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August 4, 2010

Baker already being wooed by big-time programs

By GREG MENGELT Greg.Mengelt@newsandtribune.com

JEFFERSONVILLE — Darryl Baker hasn’t played a minute of high school basketball.

Yet, many of the nation’s elite basketball programs are trying to convince the Jeffersonville High School sophomore to come play basketball at their schools.

Rivals.com has reported that Butler, Cincinnati, Indiana, Louisville, Ohio State, Purdue and Xavier are at the top of Baker’s list.

On Tuesday, Baker confirmed that the list is accurate.

“Xavier and Ohio State are (contacting) me a lot,” Baker admitted. “But all of them are my favorites. I like them all.”

Baker missed all of his freshman year with a knee injury he sustained during an early-season practice. This summer, he has been back on the court playing AAU basketball.

“It’s been real busy,” Baker said. “It’s nice being back (on the court). It’s been an interesting summer.”

Baker started hearing from recruiters last summer after his eighth-grade year. It was then former Jeff star Sherron Wilkerson, who played at Indiana University for two seasons, informed Baker that Indiana was interested in his playing ability. Baker went to Indiana Elite camp last summer and apparently impressed future suitors.

“(Wilkerson) told me Indiana liked the way I played,” Baker recalled. “They wanted me to come to the elite camp and see how I did against experienced competition. (Being recruited) was exciting at first. Now, it’s all business.”

Even with the business of choosing a college on his mind, Baker said he’s far from a decision.

“Hopefully, by the end of my senior year,” he said about making the decision. “I’m just waiting to see what happens this year and (beyond). I don’t want to do anything too early, then regret it later. I just want to take my time and find the right school.”

With summer coming to an end, Baker is turning his attention toward the 2010-11 high school basketball season.

Jeff reached the Final Four of the Class 4A tournament without Baker last season. Even after losing four seniors to graduation, Baker believes the Red Devils can be even better this season.

“We’ve got a lot of talent,” Baker said. “I hope it doesn’t get to our heads. If it doesn’t get to our heads, we can get farther than that. (We can) get to state, possibly.”

After sitting last year, Baker is anxious to make his debut as a Red Devils.

“It was bad to sit on the bench and watch my team and not being able to play with them. It was hard, and at the same time, it was exciting,” he said of the playoff run. “We can get there again. I’m looking forward to making it there again and being a part of it this time.”

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