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TJ Inman said:
This will be lengthy but I thought it could be informative and hopefully spark some discussion as wait for anything tangible from IU in regards to the coaching staff or roster:

I thought it might be fun to list out the currently available prospects (beyond Wilkerson) that I really like, by position. I'll note the prospect if I think the Hoosiers have a chance or a connection (which is kind of difficult since we still don't know the staff!):
-Guard (I actually think IU would do well to just pursue multiple combo guards/ball handlers and not worry about finding a "point guard")
  • Rodney Rice (Maryland, two years left) - IU has contacted him but there has not been any real news about where Rice is leaning.
  • LeJuan Watts (Washington State, two years left) - 42% three-point shooter, probably stays out West
  • Malik Moore (Montana, one year left)
  • Blake Harper (Howard, three years left) - averaged 19.5 points per game, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists and shot 40%+ from three as a freshman
  • Jasai Miles (North Florida, two years left) - 15.4 points per game and nearly 7 rebounds, good length
  • Nick Dorn (Elon, two years left) - 15.2 points per game as a sophomore
  • Kyan Evans (Colorado State, two years left) - a bit small but elite three-point shooter that could play a great role in our system
  • Rakease Passmore (Kansas, three years left) - terrific athlete that was an IU prospect before Woodson just stopped recruiting him, high-ceiling and potential
  • Tru Washington (New Mexico, two years left) - really good defensive metrics, not a good shooter but good athlete and could fit well as a perimeter stopper
  • Jalen Celestine (Baylor, one year left)
  • Kezza Giffa (High Point, one year left)
-Forward-
  • Alvaro Folguieras (Robert Morris, two years left) - 6'9", 9 rebounds per game, really good defensive metrics...I think he's a really good player
  • Kennard Davis (SIU, two years left) - 6'6" wing, 16.3 points per game, not a good defensive player so that's a knock
  • Jamichael Stillwell (UW-Milwaukee, one year left) - 6'8", really good motor and very good rebounder, he's a tweener and I'd understand passing on him but I think he'd be a solid role player
  • Izaiah Pasha (Delaware, three years left) - only a freshman, a bit undersized but good offensive efficiency metrics
  • Tyler Betsey (Cincinnati, three years left) - a freshman, former top 60 recruit and IU target before Woodson quit recruiting him, really good three-point shooter in high school and he's 6'8", this would make a lot of sense if Drew Adams liked him
  • Elyjah Freeman (Lincoln Memorial, three years left) - big jump in competition but Freeman has the goods...IU is a contender for him
  • Gavin Walsh (Binghamton, two years left) - multiple years remaining, his metrics were the best on his team and he is a very good rebounder
  • Kimani Hamilton (High Point, one year left)
  • Barry Dunning (South Alabama, one year left) - good metrics, 15.1 points per game for Sun Belt regular season champions
-Center (it gets late pretty early for true centers...not a lot of promising options)-
  • Efton Reid (Wake Forest, one year remaining) - he's the highest ranked one left but I'd rather just play small
  • Gabe Dynes (Youngstown State, two years remaining) - he's 7'3" so there's some intrigue there but he averaged 6.8 and 5.8 only in the flippin' Horizon League...the key for him, development AND he already averages 3.1 blocks per game and posted a 2.87 DBPR this season. If you just want a rim protector to give you 15-20 minutes per game, this might work.
  • Juslin Bodo Bodo (High Point, two years left) - multiple years remaining, 7'0" with good motor, 8.4 rebounds per game in 21.7 minutes per game, 4.74 BPR was highest on the team. As a side note, poor Alan Huss' team got shredded by the portal.
  • Luke Bamgboye (VCU, three years left) - three years left and I think he's well-worth a shot...raw but he posted a 2.6 DBPR as a freshman...that is impressive. 2.1 blocks per game in 16.8 minutes per game!
Long post but hopefully informative as we wait on anything noteworthy from the staff or roster.
Click to expand...
Tyler Betsey is an interesting one. Bama and UConn both went after him hard.

 
76-1 said:
No Thanks...

Excerpt from the linked article:
"often showed struggles defensively against Big 12 talent"....

If he can't hack it Defensively we can't use him (in my opinion)....
Click to expand...
That is fair. He did struggle defensively in limited minutes (he still had a .47 Defensive BPR) but he was a freshman. Would he be a major contributor in 2025-2026? Probably not. Could he be a good shooter that gets spot minutes on the wing and develops so that he can be good piece as a junior and senior in 2026 and 2027? Quite possibly and, as we all know, IU currently has four players and nine more spots to fill. I don't think he should be a top target or anything but if he was a 9th or 10th guy next season and a piece for the future? I think that would make sense.
 
