IU basketball has added seven players this spring from the transfer portal. Player by player, we’ll take a look at each addition in our “transfer portal spotlight” series.
Today: Darren Harris
Previously: Jaeden Mustaf
Bio: 6-foot-5, 195-pound guard from Herndon, Virginia
Previous school: Duke (2023-2025, two seasons)
Career stats: 2.8 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.2 steals in 8.3 minutes per game over two seasons. Harris is a career 36.4 percent shooter from the field, a 30.8 percent 3-point shooter and a 69.1 percent free-throw shooter.
Notable statistics: Harris played exclusively off the bench for the Blue Devils over the last two seasons and scored in double figures three times in 57 appearances. He scored 15 points in an early-season win last November at Army and then had a career-best 16 points in a win at Notre Dame in late February.
Recruitment background
The No. 35 player nationally in the final RSCI rankings for the class of 2024, Harris arrived at Duke as part of a prized recruiting class that also included Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba and Khaman Maluach. Flagg, Knueppel and Maluach were first-round picks in the 2025 NBA draft, Evans is projected to be a first-round pick in June’s 2026 NBA draft and Ngongba will be one of the top returning front court players in college basketball next winter.
Harris, who saw limited minutes in his two seasons at Duke, is rebooting his career in Bloomington, where he will have an opportunity for a more consistent role. Billed as one of the nation’s top shooters out of Paul VI Catholic in the class of 2024, he was on the fringe of the Duke rotation over his two seasons in Durham.
After entering the transfer portal earlier this spring, Harris scheduled official visits to Indiana and Virginia and committed to the Hoosiers after an official visit in April. He currently has two seasons of eligibility remaining, but could have three if the proposed “5-in-5” rule change is enacted later this year. If it does, Harris, who will turn 21 in August, would have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Notes on his game
While most of what Indiana targeted this spring in the transfer portal was proven production at the high-major level, Harris does not fit that criteria.
What Indiana is betting on with Harris is that he’ll flourish with consistent minutes in an offense that prioritizes perimeter shooting. Shooting is the specialty for Harris and last season, Indiana attempted 51 percent of its shots in Big Ten play from beyond the 3-point arc, the third-highest rate in the conference.
Harris hasn’t shot the ball well in his college career so far – he is 28-for-91 on 3s – but the sample size is small enough that it’s worth the bet on his pedigree as a high school player rather than what he’s done so far at the college level.
The summer will be pivotal for Harris, not only for acclimating to his new surroundings but also for regaining his confidence. And he will get plenty of practice time and game reps to do so, as the Hoosiers travel to Peru in late July to compete in the FISU America Games.
Scouting reports from high school
“Darren Harris is an elite shooter; we’re talking in the conversation as the best shooter in high school basketball. At 6-5, he has great positional size. He is always square and always ready to let it fly, from 35 feet and in. Harris played up in age on the Nike EYBL 17u Circuit, where he started for the Peach Jam runner-up and averaged 1.8 made threes per game. His athleticism will be a question as he lacks top-end bounce or pop, but his IQ has him in the play. He has developed his handle, getting to the rim off sloppy closeouts in straight lines. The more he develops his handle, the more lethal he becomes. His dad is a high school coach.” – Jamie Shaw, Rivals.com
“So, the book on Harris is that he’s a great shooter and it isn’t just about the ball going through the net. Ultimately that’s the goal but how Harris’ shot gets from his fingertips to the hoop is superior to many others. At 6-foot-6 with a sturdy build, Harris has tremendous size that allows him to see over the top of defenders and get clean looks. Away from the ball, he also knows how to use his body to make his way through traffic, play through contact and get to his spots. Once he gets to his spots, the shot preparation is elite. He’s always on balance and shot ready and then shoots a classic shot where the balance sets a base and he then gets the shot off quickly with a nicely tucked elbow, eyes on the rim and a fully extended follow through where it looks like he’s trying to reach into that cookie jar on the top shelf.
“While shooting is certainly Harris’ biggest strength and the asset that’s going to get him on the floor early, he’s got other strengths as well. He’s an intelligent passer, he has some mid post game and he’s a sneaky good rebounder. He doesn’t yet do a ton off the dribble so that is a major area for him to establish growth and athletically he isn’t bad but he could stand to improve his lateral quickness and overall pop which could help him to create separation on offense and be a more versatile defender.” – Eric Bossi, 247Sports
Darren Harris highlights
Darren Harris shot chart
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