this in from the Indianapolis Star:
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The wait is over for Maurice Creek.

On Monday, the first day of classes at Indiana University, Creek received word that he had received academic clearance to play basketball this season.

A few hours after getting the news from the NCAA Clearinghouse, Creek joined his teammates in the first day of individual workouts at Assembly Hall.

"I've been telling myself to stay patient for so long that I'm just happy all of that is now behind me,'' Creek said. "I worked hard this summer, did the things I needed to do, and then I just had to wait for the paperwork to all go through.

HIGHLIGHT VIDEO: Watch clips of Maurice Creek dominating for his high school team.
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"Now I can just focus on doing what I came to Indiana for, and that's to help this team win a championship.''

Creek, a 6-5 shooting guard ranked No. 56 in the nation by Rivals, needed to complete a class this summer to become academically eligible at IU. Creek last year attended Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va.

IU coach Tom Crean said throughout the summer he was confident Creek would gain his eligibility. Still, he said he and the coaching staff were relieved the process was complete.

"If someone walked in that room and saw all of those grown men hugging, I'm sure it was quite a scene,'' Crean said. "But it just gave us some closure.''

Creek is a member of IU's six-man 2009 recruiting class, generally regarded as one of the top 10 in the nation. Five of those six have been cleared to play. Seven-foot center Bawa Muniru is on campus as he awaits final clearance.

Creek said he doesn't believe missing the summer playing with his future teammates will be a setback. He said his first individual workout with teammates Matt Roth, Jordan Hulls and Verdell Jones III was an eye-opening experience.

"It was hell,'' Creek said. "It was the hardest workout I think I've ever been through in my life. But that's good and that's what I expected college to be like. Every level you play gets a little more difficult, but it's going to make me into a better player, and that's all I care about.''