'Best in Indiana go to Indiana.' Top-30 national recruit has options. Many. But IU is in mix

Indianapolis Star

01-05-2025

The reaction from one the state's top high school football prospects to Kasmir Hicks' commitment to IU last week caught the attention of quite a few interested fans on social media.
After the Decatur Central junior wide receiver committed to the Hoosiers on Friday, Lawrence North sophomore receiver Monshun Sales posted: 'Best in Indiana go to Indiana.'
Though Sales still has two years of high school football remaining, his comment is notable. Why? Because the 6-5, 205-pound Sales is ranked as a four-star prospect and the No. 28 overall recruit in the county by On3sports in the 2027 class.
That is not to say Indiana is leading in his recruitment. But the Hoosiers, with former Lawrence North stars Omar Cooper Jr. and incoming freshman Davion Chandler in his receiver position group, are 'definitely' in the picture.
'LSU, Michigan, IU and Penn State,' Sales said of the programs among his favorites at this stage in the recruiting process. 'Those (schools) are somewhere I think I could make home. Somewhere I could come in and be a part of their family, and they come in and treat me great and show me I can come there and get developed and get to the next level.'
Sales took an unofficial visit to LSU a week ago and received an offer from the Tigers. His nickname of 'Bama,' which stemmed from his background growing up in Birmingham, Ala. (he moved to Indianapolis in 2021), did not really fly in Baton Rouge.
'They call me 'Showtime' over there,' he said of the LSU coaches.
That nickname fits, too. On last year's team that was ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 6A and finished 11-1 with a one-point loss to Brownsburg in the Class 6A regional, Sales caught 34 passes for 568 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games. With seniors Chandler (49 catches for 971 yards and 10 TDs) and speedster Damario Moore (34 catches for 631 yards and six TDs) gone to graduation, Sales will be counted on even more as a junior.
'I really looked up to them,' Sales said of Chandler and Moore. 'They really taught me how to do everything, along with my receiver coach. But whenever I needed something, I could look at them and follow in their footsteps. I have to step up now and show the younger kids what it means to be a Lawrence North receiver.'
The Wildcats will have a new quarterback in the fall as sophomore Darian Prather is expected to slide into the role vacated by graduating senior Tanner Aspeslet. Sales said he is just working this spring on fine-tuning things like route running and timing, in addition to running track and field.
'I'm just focused on getting better,' he said. 'I don't really look at (the national rankings). I feel like there is always going to be room for improvement. Like (tonight) at practice I messed up on a couple of routes. To get to the next level, I can't be doing that against high competition. Rankings don't mean anything because some unranked guys are better than ranked guys.'
Sales, who won the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference indoor event in the long jump (22-1 ¾) this spring, ran season bests in the 100 (10.90 seconds) and 200 (21.56 seconds) last week. In the meantime, he picked up an offer from Auburn, adding to a list that includes (deep breath), Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Miami (Fla.) Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
'They really rolled out the red carpet for me (at LSU),' Sales said of his most-recent visit. 'They showed me that they wanted me there and showed me I can get ready and compete and get me to the league.'
Sales said he has visited Michigan 'about four times.' There is another Lawrence North connection there with former Wildcats' standout Donaven McCulley, a transfer from Indiana, on the roster at receiver. McCulley appeared in just four games last season for IU but led the Hoosiers with 48 catches for 644 yards and six touchdowns the previous season.
'I like everything about Michigan,' Sales said.
Sales said he is not close to narrowing down a college choice. But he said he is starting to get an idea of what he is looking for in a college home.
'I really just want to come in and get developed and get the ball,' he said. 'But I know to get the ball, you have to do the dirty work. I'm willing to do the dirty work it takes to become a great receiver. I want to come in and be able to start as a freshman.'
Where will that be? Too early to tell. But Sales has options, including one at home.