Jessan Gray-Ashley, a developing 6-9, 210 pound power forward/center from Davenport Central H.S. in Davenport, Ia., has given a commitment to Indiana University.

Gray-Ashley told Rivalshoops.com that he took an official visit to IU from Nov. 7-9. He committed to the Hoosiers at the tail end of his visit today.

The story was broken this morning by our sister site on the Rivals network, Inside Indiana featuring Peegs.com.

Rivalshoops.com spoke with Gray-Ashley this evening,

"I like the academics, and that basketball is a religion at Indiana,' Gray-Ashley said. "I like Coach Davis, and the style of play is a good fit for me."

"I got to hang out with a lot of the players on a social level, and we hit it off," Gray-Ashley continued. "It was real nice, I enjoyed myself."

Gray-Ashley said that he visited Alabama State and Indiana officially. He took unofficial trips to both Northern Illinois and Indiana State prior to his IU visit.

Bowling Green, Iowa, Liberty, Rice, South Dakota, Creighton and North Dakota were some of the other programs which had looked at Gray-Ashley this fall.

Last season at Davenport Central, Gray-Ashley said he averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game.

A mobile run/jump athlete, Gray-Ashley competed this past spring and summer with Hank Huddleson's Martin Brothers program.

"I am going to play hard," Gray-Ashley said. "I am 6-10 and coordinated, I can dribble the ball a little bit, shoot, rebound, and block shots, or change shots if not block them."

"Mainly, I just play hard," Gray-Ashley continued. "I will fit into the program wherever they want me to fit, but they said they want me to shoot, and they lose Jeff Newton. So I'd like to try and step up into his spot."

The Hoosiers went after a who's who of top 100 high school prospects this fall. However, Gray-Ashley is Indiana's first basketball commitment, coming just four days before the start of the early signing period.

"I wouldn't say that I'm a late bloomer, but a lot of people hadn't really heard about me," Gray-Ashley said. "When I played with Martin Brothers, I didn't play that much, because we had Bryce [Husak] on the team, a seven-footer. I played behind him, so that's OK."

"I have big plans for this season," Gray-Ashley continued. "I want to take my team to the states, compete and play really well up there."

Gray-Ashley said he plans to play next season at Indiana and not red-shirt, though he still has a lot of filling out to do from a physical standpoint.

"Coach Davis didn't talk about me red-shirting," he explained.

Gray-Ashley said his grades are fine but he is awaiting his most recent ACT result (Oct. 26) to see if he has met NCAA initial eligibility standards for freshmen.