Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: IU’s Heralded Freshman Class Set To Make Impact
11/23/2020 1:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Hoosier Hysteria unlike any before brought a brief video glimpse of the newest Cream and Crimson basketball reality.
Real insight will start with Wednesday's season opener against Tennessee Tech.
While Indiana isn't ranked, optimism is high. This is coach Archie Miller's deepest, most talented team.
"This season will be a little unique," Miller says in a preview video. "We are anxious to play. We're out here doing our best to do special things.
"This will be a team you'll enjoy watching grow up before your eyes. This is a team that aspires to do good things."
A 17-minute virtual Hoosier Hysteria event featured Hoosiers we know -- Trayce Jackson-Davis, Joey Brunk, Aljami Durham and Rob Phinisee among them -- and those we're about to.
It included a tantalizing glimpse of IU's heralded newcomer class that rates as high as No. 13 nationally.
Much of that glimpse showed basketball director of athletic performance Clif Marshall pushing guards Khristian Lander, Anthony Leal and Trey Galloway, plus swingman Jordan Geronimo, through rigorous workouts designed to build strength, stamina, agility, power and more.
As Marshall says, first and foremost, it's about "energy and effort."
Lander draws the most attention given his 5-star status, but the other newcomers have plenty of talent Miller plans to utilize.
Phinisee has quick thoughts on what that could mean.
"Anthony is a great shooter, very smart," he says. "He listens. He works hard.
"Trey can create off the bounce, create for his teammates. He plays hard. Plays together.
"Khristian just has to learn the physicality and speed of the game.
"Jordan is a freak athlete. A great person and teammate. He's learning.
"All the freshmen are great teammates."
Now let's take a deeper look at them.
KHRISTIAN LANDER
The 6-2, 185-pounder already has made a believer out of Jackson-Davis, who, as a 5-star prospect out of Center Grove High School near Indianapolis, knows what it's like to join the Hoosiers under enormous expectations.
"Him coming in was huge for us," Jackson-Davis says. "He's a really explosive guard. He has a really high basketball IQ, especially for how young he is.
"The sky is the limit for him. He'll keep getting better every day, especially in the weight room. He's learning the new offense and how the college game is. He's a really good player."
Adds sophomore guard Armaan Franklin: "Khristian is great. He's explosive, quick, athletic and can shoot it. He can create for others. He's going to be a great player."
As a junior at Evansville Reitz High School last season, Lander averaged 21 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists and led the Panthers to a sectional title that could have been more if the postseason hadn't been halted by the pandemic.
As a sophomore, he averaged 23.3 points. He also played on Indiana Elite's AAU team that included Leal and Galloway.
Lander originally was in the Class of 2021, rated as high as No. 11 nationally by 247Sports, but moved up a year (instantly becoming a top-30 prospect for 2020) to enter IU for this season.
His youth puts him at a strength disadvantage, but he's making up for it fast.
"I feel like every day I'm getting stronger and getting the hang of the offense," he says. "I'm a fast learner. I'll get the hang of stuff. As long as I keep getting stronger, I'll be good."
JORDAN GERONIMO
Mention Geronimo in Hoosier basketball circles and this description quickly emerges:
"Freak."
It is not an insult.
The 6-6, 220-pound Geronimo has jaw-dropping athleticism, including a 40-inch vertical jump combined with a 7-foot wingspan.
Imagine the defensive possibilities. You'd better believe Miller has.
"I want to bring energy," Geronimo says. "I'll be there defensively, which is something I pride myself on. Do what the team needs. Get the win."
Geronimo has taken full advantage of Marshall's program, as well as IU's overall coaching.
"Coach Clif knows what he's doing," Geronimo says. "I came in and he put me on the right path. Guided me. Got me where he wanted me to be."
Beyond that, "I'm working on trying to improve my guard skills so I can contribute more."
Geronimo's mother, Dawn, once was a North Carolina basketball standout, and her son has inherited her talent and drive.
Geronimo was the New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year coming out of St. Paul's School. As a senior, he averaged 18.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks
Playing so far from home won't be a problem, he says.
"I was at a boarding school, so I'm used to being away. I'm learning what Indiana is all about.
"The process been difficult, but fun at the same time. I'm learning and growing, adjusting going to college from high school. I'm meeting new people. It's been a good experience."
Geronimo rocketed into elite recruiting status with an outstanding summer ball performance in Los Angeles.
