HS coach of IU's Jordan Fuchs: 'Best forward I've ever coached'

Indiana got "tougher" this week, according to the man who coached Jordan Fuchs to two city championships at Christ the King in New York City.

Fuchs, a tight end on Indiana's football team, joined the basketball team and will be on the roster Wednesday night in College Park, Md. He finished his freshman season with the football program last fall, and played both sports during his prep career.

Joe Arbitello, Fuchs' basketball coach at Christ the King, wouldn't understate his former pupil's talent, or potential impact.

"He was part of two city championship teams in one of the hardest leagues in America," Arbitello told The Indianapolis Star. "He's probably the best forward I've ever coached.

"He's talented, man. I'm not gonna lie to you."

Originally a basketball recruit out of Christ the King, Fuchs claimed offers in that sport from Dayton, Fordham, Iowa State, Columbia and Rutgers, among others. Arbitello said interest from Atlantic-10, Northeast Conference and Patriot League schools was consistent throughout Fuchs' basketball recruitment.

Fuchs took up football as a way to toughen up and increase his athleticism, but took to the sport. A tight end because of his length and athleticism, he wound up choosing football over basketball and spent a season at Milford Academy in New England to gain more experience at his position.

Out of Milford, Fuchs committed to both UConn and Rutgers, before IU football coach Kevin Wilson convinced him to sign with Indiana. He enrolled early and has been on campus since the spring 2014 semester.

Fuchs played in all 12 games for the Hoosiers' football team, catching three passes for 31 yards and a score.

As a senior at Christ the King, he averaged 11.7 points and 6.4 rebounds a game. He was considered a power forward.

"He's tough. Start there," Arbitello said, asked to describe Fuchs' skillset. "He's a tough kid that's gonna bump the cutter -- bump him hard -- be physical and smart. He's going to rebound the basketball. He can shoot it a little bit. He was able to stretch the defense for us.

"He's a power player."

Indiana took up interest in Fuchs when assistant coach Chuck Martin -- who recruited Christ the King as head coach at Marist and remembered the athletic forward -- connected the name and player in his memory.

With the blessing of IU football coach Kevin Wilson, Indiana reached out to Fuchs. He'll wear No. 20 and be active Wednesday, and he's listed at 6-6, 230 pounds on the Hoosiers' official basketball roster online.

"Jordan is someone we've been aware of for some time now and had he not gotten injured in the Purdue game and had to recover from that we would have brought over to evaluate earlier," Tom Crean said in a statement. "We worked with him since last week and with coach Wilson's blessing we are adding Jordan at this time. He has considerable basketball experience and brings size, athleticism, toughness and a tremendous competitive attitude."

This isn't the first time Crean has reached out to other programs for roster additions. In his first season, baseball players Kipp Schutz and Eric Arnett spent time on the basketball team. Schutz appeared in six games that season.

Arbitello warned against underestimating his former player.

"I think he always wanted to (play both sports)," Arbitello said. "Everybody told him he couldn't do it. I think that's why he is doing it, because that's the kind of kid he is."

Follow Star reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.