Major League Baseball Great and Anderson, Indiana Native Carl Erskine passes away at age 97
Indiana native and MLB great Carl Erskine has died at the age of 97. Erskine played for the Brooklyn – and then – Los Angeles Dodgers. He was born in Anderson, Indiana, in 1926 and attended Anderson University. He served in the Navy and played professional ball from 1948-1959. Erskine pitched for the Dodgers in five World Series. After his retirement, Erskine returned to Indiana and was active in the community. He spent decades raising money and supporting the Special Olympics. In Anderson, there is a statue in his honor and an elementary school with his name. He and his wife, Betty, were married for more than 70 years.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay reacted to Erskine’s passing on X. He said, in part, that Erskine was “An amazing gentleman who loved his home town.”
The Erskine Green Training Institute, which provides vocational training for people with disabilities, posted, in part: “We will always be grateful for the impact he made through his life’s work as a champion for people with developmental disabilities.”
The Special Olympics of Indiana posted: “A champion on the baseball field and a champion for every Special Olympics athlete, we offer our thoughts and our thanks today to Carl, his wife, Betty, and the entire Erskine family.”
The Ark of Indiana posted: “Carl and his wife, Betty began their advocacy for people with disabilities in the 1960’s when their son Jimmy was born with Down syndrome. They became leaders in the early movement to develop programs and services to support people with disabilities in communities throughout Indiana and the country. In 2016, we were honored when Carl agreed to lend his name to The Arc of Indiana Foundation’s Erskine Green Training Institute. We will always be grateful for the impact he made through his life’s work as a champion for people with developmental disabilities.”
Indiana University Men’s Basketball Lands Seven Foot Transfer Oumar Ballo from the University of Arizona Mike Woodson has his big fella for the 2024-25 season. Arizona transfer 7-foot center Oumar Ballo has announced he will attend Indiana for his final season of college basketball. At 7-foot and 260 pounds, Ballo was one of the best centers in the country this past season at Arizona. He averaged a double-double with 12.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while leading the Wildcats to the Sweet 16. The Koulikoro, Mali product will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Kel’el Ware and Trayce Jackson-Davis as centers who played for Mike Woodson and went on to the NBA.
A dominant rebounder and efficient scorer, Ballo was a top player in the nation in 2023-24 based on multiple measures at KenPom: Offensive rebounding percentage (15.2% / No. 15), Effective field goal percentage (65.8% / No. 17), Defensive rebounding percentage (26.9% / No. 20), Free throw rate (68.3% / No. 26), Among transfer portal players who played 50% or more of his team’s minutes, Ballo is No. 2 overall in box score plus-minus. His shooting splits this season were 65.8% from the field and 49.5% from the free throw line. Ballo has never attempted a three in his four year college career. He shot 70.1% from the free throw line as a sophomore and is a career 56.4% shooter at the stripe.
In his first year at Arizona (2021-22), Ballo was the Sixth Man of the Year in the Pac-12. He since has emerged in the conference as an all-league player the last two years. In that time, he is a two-time All-Pac-12 First Team selection, a Pac-12 All-Defensive Selection and honorable mention, an All-Pac-12 Tournament Team member, and was the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player in ’22-’23. He started his career at Gonzaga. Ballo averaged 14.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in the 2022-23 season, his first as a starter at Arizona. He was a major factor in a Dec. 2022 win over Indiana, with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Ballo joins Washington State transfer Myles Rice as the Hoosiers two transfer portal additions so far during this offseason. IU now currently has four roster openings for 2024-25.
Mackenize Holmes repeats as 2023-24 CSC Academic All-American First Team Graduate student forward Mackenize Holmes was named to the 2023-24 College Sport Communicators Academic All-American first team, the organization announced. She becomes the program’s seventh Academic All-American selection and the first-ever two-time first team honoree. A graduate in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in human development & family studies, Holmes held a 3.62 undergraduate GPA and additionally a 3.64 in her master’s degree work in 2023-24. Six of IU’s seven Academic All-Americans have played under head coach Teri Moren – Amanda Cahill (2017, 2018) Ali Patberg (2021), Grace Berger (2023) and Holmes (2023, 2024).
