Eric Gordon: Indiana's New Star

Born on December 25, 1988, it was always Gordon’s dream to play for the Indiana Hoosiers. The young athlete grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he played for North Central High School. Choosing a college was difficult for Gordon, as he knew that even though he longed to become a Hoosier, he had to be wise in his decision. In November of 2005 Gordon verbally committed to the University of Illinois, and the Fighting Illini could not wait to hand a jersey to their future superstar. Surprisingly, Gordon decided to attend Indiana University instead, as he wished to fulfill his lifelong dream.

Gordon’s presence on the court is considered sensational. He is currently among the league leaders in scoring, and it has been known ever since his high school playing days that he would become an impact player. He was even named the nation’s top prospect as a senior, which makes it even more disheartening for Illinois fans that he decided to commit to rivaling Indiana instead. In his young career as a college athlete, Gordon has put up outstanding numbers, averaging roughly 25 points per game, putting him among the elite of this year’s freshmen class.

Gordon missed the Hoosiers’ latest game against the Kentucky Wildcats due to a bruised lower back which he suffered against Tennessee State earlier last week. While there is no telling when Gordon will return, it is doubtful that he misses Indiana’s next game against Western Carolina next Saturday. No doubt an emerging athlete, Gordon has already scored at least 30 points in three of his performances. Many expect that he will enter the NBA draft after his first season with Indiana, but there is no telling what is in store for this young superstar’s career.

Michael Beasley of the Kansas State Wildcats is also another threat to watch out for. Standing 6’9” and weighing 235 lbs., Beasley has the tools to be a dominant post player. Many were unsure of his capabilities early in his career since he transferred to six different high schools. Kansas State did not hesitate to recruit the towering forward, and his production so far has been outstanding. Beasley currently ranks in the top five in points per game, and has put up more than 30 in several performances this season. Beasley does not know if he wants to play until he graduates, but either way he is going to play a vital role in the success of the Wildcats this season.

Derrik Rose is yet another emerging superstar from this year’s freshmen class. Rose attended Simeon Career Academy in Chicago, Illinois, and he currently starts for the Memphis Tigers. He is known to be a solid playmaker, as he averages almost 16 points per game along with roughly 5 assists/game and 5 rebounds/game. Similar to Gordon, Rose was expected to play for the University of Illinois, but complications made him decide otherwise.