Purdue Basketball Recruiting: Sean Sellers And Ryan Welage

In continuing the in depth scouting of possible Purdue recruits there were two on the same team last Saturday that won the Class 3A title. Greensburg has been one of the most successful teams in the state over the past two season and will enter next season with all five starters returning and three Division I prospects on the roster. Bryant McIntosh is already a steal for Indiana State, but Sean Sellers (2014) and Ryan Welage (2015) have both drawn Purdue interest.

Both players played a huge role in Greensburg going 26-1 this year with a state title and 23-1 last year before losing in the regional. With a 49-2 record over two seasons that is damned impressive. Greensburg will stay down in Class 3A next season, however, because this year's state title and last year's sectional only gives them five success factor points instead of the 6 needed to force them up. That makes them a heavy favorite to repeat in 3A.

The 3A title game was probably the best of the day, as Fort Wayne Concordia led for most of regulation before McIntosh hit on a three-pointer with 28 seconds left to tie the game at 61-61. He also tied it at 58-58 with 1:27 left on a layup. Greensburg never led in regulation and was only tied those two times.

Sellers had fouled out with 48 seconds left in regulation, but Greensburg won a back and forth overtime 73-70 when McIntosh put them in front for good at 70-69 on a jumper with 1:09 left. Welage added a free throw and Colin Rigney scored the final basket before Thomas Starks and Ryan Gross both missed tying three-point attempts in the final 10 seconds.

First, let's talk about Sellers since he is a 2014 target. Here is what the Indiana Recruiting Guide says about him:

9. Sean Sellers: 6'6" Small Forward, Greensburg H.S.

Offers: IUPUI

Interest: Harvard, Eastern Kentucky, Belmont, Wright State, William & Mary, Valparaiso, Stanford, Ball State, Morehead State, Michigan, Butler, Dayton, Indiana State, Evansville, Xavier, Wichita State

Very good all-around offensive player. Good size for a wing player and is one of the best shooters in the state. Rebounds pretty well, but will need to pack on some muscle to get better in that aspect of his game. Sean is just an all-around scorer on the offensive end. I have been impressed with the way he has handled the ball recently, got to the rim off the dribble quite a bit. He is also a capable defender.

That is a pretty good description about him. His stats on the season were solid with 17.7 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Greensburg didn't play a particularly difficult schedule until running into Mount Vernon in the semi-state. Mt. Vernon entered as the state's No. 1 team in Class 3A (Greensburg was No. 2) and Greensburg destroyed them 62-37.

In the title game Sellers, as mentioned, fouled out late in the fourth quarter, but had an excellent game with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and an assist. He was only 4 of 8 from the field, but regularly got to the free throw line and was 11 of 11 once there. He did not attempt a three-pointer, but on the season he shot an extremely solid 43.6% from long range.

His shooting is a definite plus. He does not take dumb shots and was 63.4% from the field for the year. The state finals program lists him as 6'7", so he could be a bigger, more reliable D.J. Byrd type if he came to Purdue. As you can see, he is an excellent free throw shooter and was above 82% for the season.

I do agree with the assessment that he needs to pack on a little weight. If he does, I see his position as a solid three that can score from inside and out while being successful at the line. He also seems like a very hard worker that would fit in with Purdue's program.

As for Welage, he is still a bit of a project, but an intriguing one. Being only a sophomore he still needs to make some physical growth, but could be a promising four. Welage was listed as being 6'8" averaging 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, but with another year he could be an automatic double-double for Greensburg. He pretty much kept Greensburg in the game.

Here is what the recruiting guide says about him:

16. Ryan Welage: 6'7" Power Forward, Greensburg H.S.

Offers:

Interest: Indiana, Purdue, Nebraska, Indiana State

Ryan had a huge summer that turned a lot of college coach's heads. He can pretty much do it all on the offensive end of the floor. He has nice skills in the post, finishes at the rim, and can step outside and shoot the ball out to 3-point range. Even though he isn't very strong he does rebound the ball pretty well. If he can get stronger and improve his ball handling he will be a high-major prospect.

In the title game Welage was 7of 12 from the field for 16 points and four rebounds. A lot of his work was on the screen and roll to the basket where McIntosh would hit him for layups. Welage is not the shooter Sellers is. He was just 2 of 7 at the line and, in fact, missed a late free throw that would have helped seal the game. On the season Welage was 72.3% from the line and 66.1% from the field, but his size and proximity to the basket led to many high percentage shots.

This may not be the best comparison, but Welage reminds me of a quicker, more athletic Travis Carroll. He also needs to put on some weight if he is going to bang in the Big Ten. There is some big potential there, however. He has a similar motor to Travis and a similar body type, but his ceiling is higher.

Welage had a key layup to put his team in front 68-67 with about two minute left in the overtime and a critical offensive rebound with 43 seconds left. He needed to play a bigger role once Sellers fouled out and did so. Where he had his biggest role was in 10 first half points as both McIntosh and Sellers combined for only 8 points. Concordia led 31-21 at the half and Greensburg was in it only because of Welage. He deferred to McIntosh (19 second half points) and Sellers (17 second half points) once they were able to get on track.

I think that getting Sellers would be a huge step toward getting Welage, and getting both would be nice. A pair of teammates also know how to play well together too. It is just a shame that McIntosh is already locked up by ISU. He was the best player on the day and would be a hell of a shooter.