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.Gerdis said:
Is that what’s going on??

IF that is “the direction of the program”, I would be pleased. I really like your post, but it seems to be an idealist view that is untethered from the reality of big money athletics. I’m skeptical. My hesitancy is that I am afraid that:

The direction of this program won’t be altered by this hire. You say there is no point in coaching college basketball if the players leave every year (and I don’t disagree). You say that he isn’t going to “change his methods” and start shelling out money to outbid teams.

My fear is that is exactly what he signed up for. That is the game now. Our program has been at the cutting edge of NIL since the get go. Look at the teams we have been going toe to toe with when bidding, like Kansas. That wasn’t Woodson. That was the money, the boosters. The direction is etched in stone, play the game that exists and push the boundaries as far as they will go. The direction isn’t to be Drake, Wisconsin, or even Michigan. The direction is Kentucky under Calipari.

My thinking of what we now have is this: We will “play the game” better than all but a few teams. That means having one of the highest paid rosters. Huge annual turnover. Huge reliance on portal players. I do not expect a difference in the direction of the program as far as philosophy on paying players, using the portal, etc.

The hire, IMHO, was simply someone to coach up the players.

Indiana did not go out and get a coach who is just going to buy players.

Of course they did. The people that set the direction of the program do not view the concept of buying players or using the portal as the problem. The problem was having someone to coach them.
Click to expand...
But what is the end goal in buying players and using the portal? Those things aren't being done for their own sake. The people that set the direction of the program want to win. I doubt they care too much if we do it with purchased players or 4-year kids who love Indiana.
 
TJ Inman said:
That is fair. He did struggle defensively in limited minutes (he still had a .47 Defensive BPR) but he was a freshman. Would he be a major contributor in 2025-2026? Probably not. Could he be a good shooter that gets spot minutes on the wing and develops so that he can be good piece as a junior and senior in 2026 and 2027? Quite possibly and, as we all know, IU currently has four players and nine more spots to fill. I don't think he should be a top target or anything but if he was a 9th or 10th guy next season and a piece for the future? I think that would make sense.
Click to expand...


I don't follow these individual players anywhere near to the extent that you or many others on here do so I'll defer to your (and their) overall analysis of a guy like this...

My concern(s) is/are clearly delineated by the linked article however... A 33% shooter (from 3) who struggles defensively against Big Ten level players seemingly wouldn't much of a get, in my opinion...

Unfortunately, we're in the era of Win now for a Coaching Staff (3 year window Max) or move on... A Coaching Staff seemingly simply can't afford the bring "projects" in unless they're a true freshman coming out of high school who shows indications of being "Coachable"... (once again just my opinion)

I see his leaving Cincinnati as a Red Flag versus an opportunity.... (just based on that article)...
 
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Lamar Wilkerson is visiting this weekend (also scheduling visits to UK, Auburn and Ole Miss…let’s hope he doesn’t make those visits ha) and IU reportedly has shown interest in a JUCO guard.

 
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76-1 said:
Add two slots... Next season will be the first time there will be 15 scholarships available for Men's NCAA Basketball...

That's just informational... Keep up the good work... Interesting stuff...
Click to expand...
The first time in many years. IU championship in 1987 had 15 scholarship players. I cannot remember when it went down to 13, but it has been a long time.
 
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ndhuntington said:
Options are not very good not going the way I thought and most fans thought.
Click to expand...
plenty of good options and plenty of time

Woodson paid the most and got a team of mercenaries that did not fit together and did not care about IU.

Devries is taking a different approach. If you are all about the money and nothing else - then we will find someone else who cares about winning.
 
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ndhuntington said:
www.on3.com

2025 College Basketball Team Transfer Portal Rankings

The 2025 college basketball transfer portal team rankings.
www.on3.com www.on3.com

#58 even Minnesota is ahead of us..
Click to expand...
I think it is based on number of players honestly. We have two top 30 portal players are ranked 47th. Once we get a few more guys we will shoot up. Oh and I see the vaunted top 20 portal player Miles Rice this year is now ranked like 97Th. I did not even see the vaunted top 25 portal player Carlye listed
 
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So why nothing on Yates from USC. I know UK visit was in works and maybe still is but seems they are no longer interested. Is one side just not interested at all? You'd think he'd go on the wine and dine tour and if he'd play at UK then he doesn't seem to care about playing half way across the country.
 
chaser23 said:
Why are you here? Obviously not a fan. This “we” and “us” is so pathetic. Please go away.
Click to expand...
Go away stalker
CG Paul said:
What are you suggesting we should do about this?

