IUPUI Gets Their Guys -- Howard and Parkinson promoted, Alex Young to stay

Great news coming from IUPUI basketball.

Todd Howard, long time associate head coach under Ron Hunter will be promoted to the head coach position. This move is huge in the longterm for the Jaguars; Howard is one of the best recruiters in mid major hoops, this year bringing in three of the top players in the state of Kentucky.




On the women's side, Austin Parkinson is being signed on for the long haul. Athletic Director Mike Moore signed Parkinson on a one-year contract following the Shann Hart debacle. Parkinson already has three highly-touted freshman arriving on campus next year, as well as two who were forced to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules, and a plethora of returning women.

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In the men's basketball short term, current junior Alex Young (19.7ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.4apg, 1.4spg) will return for his senior season, telling Student on Sports, "That's official." After spending time working out and talking with experts about his draft possibilities, Young will play his fourth year as a Jaguar. In 2010-2011 he was First Team All-Summit League both pre- and post-season, and will be an early favorite for Summit League Player of the Year.

Young will lead a potent offense who will be returning guards Stephen Thomas and Sean Esposito, as well as forward Christian Siakam from last year's starting line up, as well as a much-improved soon-to-be sophomore group, and a truly impressive incoming freshman group.

Howard, Young, and the rest of the group will begin play in early November.