This ongoing thread is going to be for discussion on legitimate Indiana targets. I do think we will see the number of those increase dramatically over the next 4-5 days as the staff is finalized and players begin to schedule visits that will take place as soon as the dead period ends (April 10). Two names I will begin the thread with:
-Elyjah Freeman - DII transfer from Lincoln Memorial - 18.9 points per game and 8.7 rebounds as a 6'8" freshman. Based on his stats, athletic profile and highlights, I have no idea how this guy slipped to Division II but we know plenty of guys at that level can absolutely play. He did not shoot a high-volume of three-pointers (1.8 attempts per game) but he hit 45.6% of his attempts. He looks like a really good and fluid athlete to me and he has gotten onto NBA teams' radar. He has three years remaining but it appears he seems unlikely to be around the collegiate game for three more seasons if things go his way. He did visit IU on April 1 and Kentucky and Tennessee are both interested.
-Pharrell Payne - former Minnesota Golden Gopher and Texas A&M Aggie - he is now in the portal and IU will pursue him. He might just follow Buzz to Maryland (he's one of the few Texas A&M players with eligibility remaining) - he posted a 3.26 BPR this past season and was terrific in the NCAA Tournament. Payne is a great athlete, good rim protector that plays bigger than his actual height, rim runner that would great in pick and rolls that turn into lobs...he's a really good fit for the kind of offense DeVries envisions with IU. He'd be a fun addition.
-Elyjah Freeman - DII transfer from Lincoln Memorial - 18.9 points per game and 8.7 rebounds as a 6'8" freshman. Based on his stats, athletic profile and highlights, I have no idea how this guy slipped to Division II but we know plenty of guys at that level can absolutely play. He did not shoot a high-volume of three-pointers (1.8 attempts per game) but he hit 45.6% of his attempts. He looks like a really good and fluid athlete to me and he has gotten onto NBA teams' radar. He has three years remaining but it appears he seems unlikely to be around the collegiate game for three more seasons if things go his way. He did visit IU on April 1 and Kentucky and Tennessee are both interested.
-Pharrell Payne - former Minnesota Golden Gopher and Texas A&M Aggie - he is now in the portal and IU will pursue him. He might just follow Buzz to Maryland (he's one of the few Texas A&M players with eligibility remaining) - he posted a 3.26 BPR this past season and was terrific in the NCAA Tournament. Payne is a great athlete, good rim protector that plays bigger than his actual height, rim runner that would great in pick and rolls that turn into lobs...he's a really good fit for the kind of offense DeVries envisions with IU. He'd be a fun addition.
