Zeller commits to IU

Cody Zeller will be an Indiana Hoosier.

Zeller, the No. 4-ranked power forward and No. 20 overall recruit by www.rivals.com in the 2011 class, announced his verbal commitment to the Hoosiers on Thursday at the Washington (Ind.) High School gym.

“I think representing the state of Indiana next year will be pretty special to me,” Zeller said.  “Growing up in the Indiana, it will mean a lot.”

He chose the Hoosiers against Butler and North Carolina.

As an in-state, top 25 recruit, many consider the 6-foot-10-inch Washington, Ind. native as a significant step in IU coach Tom Crean’s rebuilding process of the basketball program.

“There were a lot of things that went into play,” Zeller said.  “The players and coaches were the most important thing.  Also, the facilities.  After talking with so many people close to me, I knew that it was the right thing for me.”

Prior to the announcement, ESPN’s Dave Telep said Zeller would be the “most high-profile recruit” Crean has landed during his tenure with the Hoosiers.

Zeller averaged 20.5 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game as a junior for Washington last season, leading his team to a 23-3 record and the Class 3A boys state basketball championship in March.

In the championship game, Zeller scored 20 points and had 26 rebounds as Washington defeated Gary Wallace 65-62 in overtime at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Zeller joins IU’s other 2011 commit, forward Austin Etherington from Hamilton Heights High School (Arcadia, Ind.). Zeller and Etherington are AAU teammates on Indiana Elite.

That AAU program is also home to 2012 IU commits Hanner Perea, Peter Jurkin and Ron Patterson.

Zeller took his official IU visit Halloween weekend as IU played in a public scrimmage in its “Night of the Living Red” event.

“It was a tough process, but I enjoyed it,” Zeller said.  “It lasted obviously a long time, but I enjoyed it.  It’s something you can only do once in a lifetime.”

— Nathan Hart and Greg Rosenstein