Should we picket outside of Assembly Hall and demand better results, now?!?!
Click to expand...

Not yet but Minnesota, Nebraska, Butler, Ohio State, Texas, Rutgers, Northwestern are all ahead of us.
 
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  • 1
    Arkansas

    Arkansas
    5 Commits
    95.40
    • 0
    • 5
    • 0
    30.78

  • 2
    Indiana

    Indiana
    6 Commit

  • Number two portal class and we could not even make the tourney.
 
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mushroomgod_1 said:
Only 10
Click to expand...


Actually, only 9. But to make matters worse, Devries, Enright, Bailey, and Wilkerson (if we get him), and Comer (if we get him) are all one and doners, and we have no recruits other than Sisley. We really need guys like Freeman & Ortiz and recruit Lewis or others to commit or we'll also suck in 2026-27.
 
TJ Inman said:
That is fair. He did struggle defensively in limited minutes (he still had a .47 Defensive BPR) but he was a freshman. Would he be a major contributor in 2025-2026? Probably not. Could he be a good shooter that gets spot minutes on the wing and develops so that he can be good piece as a junior and senior in 2026 and 2027? Quite possibly and, as we all know, IU currently has four players and nine more spots to fill. I don't think he should be a top target or anything but if he was a 9th or 10th guy next season and a piece for the future? I think that would make sense.
Click to expand...
Looks like Miss State may have gotten Ballard, but Pitt big man Kante is apparently in the portal and iirc is only a sophomore.
 
.Gerdis said:
Is that what’s going on??

IF that is “the direction of the program”, I would be pleased. I really like your post, but it seems to be an idealist view that is untethered from the reality of big money athletics. I’m skeptical. My hesitancy is that I am afraid that:

The direction of this program won’t be altered by this hire. You say there is no point in coaching college basketball if the players leave every year (and I don’t disagree). You say that he isn’t going to “change his methods” and start shelling out money to outbid teams.

My fear is that is exactly what he signed up for. That is the game now. Our program has been at the cutting edge of NIL since the get go. Look at the teams we have been going toe to toe with when bidding, like Kansas. That wasn’t Woodson. That was the money, the boosters. The direction is etched in stone, play the game that exists and push the boundaries as far as they will go. The direction isn’t to be Drake, Wisconsin, or even Michigan. The direction is Kentucky under Calipari.

My thinking of what we now have is this: We will “play the game” better than all but a few teams. That means having one of the highest paid rosters. Huge annual turnover. Huge reliance on portal players. I do not expect a difference in the direction of the program as far as philosophy on paying players, using the portal, etc.

The hire, IMHO, was simply someone to coach up the players.

Indiana did not go out and get a coach who is just going to buy players.

Of course they did. The people that set the direction of the program do not view the concept of buying players or using the portal as the problem. The problem was having someone to coach them.
Click to expand...
He's going to also recruit high school kids. He's attended the Indiana high
Championship game and has been making the rounds meeting state coaches. He's no dummy and knows the state produces plenty of fine players every year. The good teams do a great job now combining HS kids and transfers. Hopefully we can compete with them in the near future, but we need to show patience. We're crazy if we thinks it's going to happen overnight.
 
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Sun Belt Player of the Year Tayton Conerway is visiting IU this weekend. Conerway is a 6'3" guard with one year of eligibility remaining and he is originally from Burleson, Texas. The Trojans finished 23-11 and 13-5 in the Sun Belt and then won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament before losing to Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament. Conerway is a stat-stuffer, averaging 14.2 points per game, 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.9 steals. Conerway is absolutely loved by the advanced metrics as he earned a whopping 8.4 BPM on Bart Torvik (for context, no IU player was above 7.9 this past season and that number tied him with Zakai Ziegler of Tennessee) and the highest BPR (Evan Miya) in the Sun Belt at 5.93.

Conerway is not a strong three-point shooter but he is an elite defensive guard, tough rebounder, good playmaker for others and typically efficient from two as a physical finisher. He had games of 18, 22 and 21 in the Sun Belt Tournament and scored 12 against Kentucky. Early in the season, he had nine points and eight rebounds against the Houston Cougars. Conerway is a combo guard and would actually pair really, really well with Lamar Wilkerson if the Hoosiers can land them both. This is a big development and he'd be a major get for Darian DeVries if they could get his commitment.
 