"What I showed in Los Angeles," Geronimo says, "is going to be present for this season. The coaches saw what I can do. I'll continue that with what we want to do here."
ANTHONY LEAL
He will play just a few miles from where he dominated at Bloomington High School South.
"It was surreal at first," he says about playing for IU. "I'm getting more used to it. I'm really excited about it. To play with this jersey means a lot to me."
As a senior, Leal averaged 18.2 points and 4.3 rebounds for an unbeaten and top-ranked team set to make a state title run until the pandemic ended everything. He scored a school-record 1,620 points topping, among others, former IU standout guard Jordan Hulls.
Leal has always had a knack for clutch shooting. He hit the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to beat Silver Creek, 69-68. He also hit the winning shot to beat Floyd Central 51-50, ending that school's 31-game home-court winning streak.
He has fit in nicely to the Hoosier program, even if preparations have been altered by the pandemic.
"I've been trying to do what I can," Leal says. "Embrace all the opportunities I get no matter how unorthodox they might be."
That will include playing without a sold-out Assembly Hall. Per Big Ten pandemic guidelines, fans will not be allowed at games to start this season.
"I wouldn't have imagined it," he says, "but it's still the same opportunity. We're still playing and working for the same goals, so I'll embrace it just as equally."
TREY GALLOWAY
Expect plenty from Galloway, who figures to contribute shooting, something you can never get enough of in 21st Century play. He rated among the state of Indiana's best shooters during his all-state high school career at Culver Academies.
"I've been trying to groove my shot," he says. "That's one thing I can contribute this year for sure."
The 6-4 Galloway has the versatility to play point guard, shooting guard or even small forward.
"The 1 through 3 is what I focused on my whole career," he says. "Wherever the coaches need me, that's where I'll go. If that's guarding any of those positions, I'll try my best to fill that role."
He says the biggest adjustment so far has been "time management."
"It's really structured, and that's good. The leaders have taken me under their wing. That's helped to learn what to do."
Galloway is the son of a coach, Mark, and together they won one Class 3A title (2018) and finished second the following season.
Last season as a senior, Galloway overcame a wrist injury to average 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.3 steals. Culver ended the season with a 15-game winning streak and a sectional title before the pandemic stopped everything.
As far as getting along with the other freshmen, Galloway says, "We all have each other's backs. We're all adjusting to the system."
Real insight will start with Wednesday's season opener against Tennessee Tech.
While Indiana isn't ranked, optimism is high. This is coach Archie Miller's deepest, most talented team.
"This season will be a little unique," Miller says in a preview video. "We are anxious to play. We're out here doing our best to do special things.
"This will be a team you'll enjoy watching grow up before your eyes. This is a team that aspires to do good things."
A 17-minute virtual Hoosier Hysteria event featured Hoosiers we know -- Trayce Jackson-Davis, Joey Brunk, Aljami Durham and Rob Phinisee among them -- and those we're about to.
It included a tantalizing glimpse of IU's heralded newcomer class that rates as high as No. 13 nationally.
Much of that glimpse showed basketball director of athletic performance Clif Marshall pushing guards Khristian Lander, Anthony Leal and Trey Galloway, plus swingman Jordan Geronimo, through rigorous workouts designed to build strength, stamina, agility, power and more.
As Marshall says, first and foremost, it's about "energy and effort."
Lander draws the most attention given his 5-star status, but the other newcomers have plenty of talent Miller plans to utilize.
Phinisee has quick thoughts on what that could mean.
"Anthony is a great shooter, very smart," he says. "He listens. He works hard.
"Trey can create off the bounce, create for his teammates. He plays hard. Plays together.
"Khristian just has to learn the physicality and speed of the game.
"Jordan is a freak athlete. A great person and teammate. He's learning.
"All the freshmen are great teammates."
Now let's take a deeper look at them.
KHRISTIAN LANDER
The 6-2, 185-pounder already has made a believer out of Jackson-Davis, who, as a 5-star prospect out of Center Grove High School near Indianapolis, knows what it's like to join the Hoosiers under enormous expectations.
"Him coming in was huge for us," Jackson-Davis says. "He's a really explosive guard. He has a really high basketball IQ, especially for how young he is.
"The sky is the limit for him. He'll keep getting better every day, especially in the weight room. He's learning the new offense and how the college game is. He's a really good player."
Adds sophomore guard Armaan Franklin: "Khristian is great. He's explosive, quick, athletic and can shoot it. He can create for others. He's going to be a great player."
