Tech's Lyles pulls back IU commitment - Examiner.com

Indianapolis Tech 6-8 forward Trey Lyles has thrown Hoosier fans for a loop with the decision to reopen his commitment. Lyles, one of the top players in the class of 2014, apparently wants to explore all his options before making a college choice.

Tech coach Jason Delaney cautioned IU faithful to not read too much into the decision. "He loves IU & it is still #1 but he would like to have something to compare it to.” Delaney went on to add that Lyles still thinks highly of coach Tom Crean and the Indiana program, but needs to make a more thorough assessment.

“The biggest thing we talked about with him, his family and myself is that he just wants to make sure,” Delaney said. “I want to preface this by saying he loves IU. He loves the coaching staff. He loves the fans. He just wants to make sure he makes the right choice for his future. At the end of this whole process, he just wants to know for sure that this is the right fit.”

Lyles is expected to be a coveted recruit, though Delaney says no other schools have reached out to him yet. While the news is disappointing to IU fans, it also provides perspective that young people often change their mind as part of the growing up process, and, in the end, the choice of attending any certain college is clearly Lyles own decision, no matter the basketball implications.

“My biggest hope for the fans and everything â€" he’s such a great kid, he’s the kind of kid I want my son to grow up and be like â€" is I hope they support him,” Delaney said. “I hope they keep it in perspective.”

Loose balls: IU graduate Verdell Jones, who saw his senior year cut short by a late-season knee injury, saw his dreams of a professional career realized when he agreed to terms with Athens-based Dash Peristeri GS, in Greece’s A1 League.“I got a text from my agent this morning at 8 a.m.,” Jones said. “He said, ‘Call me as soon as possible.’ I got a hold of him and he said, ‘I’ve got a great team that’s looking at you. They like your game and they’re willing to help you rehab your knees.’ So we started talking to them and started negotiating.”