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TJ Inman said:
Sun Belt Player of the Year Tayton Conerway is visiting IU this weekend. Conerway is a 6'3" guard with one year of eligibility remaining and he is originally from Burleson, Texas. The Trojans finished 23-11 and 13-5 in the Sun Belt and then won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament before losing to Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament. Conerway is a stat-stuffer, averaging 14.2 points per game, 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.9 steals. Conerway is absolutely loved by the advanced metrics as he earned a whopping 8.4 BPM on Bart Torvik (for context, no IU player was above 7.9 this past season and that number tied him with Zakai Ziegler of Tennessee) and the highest BPR (Evan Miya) in the Sun Belt at 5.93.

Conerway is not a strong three-point shooter but he is an elite defensive guard, tough rebounder, good playmaker for others and typically efficient from two as a physical finisher. He had games of 18, 22 and 21 in the Sun Belt Tournament and scored 12 against Kentucky. Early in the season, he had nine points and eight rebounds against the Houston Cougars. Conerway is a combo guard and would actually pair really, really well with Lamar Wilkerson if the Hoosiers can land them both. This is a big development and he'd be a major get for Darian DeVries if they could get his commitment.
Click to expand...
3 steals per game? For comparison, the nation's leader in steals per game was 3.1. If you can get a PG to disrupt the flow of the other team by creating chaos at the point of attack, it elevates opportunities for creating turnovers at all of the other positions. He's not great at shooting the 3 but this type of defender will make a difference on every defensive possession. Not to mention 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game as a 6'3 guard. As long as we can have shooters around him (like landing Lamar to go with Devries and Reed), then it could be a lethal combination.
 
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Reed Bailey and Lamar Wilkerson are on campus right now. Conerway is expected tomorrow.

A few names to possibly track for IU:
Terrence Arceneaux from Houston
Dylan Darling from Idaho State (Big Sky Player of the Year)
Kimani Hamilton from High Point

The next few weeks of roster building and staff building is going to be fascinating!
 
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TJ Inman said:
Reed Bailey and Lamar Wilkerson are on campus right now. Conerway is expected tomorrow.

A few names to possibly track for IU:
Terrence Arceneaux from Houston
Dylan Darling from Idaho State (Big Sky Player of the Year)
Kimani Hamilton from High Point

The next few weeks of roster building and staff building is going to be fascinating!
Click to expand...
With Huss heading back to Creighton would Corey Edwards be in line for the High Point HC job, or might he be looking to land an assistant position somewhere else like, say, Bloomington?
 
Battimi said:
plenty of good options and plenty of time

Woodson paid the most and got a team of mercenaries that did not fit together and did not care about IU.
Click to expand...
I hate that this refrain is repeated. Outside of Ballo the transfers all made perfect sense for what Indiana needed. Coming into last season IU needed:
  • Ball handler (Rice)
  • 3 point shooting (Carlyle, Goode)
  • More rotation bigs (Ballo, Hatton, James)
Ballo was an odd addition, especially since it seemed Woodson was indicating a move away from a two bigs lineup, but it's hard to pass up on the top transfer. The rest all made sense with the ideal Indiana team it's just the execution was so far off. I really put that at the feet of Woodson as it was more of the same we've seen the whole CMW tenure.

If we made a run to the sweet 16 in the tournament no one would be saying these kids don't care about Indiana. It's an easy complaint when the team is not playing well. You could take a team full of kids from Indiana whose parents grew up watching Knight win championships and have a dream to wear cream and crimson but I bet the outcome of those seasons would not be remedied by those kids caring about being Hoosiers. Indiana is luckily still a top tier team in college basketball so kids will stick around and "care" if the rest of the expectations from Indiana basketball are met.
 
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nichlee said:
I hate that this refrain is repeated. Outside of Ballo the transfers all made perfect sense for what Indiana needed. Coming into last season IU needed:
  • Ball handler (Rice)
  • 3 point shooting (Carlyle, Goode)
  • More rotation bigs (Ballo, Hatton, James)
Ballo was an odd addition, especially since it seemed Woodson was indicating a move away from a two bigs lineup, but it's hard to pass up on the top transfer. The rest all made sense with the ideal Indiana team it's just the execution was so far off. I really put that at the feet of Woodson as it was more of the same we've seen the whole CMW tenure.

If we made a run to the sweet 16 in the tournament no one would be saying these kids don't care about Indiana. It's an easy complaint when the team is not playing well. You could take a team full of kids from Indiana whose parents grew up watching Knight win championships and have a dream to wear cream and crimson but I bet the outcome of those seasons would not be remedied by those kids caring about being Hoosiers. Indiana is luckily still a top tier team in college basketball so kids will stick around and "care" if the rest of the expectations from Indiana basketball are met.
Click to expand...
I get what you are saying... but far too often the optics looked like they got out worked and out-hustled. I do mostly believe that was due to the culture Woody established.
 
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