Make no mistake about it — Harrison Niego had plenty of good scholarship opportunities awaiting him, some dating as far back as a year ago. However, in the end the 6’2 2015 point guard from Lyons Township in Lagrange, IL decided to go with his gut and after showing tremendous patience throughout the entire recruiting process, was able to find a fit that he believes suits him perfectly.
We say this in light of the fact that Niego committed today to Indiana University and head coach Tom Crean. Niego will join the Hoosiers’ 2015 recruiting class as a preferred walkon.
Niego had received scholarship offers from several Ivy League schools including Dartmouth, Cornell and Yale. He also decided to spurn offers from Loyola-Chicago and North Dakota State. That is because when push came to shove, Niego wanted a school that presented him with the best possible blend of academics along with an opportunity to play at the highest possible level.
There is no question that IU fits the bill for Niego in that regard. He had taken unofficial visits to the Bloomington, IN campus in the past and has long been a Hoosiers fan. Once Crean and the IU men’s basketball staff offered Niego the opportunity to walk on he simply saw it as something that was too good to pass up.
Niego has been a model of consistency for both his high school team at Lyons Township and his Chicago Lockdown travel team. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has long regarded him as one of the most underrated point guards in Illinois, which is one reason why he is a two time winner of our Summer Award as the state’s most underappreciated player.
Niego is equally adept at either guard position. That is because although he is a natural point guard Niego has great combo guard skills. He handles the ball well, does a great job of pushing the ball up the floor and is a consistent 3-point shooter who can nail shots either set or off the dribble. To top everything off, Niego has great composure and simply does not get rattled.
Perhaps the greatest irony in Niego’s commitment is that he played his high school basketball at the same school as Nick Zeisloft, who is enjoying a productive career at Indiana as a graduate transfer. Needless to say, Crean and the Hoosiers’ staff are hoping they can strike gold a second time.
Niego joins 6’7 power forward and Furman signee Matt Rafferty from Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale, IL as 2015 recruits from the Lockdown program who have committed to D1 schools.
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