As a junior at Evansville Reitz High School last season, Lander averaged 21 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists and led the Panthers to a sectional title that could have been more if the postseason hadn't been halted by the pandemic.
As a sophomore, he averaged 23.3 points. He also played on Indiana Elite's AAU team that included Leal and Galloway.
Lander originally was in the Class of 2021, rated as high as No. 11 nationally by 247Sports, but moved up a year (instantly becoming a top-30 prospect for 2020) to enter IU for this season.
His youth puts him at a strength disadvantage, but he's making up for it fast.
"I feel like every day I'm getting stronger and getting the hang of the offense," he says. "I'm a fast learner. I'll get the hang of stuff. As long as I keep getting stronger, I'll be good."
JORDAN GERONIMO
Mention Geronimo in Hoosier basketball circles and this description quickly emerges:
"Freak."
It is not an insult.
The 6-6, 220-pound Geronimo has jaw-dropping athleticism, including a 40-inch vertical jump combined with a 7-foot wingspan.
Imagine the defensive possibilities. You'd better believe Miller has.
"I want to bring energy," Geronimo says. "I'll be there defensively, which is something I pride myself on. Do what the team needs. Get the win."
Geronimo has taken full advantage of Marshall's program, as well as IU's overall coaching.
"Coach Clif knows what he's doing," Geronimo says. "I came in and he put me on the right path. Guided me. Got me where he wanted me to be."
Beyond that, "I'm working on trying to improve my guard skills so I can contribute more."
Geronimo's mother, Dawn, once was a North Carolina basketball standout, and her son has inherited her talent and drive.
Geronimo was the New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year coming out of St. Paul's School. As a senior, he averaged 18.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks
Playing so far from home won't be a problem, he says.
"I was at a boarding school, so I'm used to being away. I'm learning what Indiana is all about.
"The process been difficult, but fun at the same time. I'm learning and growing, adjusting going to college from high school. I'm meeting new people. It's been a good experience."
Geronimo rocketed into elite recruiting status with an outstanding summer ball performance in Los Angeles.
"What I showed in Los Angeles," Geronimo says, "is going to be present for this season. The coaches saw what I can do. I'll continue that with what we want to do here."
ANTHONY LEAL
He will play just a few miles from where he dominated at Bloomington High School South.
"It was surreal at first," he says about playing for IU. "I'm getting more used to it. I'm really excited about it. To play with this jersey means a lot to me."
As a senior, Leal averaged 18.2 points and 4.3 rebounds for an unbeaten and top-ranked team set to make a state title run until the pandemic ended everything. He scored a school-record 1,620 points topping, among others, former IU standout guard Jordan Hulls.
Leal has always had a knack for clutch shooting. He hit the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to beat Silver Creek, 69-68. He also hit the winning shot to beat Floyd Central 51-50, ending that school's 31-game home-court winning streak.
He has fit in nicely to the Hoosier program, even if preparations have been altered by the pandemic.
"I've been trying to do what I can," Leal says. "Embrace all the opportunities I get no matter how unorthodox they might be."
That will include playing without a sold-out Assembly Hall. Per Big Ten pandemic guidelines, fans will not be allowed at games to start this season.
"I wouldn't have imagined it," he says, "but it's still the same opportunity. We're still playing and working for the same goals, so I'll embrace it just as equally."
TREY GALLOWAY
Expect plenty from Galloway, who figures to contribute shooting, something you can never get enough of in 21st Century play. He rated among the state of Indiana's best shooters during his all-state high school career at Culver Academies.
"I've been trying to groove my shot," he says. "That's one thing I can contribute this year for sure."
The 6-4 Galloway has the versatility to play point guard, shooting guard or even small forward.
"The 1 through 3 is what I focused on my whole career," he says. "Wherever the coaches need me, that's where I'll go. If that's guarding any of those positions, I'll try my best to fill that role."
He says the biggest adjustment so far has been "time management."
"It's really structured, and that's good. The leaders have taken me under their wing. That's helped to learn what to do."
Galloway is the son of a coach, Mark, and together they won one Class 3A title (2018) and finished second the following season.
Last season as a senior, Galloway overcame a wrist injury to average 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.3 steals. Culver ended the season with a 15-game winning streak and a sectional title before the pandemic stopped everything.
As far as getting along with the other freshmen, Galloway says, "We all have each other's backs. We're all adjusting to the system."
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