Tom Crean talks Jeremiah April, Tim Priller
STARLIGHT, Ind. — Indiana added a pair of spring signees — Westwind Prep (Ariz.) center Jeremiah April and Richland (Tex.) forward Tim Priller — and on Wednesday night at Huber Winery, Tom Crean spoke to the media for the first time about both players.
Here’s a complete transcript of his comments:
On Jeremiah April:
“Jeremiah April, to me, he’s grown four inches in just a couple of years. He’s put on weight, he’s played a lot of games, an awful lot of games. And he’s one of those late bloomer guys but I don’t even think he’s anywhere near where he’s going to be. And he’ll get into campus this weekend, starting next week, so we’ll get a chance to start having him with us and get him indoctrinated into what we’re trying to do along with Tim Priller. But Jeremiah, he’s got very good timing, he’s got excellent hands for a big player. He’s got a tremendously soft touch. So very soft hands and a soft touch. And it’d be a lot different story, because he’s relatively raw there’s no question about that, but if he didn’t have really good hands and didn’t have a really nice touch, then you’re looking at a guy who may not become a good shooter. We think he’s going to become a very good shooter. He’s got good timing on blocking shots. I don’t think he understands the intensity level yet that he’s capable of playing at on a daily basis or what’s going to be expected of him. I love his attitude, I love his family. I really like his coach and I like how excited he is to come to Indiana.”
On Tim Priller:
“Tim Priller is one of those people that reminds me of a more athletic Nick Fazekas. Nick played at Nevada. We recruited him when we were at Marquette. He ended up being the second pick in the second round to the Dallas Mavericks years back. And he was one of those guys that, he looked a little bit unorthodox, but all that happened was the shot went in. And to me, Tim brings that. Anybody that’s at that size, playing in that level of competition that shoots 52 percent from 3, that’s going to get your attention right away. But he’s got an attitude of getting better. I think he’s going to bring in a real hunger to improve, to prove people wrong. I loved what I saw on film and it wasn’t just the ability to make shots, it was how he impacted games when he wasn’t shooting the ball. It’s drawing a charge at 6-foot-9 at the end of a game to win a game. It’s grabbing a big rebound. I think he can pass the ball. He’s got to get stronger.”
On what both players need to work on:
“Both of them have got to be blanket and pillow guys at Cook Hall with the weight room. I mean, there’s no question about that. They’ve got to gain the strength and they’ve got to gain the level of intensity that they’re going to need to train at, they’re going to have to get that. But both guys have been well coached and they come from pretty good basketball areas. And I think the upside is really, really strong.”
Filed to: Jeremiah April, Tim Priller, Tom Crean