Indiana basketball has an exciting new look to them this season, and we are going to look at them player by player to give everyone a chance to learn the almost completely overhauled roster. Players are in order of expected contribution to the team in the current season.

1. Markus Burton (Guard, averaged 18.5 PPG at Notre Dame):

Burton is going to be the starting point guard for the Hoosiers. A transfer from Notre Dame, he brings a scoring and driving ability that the Hoosiers really lacked last year. He is a two-time All-ACC selection and was ACC Freshman of the Year two seasons ago. In just 10 games last year, he averaged 18.5 points and 3.7 assists per game. If he is healthy, he could have a very special season in Bloomington as the primary scoring threat and ballhandler.

2. Aiden Sherrell (Forward, averaged 11.1 PPG at Alabama):

Sherrell is the ideal big man in Darian Devries’ system. A transfer from Alabama, it is a given that he can shoot the ball or he would not have been a starter for Nate Oats. He is also athletic enough to play the 4, and at 6″11, he offsets some of the concerns that IU had last year with rim protection. Sherrell is  the key to this team making a run into March this year. A true stretch 4 unlocks a whole new dimension for Indiana, and will alleviate some of their offensive struggles.

3. Jaeden Mustaf (Guard, averaged 10.4 PPG at Georgia Tech):

Mustaf is a transfer from Georgia Tech, and he loves to get to the rim. He is a slasher at heart, and at 6’6, provides excellent length defensively as well. He is big enough to play the small forward position, and I think he will slot in nicely next to all of the shooting surrounding him. The spacing in DeVries’ system should give him the freedom to attack the basket and provide a scoring punch from the wing position.

4. Samet Yigitoglu (Center, averaged 10.7 PPG at SMU):

Yigitoglu has the coolest nickname in college basketball. The “Turkish Tower” as he is known. He is a mountain of a human being. He is listed at 7’2, 270, and  he is every bit of both of those numbers. Much like he did for SMU, he will patrol the paint for Indiana, and as long as he stays out of foul trouble, will be an imposing inside threat. Just his sheer size alone should give the perimeter players freedom to apply significant ball pressure and disrupt the offensive flow of the opposition.

5. Darren Harris (Guard averaged 3.3 PPG at Duke):

Harris is a sharpshooter from Duke, and I expect him to fill into the Nick Dorn role at IU. Expect to see him running off of pin-downs, and getting frequent catch and shoot opportunities. Though I compare him to Dorn, he’s a similar style in a much more athletic frame. A former top 50 recruit, he never really got a chance to shine behind some of the other Duke guards, but he possesses all the talent in the world to be successful at the college level.

6. Bryce Lindsay (Guard, averaged 12.3 PPG at Villanova):

Much like Darren Harris, Lindsay is a sharpshooter, which is a theme with this IU team. He shot 35% from deep on 6.6 attempts per game last year at Villanova. Lindsay can fill it up in a hurry. He could be a starter for the Hoosiers, but he is best suited to play with the second unit and provide instant offense as soon as he steps on the floor.

7. Prince-Alexander Moody (Guard, Freshman):

Moody is one of three 4-star freshmen on this Indiana roster. Despite being the lowest ranked of the three (87th per 247 Sports), he’s the most advanced right now and has the greatest opportunity to make an impact. If I were to describe his game in one word, it would be unflappable. He is going to be able to give Burton some rest during the season, and is strong enough already to be a good defender in the conference. He is a perfect backup point guard this year, and his role will only increase as his experience does.

8. Sam Alexis (Forward, Senior, averaged 7.2 PPG at Indiana)

Alexis is a familiar face for the Hoosiers, as he was a summer addition to the roster after some litigation. Indiana lists him as a forward, but he will be a center for this team. His depth and experience should give coach DeVries someone to rely on to deal with the wrestling matches that Big Ten games are. If and when Yigitoglu runs into foul trouble, Alexis is not going to be much of a drop off in production, and he always brings the energy. This was a huge add for the team, and Alexis will thrive in an energy role off of the bench.

9. Vaughn Karvala (Forward, Freshman):

Karvala is a highly rated 4* (247) freshman was the 65th overall recruit in the 2026 class. During his short time in Bloomington, he has already impressed with his shooting ability and bounce. At 6’6″, 180lbs, he needs to add weight to become a true stalwart in the conference, despite that,he’s expected to start the year with a significant bench role, allowing him to grow into the college game and increase his confidence.

10. Trevor Manhertz (Forward, Freshman):

Manhertz is the third of the 4-star freshman additions to the Hoosiers, and yet another rangy shooter at DeVries’ disposal. Ranked number 70 (247) in the class, he has all of the physical attributes to be a good to very good defender, especially at 6’8. I expect him and Karvala to follow the same path of trajectory in terms of playing time this season. His combination of size and shooting ability will allow DeVries to mix and match different lineup combinations in case of injury or foul trouble, something the team last year sorely lacked.

11. Trent Sisley (Forward, averaged 4.2 PPG at Indiana):

Sisley is the only other returning player from IU’s team a year ago, and he had an up and down freshman campaign. His minutes dwindled towards the end of the year, but he decided to stick with IU as opposed to transferring elsewhere. He is surprisingly big, and can play power forward when Sherrell plays center next to him. His jumper was an issue last year, but I think that was more of a confidence and roster construction issue than anything to do with his mechanics. He was forced into an important role that he was unprepared to handle, and I expect him to have a bounce back season this year.

12. Justin Monden (Guard, averaged 6.0 PPG at Maryland Eastern Shore):

Monden is a veteran guard who is not expected to play much, but does come in with a plethora of experience as a senior. From all accounts this summer, he is providing guidance to the younger guards on this roster, and can keep the offense running smoothly if Burton or one of the other guards were to get injured during the year.

13. Clemens Sokolov (Center, Freshman):

An 18 year old from Germany, Sokolov is a seven-footer who needs to put on some more weight to compete in the Big Ten at just 230 pounds. Sokolov has played two professional years in the German B league, where he averaged 8 points and 9 rebounds in two playoff games for Würzburg Baskets. He is nothing more than emergency depth this year for the Hoosiers, and will be a long term project for DeVries and the coaching staff.

Jordan Rayford (Guard): Reserve (walk on)

Drew Snively (Guard): Reserve (walk on)

Ian Stephens: (Guard): Reserve (walk on)

Ben Winker (Forward): Reserve (walk on)

Overall, this blend of size and skill should pay dividends for Indiana basketball. After a season of being undersized and under-skilled in the conference, those excuses are no longer valid with this talented group of players. The depth of this group should also allow Indiana to withstand shooting slumps or injuries throughout a grueling Big Ten schedule.

Cover photo courtesy of Inside the Hall