Recruitment class grabs Indianapolis standout

The IU men's basketball team has solidified next year's recruiting class as one of the top in the country with the addition of Indianapolis North Central's A.J. Ratliff. The 6-foot-1 point guard verbally committed to Coach Mike Davis and the Hoosiers Sunday.\n"I went with what I decided to do," Ratliff said. "I talked to Coach Davis about my position with the team. I hope to be the leader of the group as the point guard. I've watched their games on TV and seen the crazy fans and hung out with some of the players."\nIU already had four other commitments before Ratliff. Clark Francis, editor and publisher of Hoop Scoop, said Ratliff will be a fine fit at IU.\n"He's very athletic," Francis said. "He can play three different positions. I don't think he's a great player, but he's a nice piece of the puzzle."\nThe official signing date for the basketball team is Nov. 13. IU already had verbal commitments from four other players: Robert Vaden of Indianapolis, James Hardy of Fort Wayne, Ind., D.J. White from Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Josh Smith from Powder Springs, Ga. \nFrancis has Ratliff ranked No. 103 in the country. Hardy is in the 70s, and Vaden is in the 30s. Both White and Smith are ranked in the top five nationally.\n"(Ratliff) puts IU over the top in having the No. 1 class in the country right now," Francis said. "He's a homegrown kid. When a kid stays home, it's always good. More importantly it shows that IU got three of top five players in state."\nJosh Gilbert is Ratliff's uncle and his legal guardian. Gilbert has ties to Davis, which helped when Ratliff had to make his decision. Gilbert's wife, Stephanie, said there is a trust and comfort level with Davis.\n"My husband has known Mike Davis for years," Stephanie Gilbert said. "Davis has a family environment there. It's amazing the relationship he has with the kids. A.J. needs someone there he can trust when we aren't there."\nRatliff's mother, Tracy Ratliff, lives in New Iberia, La. She said she was not involved in Ratliff's decision to come to IU because she wanted to leave it up to him. She said she told him the family would support him no matter where he chose.\n"I think he picked a good school from what I've read about the school and from my brother's judgment," Tracy Ratliff said. "A.J. likes the environment and the program. He's going to do well."\nA.J. Ratliff said he is looking forward to getting stronger for Big Ten play. As for now, he said he can't wait to play with such a talented group of players.\n"I look forward to learning the system," Ratliff said. "It's very exciting to be playing with great players. It feels good going in."\n-- Contact Sports editor Tyler V. Hoeppner at thoeppne@indiana.edu.