WASHINGTON, Ind. -- Coveted basketball recruit Cody Zeller will play for Indiana University, he said today.

The 6-10 center from Washington, Ind., had narrowed his list of college choices to Butler, Indiana and North Carolina.

"Until about a week ago, I didn’t know it was right. Next year, I’m going to go to IU," Zeller said during the announcement. "The biggest thing was the players and the coaches. They had a good combination of the two."


"I knew it was the right thing for me," Zeller continued. "... It was a tough process, but I enjoyed it. ... I didn't tell hardly anyone."


Zeller's brother Tyler is a junior at North Carolina. The oldest brother, Luke, played at Notre Dame. Both older Zellers were Indianapolis Star Indiana Mr. Basketball winners.


Cody Zeller is ranked as one of the 20 best seniors in the nation and is projected to have an instant impact as a freshman.


He led Washington to the Class 3A state championship this past spring, with a 65-62 overtime victory over Gary Wallace and Michigan State recruit Branden Dawson in the title game.


Zeller's recruitment had been watched for months and took on a life of its own. During his official visit to IU, banners hung from frat-house windows that read, "We want Cody."


When Zeller walked into Assembly Hall for IU's open scrimmage two weeks ago, he received a standing ovation.


Landing Zeller is a major recruiting victory for IU and third-year coach Tom Crean.


Not only had previous IU coaching staffs failed to land one of the older Zellers, North Carolina has a history of coming into Indiana and getting major recruits. Tyler Zeller, Bloomington North's Sean May and Lawrence North's Eric Montross all won national titles at Carolina.


Zeller adds to Crean's string of recruiting victories.


This fall he has landed Hanner Perea, a top-10-ranked, 6-8 junior forward out LaPorte; nationally ranked 7-0 junior center Peter Jurkin; and two of the nation's top freshmen, Tech's Trey Lyles and Fort Wayne's James Blackmon Jr.

It’s official. Indiana basketball is back.

Cody Zeller is going to play basketball at Indiana.

I know I wrote a blog on Sunday night saying not to put too much pressure on Zeller, especially if he were to choose Indiana. I still feel that same way.

But there’s no mistaking the impact this one recruit will have on the Indiana basketball program. He was the one recruit Tom Crean had to get. So much of this was about perception. He is the recruit that could have a ripple effect. Now that Zeller is in the fold, it will be interesting to see how quickly others scamper to make sure they don’t miss out on a slot in the IU program.

Yogi Ferrell? Gary Harris? Jeremy Hollowell? They are all players we will be keeping a close eye on in the next days, weeks or months. They are all part of the class of 2012 but they are big names nationally as well as players from the state.

But Zeller was the crown jewel. He’s the pied piper. Having him signed to a letter of intent makes everything else secondary.

And like I said a few days ago. IU fans needs to keep expectations in the realistic category and then we’ll see Tom Crean and his staff are able to do with players like Zeller, Hanner Perea (in 2012) and whatever other players add themselves to those next two classes

Good get, but the Indiana arrival still looks like it's two years off (freshmen rarely dominate in the Big Ten). Can Indiana stay competitive enough in those two years to satisfy the locals?

While he's a good get, his two other brothers have been just as highly regarded and at best above average players.

Hanner Perea will be a better contributor.

I don't necessarily disagree with either point you are making. But this is still a statement signing for Crean. It shows he can get one of the top players in the state. One of the biggest criticisms of IU coaches has been the inability to keep homegrown talent in the state.

I agree Rick, IU should never lose to a team like Northern Iowa. But it happens in basketball, I mean look at Illinois losing to UIC.

Rick, who is using the 6 win season as the measuring stick?

I think most knowledgeable fans are way past that season and looking at this season and wanting to see the whole picture and continual progress as the help continues to come to Bloomington.

With the talent IU has I would think that 18 or 19 wins is a better way to judge the season.

I agree, and I think I predicted them to have 17 or 18 wins this year. I think they should be right on the edge of making the tourney this year and if that is where they end up then this year has been a success and starting next year the expectations really ramp up quickly.

I agree Rick, IU should never lose to a team like Northern Iowa. But it happens in basketball, I mean look at Illinois losing to UIC.

Not to poke you too much with a stick, but you realize the doormat Iowa beat that team like a rented mule?

Again, it happens. Do you think IU or Iowa ends the season in a better position?

They should beat Colorado and Penn State.

It's going to a long season if they don't.

Lose to Colorado. Not liking what I am seeing right now. Better get things straightened up quickly.