Indiana basketball player commits to K-State

Alex Etherington, a 6-foot-6 forward from Hamilton Heights High in Arcadia, Ind., is the first basketball commitment for Kansas State’s 2013 recruiting class.

Etherington said he committed to K-State on Sunday.

He visited Manhattan last week, and said the decision was easy.

“I liked everything — the coaches, the facilities,” he said. “The new practice facility they’re building is really nice. The campus isn’t too big, but it isn’t too small.”

Etherington said he only made one other recruiting visit on his own, but he spent plenty of time on the recruiting trail while his older brother, Austin, was choosing a school. Austin will be a sophomore at Indiana this fall.

I went on all my brother’s visits to Big 10 schools,” he said.

Etherington, who averaged about 23 points and seven rebounds during his junior season at Hamilton Heights, said he likes to attack on offense. “Getting to the basket is probably my best strength.”

He said his family has a bit of history with K-State coach Bruce Weber, who recruited Etherington’s father, Brett, when Weber was an assistant at Purdue.

“I’ve heard so many good things about him,” Etherington said.

Etherington’s sophomore season was cut short when he suffered a concussion after being undercut on a breakaway dunk. The incident left him temporarily paralyzed, and his recuperation kept him off the AAU circuit for part of last summer.