LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Class of 2017 guard Jordan Poole has a unique connection to IU Coach Tom Crean.
Poole, who plays for Playground Elite (Wisconsin) on the AAU circuit, lives in the city — Milwaukee — Crean used to call home when he was the head coach at Marquette. And Crean’s son, Riley, used to play on Poole’s AAU team.
“Like the fourth grade or something like that,” Poole said. “For like a year, before he got the job at Indiana — that’s when he was at Marquette — so I’ve been watching Coach Crean for a little bit.”
Poole, the No. 97 recruit nationally in his class according to Rivals, talks to Crean every day via text or phone conversations, he said.
Crean offers advice regarding areas in which the guard can improve his play, but the two also engage in what Poole said are “friendly conversations” about family and school.
“I just got my license, so he talks about me driving crazy, stuff like that,” Poole said after Playground Elite’s 73-72 loss in overtime to the Charlotte Royals (North Carolina) Wednesday. “So we’ve been talking a lot.”
IU is one of several Big Ten programs expressing interest in the rising junior.
Illinois offered Poole a scholarship earlier this summer, and he talks with members of the Fighting Illini’s coaching staff on a daily basis. Wisconsin coaches have been regulars at his games this summer, and Nebraska has offered him a scholarship.
Poole also mentioned Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan State as other Big Ten schools that have shown at least some level of interest in him.
The sidelines at the Kentucky Exposition Center were packed with college coaches for Playground Elite’s first game of the third July evaluation period. In addition to IU Associate Head Coach Tim Buckley, coaches from The Citadel, Iowa, Kennesaw State, Marquette, Purdue and Winthrop, among other schools, were in attendance.
The 6-foot-2 guard received offers Monday from Marquette, Memphis and Portland to go along with ones from Auburn, Bradley, Drake, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Sam Houston State, Illinois-Chicago and Virginia Tech.
He hopes to tour the country this fall to visit some of those schools.
“All the schools that offered,” Poole said. “Like Virginia Tech, Illinois, Auburn, Memphis, I want to get to those schools, probably football games in the fall.”
During his visits and the rest of his recruitment, the Wisconsin native will evaluate schools based on three criteria: style of play, education and location.
“The way the team plays,” he said. “If the coach fits my style, fast tempo, like to get up and down the court. Secondly is education.
“Education has to be a huge part because if the basketball stops working, I want to have a degree to fall (back) on.”
And yes, location and climate could play a role in where Poole decides to enroll for college.
“I’m kind of getting tired of the snow out there,” he said. “All three have to be a factor.”