Holmes was unanimous All-Big Ten First Team, All-Big Ten Defensive team and USBWA and AP All-American in 2023-24, Holmes led Indiana (and second in the Big Ten) in scoring with 19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and shooting a league-best 65.0 percent from the floor in 32 games. She scored in double figures in 30 of 32 games including 17 20-point games and two 30-point efforts along with a team-high six double-doubles. Nationally, Holmes finished third in field goal percentage, 13th in field goals made (260), 24th in points per game and 32nd in points (633). She was a Top 5 finalist for the 2024 Lisa Leslie Award, which honors the nation’s top center and appeared on a variety of national player of the year lists as a candidate including the Wooden Award, Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy, Wade Trophy and USWBA Ann Meyers Drysdale award.
The Gorham, Maine native finished her IU career as the program’s all-time leading scorer and second leading scorer between the men’s and women’s program with 2,530 career points. She also finishes with the program’s best field goal percentage for a career, shooting 63.9 percent from the floor while pulling down 990 rebounds and finishing second in all-time blocks with 258. She finished as the program’s all-time winningest player with 123 career victories and in the top five of 11 different statistical categories.
Sara Scalia goes Undrafted in the 2024 WNBA Draft
Sara Scalia went undrafted across 36 total selections in Monday night’s 2024 WNBA Draft. Her Indiana teammate, Mackenzie Holmes, was selected 26th overall in the third round by the Seattle Storm. Scalia is coming off an impressive season at Indiana that earned her a spot on the All-Big Ten first team. The 5-foot-10, fifth-year senior guard averaged 16.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 42.7% from 3-point range and 89.7% at the free throw line.
Scalia made 103 3-pointers in 2023-24, which set the all-time single-season record in Indiana women’s basketball history. She shot 39.5% from the 3-point line and 90.3% on free throw attempts in 64 games as a Hoosier, both of which rank first in program history. She also ranks 10th on the all-time Indiana charts with 156 3-pointers made, despite playing just two seasons with the Hoosiers.
While Scalia was projected to be drafted by some, it was not a consensus. Yahoo! Sports slotted Scalia at No. 26 to the Seattle Storm in its mock draft and ESPN had her going 34th in the 36-pick mock draft. However, both NBC Sports and SB Nation did not have Scalia projected in their mock drafts. Now Scalia will hope to sign as an undrafted free agent. Indiana associate head coach Rhet Wierzba and Glenn Box, former Indiana associate head coach and current Miami (OH) head coach, thought WNBA teams missed out by not drafting Scalia.
In 2022-23, Indiana won its first regular season Big Ten title since 1983 and earned its first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Indiana set a program record with 28 wins that year and won its second most games in program history in 2023-24 with 26. Scalia helped the Hoosiers reach the Sweet 16 both seasons. Prior to Indiana, Scalia played the first three seasons of her college career at Minnesota. She averaged a career-high17.9 points per game and made 111-of-269 (41.3%) 3-point attempts. Scalia finished her college career with 1,981 total points scored and a 39.6% 3-point percentage in 144 games.
The Indiana Fever Select Iowa’s Caitlin Clark with the Number 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft
Caitlin Clark is coming to Indiana — officially. The Indiana Fever drafted the University of Iowa superstar with the first pick of Monday night’s WNBA draft in Brooklyn, New York. “I dreamed of this moment since I was in second grade, and it’s taken a lot of hard work, a lot of ups and downs, but more than anything, just trying to soak it in,” Clark said. The pick was of little surprise to even the most casual basketball fans. In the six-plus weeks since Clark announced her intent to enter the draft, the Fever didn’t mention the all-time Division I scoring leader by name but ramped up efforts to sell tickets to the upcoming season, with signs that Gainbridge Fieldhouse will be filled to the brim when Clark takes the floor in May.
