing in two other players for next season -- Butler transfer forward Joey Brunk and three-star guard Armaan Franklin of Indianapolis Cathedral.
"Joey is very good in the low post," Miller said. "He can move around.
"Armaan has a chance to help (IU's perimeter shooting)."
The Hoosiers have a couple of remaining scholarships, and will likely use them on the 2020 recruiting class, Miller added.
"For the first time since I've been here, we'll have some roster flexibility with the scholarship situation. It's never good in 2019 to have 13 guys on scholarship. It doesn't work at this level. You have to have some flexibility."
Miller said he'll only add to the current newcomer group if he can sign an "impactful player."
"We won't be hasty. We've had all spring to evaluate things. Going into the 2020 class to have more windows and add more bodies, we look forward to that.
"In this day and age, with the transfer portal, the NBA process, your roster is in constant flux. You have guys coming and going as soon as the season ends.
"You never know. You have guys transferring. You have guys going pro. You have to have more options.
"We're going to be very smart. To have a bigger 2020 recruiting opportunity is very exciting to us."
Having fewer players could also help next year's team, Miller added. Coaches rarely use rotations of more than eight to 10 players.
"They best teams have the best chemistry," he said. "Sometimes, when you have 13 guys, if No. 12 and No. 13 aren't injured, you have some real dynamics you have to deal with as far as playing time.
"To be able to go into this season a little thinner gives guys more light at the end of the tunnel. They have a real purpose and can see themselves being a part of things for the long term."
While standout freshman Romeo Langford, as expected, will stay in the NBA draft, veterans Devonte Green, Justin Smith and Aljami Durham will return to IU.
Yes, that's big.
"All three guys are coming back," Miller said. "We're thankful for that. We're excited to get those guys moving forward."
Green has a strong finish to the season and averaged 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists. His 48 three-pointers led IU.
Smith averaged 8.2 points and 4.5 rebounds. Durham averaged 8.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
"Justin spent the majority of his time in Bloomington," Miller said. "He's in class right now. He's been here working out. He's really put some time in his game.
"Al has been home for the month of May doing his stuff. Devonte also has been home. They've been on their own. Their (NBA) feedback came more from the advisory committee. They were able to put themselves in some situations and able to work out."
Freshman forward Jerome Hunter, who missed all of last season with a lower body injury, is making strong progress. He stayed in Bloomington this month to continue with his rehabilitation.
"He's been elevated in terms of his activity level," Miller said. "He's doing a lot more individual stuff. He's far, far away from any final decision. We're looking at July and August to see what he's capable of doing."
The 6-7 Hunter was a top-50 prospect coming out of high school last season, but never got the chance to showcase the skills that enabled him to total 1,314 points and 729 rebounds for Pickerington North High School in Ohio.
"We're excited to get him back on the floor," Miller said. "He's doing a lot more individual work. A lot more weight lifting and conditioning."
IU must replace a pair of the Big Ten's best in Langford and forward Juwan Morgan. Despite dealing with a thumb injury that required off-season surgery, Langford averaged a team-high 16.5 points. He was second in rebounding (5.4) and third in assists (75).
Morgan averaged 15.5 points and 8.2 rebounds. He had a team-leading 54 blocks.
"They are two talented guys," Miller said. "Juwan had a great two-year run with us in terms of his productivity. He'll be greatly missed, but that's a great opportunity for other guys to step up.
"Romeo's freshman season, although everyone wants to nitpick it apart, he did some amazing things. His productivity stacked up against the college basketball world really looks good.
"Think about the league we play in and the talent he was going up against, which was as good as any."
As far as Langford's NBA prospects, Miller said, "Romeo has untapped potential. Physically he's as good as any guy you're going to see.
"From a basketball potential he's still young in terms of learning the game. He's so smart in terms of processing things. It doesn't take him long to pick up on what he needs to do."
Miller added that Langford will impress NBA officials at the Combine and in team interviews.
"That's where he'll really standout. He's such a great kid. He's so humble. You start to feel like you're dealing with a professional, with somebody who knows what's going on. He's not oblivious to what's happening. That's one thing that will give him a great edge – his personality, his humility. He's a very hard worker. You combine those things and he's really going to take off."
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