We continue our previews of the best Indiana traveling teams with a look

today at the Spiece Indy Heat.  Despite playing with only two

seniors-to-be, this Indy Heat team is expected to be one of the top summer

traveling teams in the nation.  It is a team that has won several national

AAU age group titles coming up through age group play and features a frontcourt

that may be second to no one.

The Indy Heat team is known throughout the AAU basketball circles for the

simple fact that they almost never get beat, at least when it comes to AAU

nationals.

"We ended up winning nationals as sixth graders and seventh graders, as

eighth graders they took third and as ninth graders they won again," said head

coach Mike Conley, Sr.  "Basically this group has only lost one game at AAU

nationals."

Many of you may recognize the name Mike Conley and that is because he was a

three-time Olympian who was the triple jump gold medalist at the 1992 Olympics

in Barcelona.  He was a collegian at Arkansas and moved from that state a

few years ago to take a position in Indianapolis with USA Track and Field.

Even before he moved to Indianapolis, Conley's team were winning titles.

"The ironic thing is the fourth and fifth grade years my Arkansas teams won,"

said Conley.

Besides the coach, the common denominator in all those championships is his

son

Mike Conley, Jr.  The point guard accumulated a possibly

unprecedented five national AAU titles before he even began his sophomore year

in high school.

"He's only lost one game in AAU history," said the proud father.

Last year the Indy Heat team was strictly a 15 & under team.  But thanks

to some additions, things will change this time around.

"We are splitting the team into two, a 16-year old team and a 17-year old

team," said Conley.  "Only the 16-year old team will play at state (AAU

tourney)."

Besides Mike Jr., the 17 & under Indy Heat team features 6-foot-9 junior

McRoberts and 7-foot sophomore

Greg Oden.  McRoberts is from Carmel and has already made a verbal

commitment to Duke.  Oden is RivalsHoops #1 player in the Class of 2006 and

has long played with Conley, Jr. on Indy Heat team and the two also teamed up to

lead Lawrence North to the Indiana 4A state championship just last month. 

At least on paper, this could be the best frontline of any traveling team out

there this spring and summer.

The coach gave us his complete roster and here it is as it stands now for his

17 & under squad (in alphabetical order):

 

The coach also let us know his temporary schedule which shows them opening up

their play this weekend at the Houston Kingwood Classic.  That is an event

that Peegs.com/Inside Indiana will cover again this year.  Here is the

Spiece Indy Heat schedule:

Conley added that some of his players will be heading out east in July to

compete in the Reebok ABCD Camp in New Jersey (July 7-11).

To the surprise of nobody, Indiana is recruiting several of the players on

this team.

"IU likes Greg and Michael quite a bit," said Conley.  "Eric Gordon,

he is probably too young to talk about but I'm sure every team in the country

will be liking him.  Aaron Pogue from Dayton, he is ninth grader too

and he is about 6-foot-8 1/2, 260-pounds and I know Michigan, Ohio State and

even IU have already expressed interest. 

Daequan Cook, pretty much every team in the midwest is calling about

him.  He will be a great player one day.  I know IU is now inquiring

about him also."

Conley talked about how he ended up with two Ohio players.

"With AAU you have up to three players from a borderline state," said Conley. 

"I have had Aaron Pogue since seventh grade and Daequan Cook since eighth grade. 

Aaron and Daequan ended up going to the same school and that is how I ended up

with Daequan."

There has been talk that Josh McRoberts recovery from a back injury this

winter might limit his early spring schedule but Conley told us today that he

should have his full roster for this weekend in Houston.

"His back is fine," said Conley.  "He has been practicing with us and

practicing great.  The thing though is he twisted his ankle this past

weekend at camp.  Monday he came in with a swollen ankle and didn't

practice."

The coach anticipates good chemistry inside between Oden and McRoberts.

"The good thing about that is they got to play together last summer," said

Conley.  "They played in the Peach Jam and Vegas together and at Nike Camp

they were on the same team.  They practice well together and I think it is

the best thing for both of them."

Gordon is really the only true newcomer to this group.

"We have always had a lot of guards, it has never been a situation of E.J.

not being good enough to play," said Conley.  "I don't like cutting players

but now that we have split the team up it is an opportunity for him to fit in

and he fits in well."

Conley and his team has a tall task ahead of him this weekend in Houston. 

Three of the top four rated players by RivalsHoops will be in the same pool.

"We are going to be matched up with

Derrick Caracter's team (New Jersey Panthers) and Boo Williams who has

Vernon Macklin and some other top players," said Conley.

Stay tuned for our coverage of those matchups and lots more from Houston

starting this Saturday morning.