“Caitlin is one of the most naturally gifted basketball players I have ever seen enter the WNBA from the college level. Her shooting and passing abilities captivated an entire audience of basketball fans, and her ability to make those around her better was even more evident during her collegiate career,” Fever head coach Christie Sides said. For all of her accolades in college, including back-to-back trips to the national title game, Clark comes to a Fever team that hasn’t made the playoffs in seven seasons. She’ll team up with Aliyah Boston, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year and last year’s top overall pick, to try to get Indiana back to the postseason. “The organization has one of the best post players in the entire world. My point guard eyes light up with that,” Clark said. “We are thrilled to add Caitlin Clark to our roster. This is a great day for the Indiana Fever and all of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. l am confident she will have an immediate impact on our team and the league. Any time you can add two consecutive No. 1 draft selections, it creates enormous interest and visibility,” Fever General Manager Lin Dunn said.
Indiana Fever fans echoed the excitement of the team’s administration over the draft pick. “She’s such a powerhouse in the talent that she brings. The energy and all of the range that she has,” said Blair Milo. “I’m so excited that she’s coming to Indiana. I think it’s going to be great for the whole fanbase,” added Fever fan Jay Cobbs. Among the crowd at the draft party were young women – many of them basketball players themselves – who came out to watch a woman they look up to take the next step in her basketball career. “Caitlin Clark’s like always been like a mentor to me, because she’s been really good at basketball and I want to be like her when I’m older,” said Harper Reinker. “She’s just a great shooter overall. A great player. A team player. I love that about her. She has amazing handles. She’s just a great player overall,” said Mya Upton. Joanie Stevens said she appreciated Clark for the spotlight she’s put on female athletes. “Women’s college sports, women’s sports in general have never gotten the recognition that I feel they deserved, and Caitlin is bringing that, and she does it with class and dignity,” she said.
In the second round, the Fever selected Ohio State guard Celeste Taylor with the 15th pick overall. Taylor averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 assists and 2.5 steals for the Buckeyes last year. She started her career at the University of Texas, then transferred to Duke University, where she played two seasons for the Blue Devils. She averaged nearly 11 points and five rebounds in her collegiate career. The Fever rounded out their draft with the selection of Florida guard Leilani Correa. Correa played three seasons at St. John’s before transferring to Florida. She averaged 15.2 points and 4.7 rebounds for her career, including scoring nearly 17 points per game last season for the Gators. Indiana opens their home schedule Thursday, May 16 against the New York Liberty. The Fever will play 20 games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, wrapping up the slate on Sunday, Sept. 15 against the Dallas Wings.
Bloomington South Graduate and Bradley Transfer Connor Hickman commits to the University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team notched their first commitment from the transfer portal this cycle in Bradley guard and Bloomington South Graduate Connor Hickman. The 6-3, 200-pound dynamo posted 14.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game this season on 46.7% shooting (40.2% from deep). Hickman was coming off a visit to Indiana, as the two schools were in hot pursuit. The Athletic has him ranked 72nd among all transfers as Cincinnati uses one of its three open roster spots. He helps solidify a Bearcats guard rotation featuring Day Day Thomas, Jizzle James, Simas Lukošius, and CJ Fredrick. Hickman is an efficient scorer who focuses on rim attacks and high-volume deep shooting (5.9 attempts per game). He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Ironically enough, Bradley’s season was ended by a visit to the Bearcats in the second round of the NIT. Cincinnati finished 22-15, losing to Indiana State in the quarterfinal round. The move makes sense considering that one of the Bearcat assistant coaches is Bloomington South grad Drew Adams, formally the Associate Athletics Director for Men’s Basketball, who was a member of the Braves staff and had a big hand in recruiting Hickman out of high school.
As a freshman, he was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team, playing in all 31 Bradley games, starting 23 times. He was second in the league in scoring among freshman at 6.8 ppg. As a sophomore, he started all 34 games, averaging 8.6 points and 2 assists. This past season, he was named to the MVC’s Most Improved Team and to the MVC All-Scholar-Athlete First Team with a 3.64 GPA. Hickman averaged a team best 14.5 ppg, 3.4 rebounds and 3 assists. He shot 46.7% from the floor and 40.2% from the 3-point line and 70.4% at the free throw line. He sank 74 3s this past season, nearly equal to the 79 made during his first two seasons.
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