by Kent Sterling
Crown Point’s Grant Gelon’s dream to be a Hoosier is going to come true next year.
This is the kind of story I never get tired of telling, but was unsure I would get the chance to tell again.
An Indiana high school player overlooked by many of the bigger programs dreams of playing for the Hoosiers impresses the IU head coach, gets an offer, and accepts it after discussing it with his parents for all of a couple of minutes.
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In 49 states, this story might end in disappointment, but this is Indiana where kids shoot tiny basketballs at Little Tykes rigs as soon as they can stand. The reason this story has a good chance at ending happily for all concerned is the same as the explanation for how ‘scrappy’ Indiana teams go to summer tournaments and beat national powers filled with top 20 ranked talent.
Indiana kids know how to play winning basketball, and by “Indiana kids”, I’m not imposing geographic limits. I’m talking about hoops savvy – the ability to diagnose and attack instinctively on both ends of the floor. “Indiana kids” have it whether they live in Indiana, Illinois, or Croatia.
Grant Gelon of Crown Point visited Assembly Hall Wednesday, Tom Crean offered him a scholarship, and before he left Assembly Hall, Grant told his future coach, “I want to be a Hoosier.”
Some fans are curious why a kid whose only other offer was from Western Michigann belongs at Indiana. These are the same guys who whine about too many Indiana kids, too few Indiana kids, too many ranked players, and too few ranked players. Here’s a tip for Grant – you can’t please these buffoons, so don’t sweat their psychosis.
For those of you who allow yourselves to be excited about a basketball player who knows what Assembly Hall is and what Candy Stripes look like before showing up for his first workout in Bloomington, Grant’s story gets better.
“I was down in Bloomington visiting my sister and we went to Assembly Hall,” Grant told me on my radio show (3p-6p weekdays on CBS Sports Indianapolis). “They had a practice going on, and I couldn’t get in there to sneak a peek because the doors were all locked. It’s kind of cool that I was trying to get in there last year, and now here I am. It’s kind of amazing.”
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During a time when some high school players are jaded after years of being pampered and treated like they are special before doing anything meaningful, Grant’s excitement in telling the story of what happened Wednesday night is a welcome change, “We were talking to Coach Crean and he was explaining where I would fit in the program… IU had a scholarship and they would like to offer it to me. It was just so fulfilling. It was just everything I could have imagined it being. It was nerve-wracking, but after I said ‘I want to be a Hoosier,’ it just felt great.
“I’m excited to get my hands dirty and get to work. I know I’ve got a lot to work on, but I’m ready to put in the time and the effort. I’m an Indiana guy from the Region, and it just couldn’t be a better fit for me.”
That goes both ways.
Grant Gelon likely isn’t the second coming of Steve Alford, Randy Wittman, or Calbert Cheaney, but he’s a shooter willing to defend who’s damn excited about being a Hoosier. That’s enough for me.
Indiana needs more Grant Gelons. Lucky for Tom Crean, Indiana has plenty.
Here’s the full interview with Grant from my show:
Pretty sure Austin Ethrington always dreamed of being a hoosier as a kid just hope this kid doesn’t get Creaned, but I wouldn’t bet against it either.
Could happen, but the vitriol about Gelon’s decision has been ridiculous. Big moment for the kid, and 99% of the people commenting have never seen him play.
By the way, I loved Etherington coming to IU. Healthy, he was a hell of a player, and he was a bit of a pied piper for recruiting. Without Austin, it’s possible Zeller would never have come to Bloomington.
Interesting get: a shooting guard; plays defense; wants to be a Hoosier; from the region; willingness to work to improve; a 4-year player. I like what I’m reading about Grant Gelon.
And as to the “Creaning” of Etherington, averaging only 2 points per game on 32% shooting (23% from 3-point range) as a sophomore, his chance of getting more playing time was nil. He graduated in SPEA. His dad went to Butler. I don’t blame the coach about Austen E. leaving the program. Everyone thought and hoped he would do better. He didn’t. Seems AE wanted to leave.
Does NOT play defense. So he’ll fit right in with a Tom Crean led team.
I’ve seen him play for his summer team, and I liked his defense.
Love this type of kid. Great interview – this guy seems more polished than current IU players. Best of luck Grant and we’re looking forward to seeing you in the candy stripes.
There should always be roster spots for Hoosier kids who want to and can play for IU. Welcome Grant. I hope you are the next Colin Hartman.
Yes it’s called a walk on.
Take that Western Carolina! This is as thrilling as the Priller and April commitments!
Completely different. April and Priller were desperation signings. Melon commits a year prior to reporting.
Welcome Grant. Congratulations young man, no matter what, from this point forward, you were a basketball player at Indiana University, something very, very few achieve. Make the most of your opportunity and ignore both the naysayers and sycophants in Bloomington, in the media, and on boards like this. Your potential both on and off the court is unlimited. Stay humble and don’t put yourself in bad situations.
And one more comment Kent, I know you remember Calbert Cheaney was not Calbert Cheaney in the context of your article. He was under the radar, lightly recruited and not a big name at all in the fall of his freshman year.
Very true. Lawrence Funderburke was the top rated player in that recruiting class. Go figure.
Calbert was injured his junior and maybe part of his senior season and let’s face the facts the rating agencies aren’t what they are today, like it or not there is pretty good correlation about high school rankings and future employment in the NBA. Everyone keeps pointing to Victor Oladipo, well yes there are exceptions to anything in life, but for the most part if you are a top 20 kid in a high school class your chances for a NBA contract are pretty damn good.
Nonsense. While the NBA’s elite are almost always formerly high ranked HS players, there are many more highly ranked players who are busts. NBA players are not always successful in college, nor are their teams always successful. Evaluating talent is a dodgy science. Evaluating human beings who play basketball is an art mastered by few.
Nonsense my ass Kent, look at this years draft top 10 picks, what are you talking about almost all were McDonald’s All Americans.
But most McDonald’s All-Americans are not NBA lottery picks. Rankings are not a reliable predictor of success. Where was Frank Kaminsky ranked? The experts get it right with the obvious players like Dwight Howard and LeBron James. Others require nuance, and that’s a tough nut when 1,000s of kids play.
Yo Kent- 2015 NBA Draft top 13 picks-11 were McDonalds all americans, 2 were foreign players and 1 was Frank Kaminsky.
So how many McDonald’s All-Americans were not drafted over the past four classes?
I have no idea I’m not the one with a Sports talk show look it up while you are not doing anything and let me know.
Because I have a sportstalk show, I need to wander thru wiki to help prove your theory?
In 2012 33% of the NBA was made up of past McDonalds All-Americans. 1/3 for you IU math guys.