Coach Davis receives first 2005 verbal commitment from Arizona prep star

A little over a month after IU coach Mike Davis finished wrapping up this year's freshman class, he began on next year's. \nMonday, Davis received a verbal commitment from 6-foot-6 swingman Joey Shaw from Glendale, Ariz., the first assurance for the 2005-06 season.\nShaw gave his commitment this past weekend, after he and his AAU coach Earl Flaggs made the trip to Bloomington for an official visit.\n"I just felt real comfortable there with the players and the coaches," Shaw said. "I felt like it was a perfect combination."\nFlaggs, who has coached Shaw on the Arizona Magic AAU team for the past three years, visited IU with Shaw and said on top of the campus' beauty, the IU tradition speaks for itself.\nWhile at IU, Shaw spent three hours shooting around with former Michigan guard Dugan Fife, who is also the brother of former Hoosier and current assistant coach Dane Fife. \n"I knew then that Joey had found a home," Flaggs said. "He's going to be such a great addition to the Indiana family. He knows and understands the Indiana tradition."\nShaw, ranked No. 112 nationally by www.rivalshoops.com, narrowed his choices to IU, the University of Texas, Arizona State University and the University of Nevada before choosing the Hoosiers.\n"(Shaw) is a person who clearly understands what he wants to accomplish," Flaggs said. "He was really impressed with coach Davis and his explanation of his offense."\nShaw wasn't initially on the Hoosiers radar, who entered the race to get the senior three weeks ago. IU coaches went to Arizona to look at Shaw's teammate at Deer Valley High School, Christian Polk, but ended up looking at Shaw, who Flaggs said impressed IU with his outside shooting. \nShaw said IU assistant coach Kerry Rupp was a major influence in bringing him to IU, and Rupp's persistence paid off in the end.\n"He really followed me," Shaw said.\nFlaggs, who has seen Shaw mature as a player and a person, said IU fans are going to "enjoy" Shaw's game.\n"He's 6-6 with a great handle and a very accurate deep shot," Flaggs said. "He extends defenses and forces teams to come out on the perimeter."\nWith the high school season more than a month away, Shaw is now able to focus on his final year at Deer Valley and have fun.\n"It's good to just have it over with," he said. \nShaw said he will probably sign a national letter-of-intent in November during the early signing period which lasts from Nov. 10 to Nov. 17, finalizing his commitment to become a Hoosier. \nSometime during the season, Shaw said Hoosier fans can expect him to make an appearance at Assembly Hall, but he's not sure when.\nFlaggs, who will see Shaw leave after being his coach and mentor for three years, is thrilled for Shaw to attend a program like IU.\n"We're just so excited," Flaggs said. "The tradition there ... Coach Davis is just a phenomenal person -- his knowledge and his vision. We're excited."\n-- Contact senior writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.