CMA's Trey Galloway commits to IU hoops
CULVER, Ind. - Culver Academies standout Trey Galloway has been heralded as one of the state's top basketball recruits since before his sophomore season, earning him interest from several in-state and Big Ten programs.
Friday, he made a splash by announcing his decision – that he'll attend Indiana University at the next level.
“To go to Indiana just means a lot," Galloway said, sitting down with ABC57 for his first TV interview since committing to the Hoosiers. "With all the history and all that’s gone through there, it’s just really cool to say I’m committed there and to someday play and put that jersey on.”
Galloway, a 6'5" wing who averaged 16 points per game on 52 percent shooting during his junior season, garnered a long list of scholarship offers. He chose the Hoosiers over the likes of Purdue, Iowa, Michigan State, and Butler.
But Indiana was one of the first to show interest, and never lost touch throughout the process.
“They've been on me the longest so I felt like I got in really tight with the coaching staff and got to the point where I really wanted to just commit," he said. "It was really good to have that relationship with them, see what they do on and off the court and how they and their players bond together. It was really cool to get that experience.”
In addition to his relationship with the coaching staff, Galloway heard from several of the players as well, and being an in-state target meant easy access to those already in the fold down in Bloomington.
"[2019 recruits] Trayce [Jackson-Davis] and Armaan [Franklin], I've built really good relationships with them," he said. "I knew them before but they really picked up their recruiting once I picked up an offer. They started texting me a lot more and just tried to tell me how much they want me there. It was nice to see those guys care."
After leading the CMA Eagles to back-to-back state finals appearances and a title in 2018, Galloway now adds another leadership role. He's the first player to join IU's 2020 class, meaning he'll play a meaningful part in the convincing of others.
"They told me, ‘if you commit first, you can really help us get some guys in here with you,'" he said of the Hoosiers staff's pitch. "That’s what I wanted to do, to be the first one to kind of help them out and get some other good players in there along with me.
"There are a lot of kids under the radar that I'll try to recruit with me. Me and [Bloomington native and fellow Indiana target] Anthony Leal are pretty good friends. At the end of the day it's his decision and it'll be the right one for him. But we've talked since my commitment and obviously I've told him I want him there."
But for now, Galloway's on-court focus turns back to the work at Fleet Gym in Culver. He and highly-touted football recruit Deontae Craig hope to lead the Eagles to a third-straight finals appearance and avenge their title game loss.
“As you know, it was a tough ending to last season and that’s just motivation for us to come back even harder in the fall," Galloway said. "Once the season hits, we just keep preparing for March and that’s what we look forward to every season.”
Hoosier fans, of course, will hope Galloway brings that focus on March to Bloomington in 2020.
Photos courtesy of Culver Academies Athletics and Indiana University Athletics