April was a productive month, on paper, for IU basketball.
The program lost six players to the transfer portal but added six commitments from the portal, all of which came from the high-major level. Most transfer portal class rankings have the Hoosiers in the top five.
There are still outstanding questions to answer about next season’s roster, but here are three thoughts on the roster as it currently stands to conclude a busy April:
Indiana was more prepared for the portal this spring
One year ago, Indiana was still scrambling to fill its coaching staff and roster in late April.
This year, the Hoosiers wrapped up commitments from six players over three days, from April 13-15. Barring any unforeseen late additions, the core of IU’s roster for the 2026-27 is already intact.
Given how well IU fared this spring in the portal – on paper – the Hoosiers were better prepared this spring.
With a full coaching staff in place, an executive director of basketball in Ryan Carr on the job and a season of experience in the Big Ten to learn what worked and what did not, Darian DeVries has the pieces in place to improve on last season’s 18-14 finish.
The obvious caveat is acknowledging that there is plenty of work still to be done before next season. The program has built some momentum this spring after a disappointing end to the season. Now it must capitalize on the portal haul with a strong offseason heading into a pivotal year two of the DeVries era.
The Hoosiers still have a roster need in the frontcourt
With 10 scholarship players on board for next season, there are still openings on Indiana’s 2026-27 roster.
Filling the remaining openings will take some time, as the portal’s talent pool dwindles. The resources available to spend on the final spots are also limited, as the Hoosiers have already secured their primary rotation.
The most pressing need is additional frontcourt help to back up Aiden Sherrell and Samet Yigitoglu.
Bigs were the most coveted position in the portal this spring and the Hoosiers were able to add a pair of impact, starter-level pieces in Sherrell and Yigitoglu.
While Trent Sisley is expected to provide backup minutes at the four as a sophomore, the Hoosiers need a player who can be serviceable at the four or five when Sherrell or Yigitoglu go to the bench.
That isn’t a need unique to Indiana and the number of players available to fill such a role isn’t plentiful in the portal.
Indiana has upgraded its talent level
After building last season’s roster with players who had all begun their careers at mid-major or low-major programs, Indiana changed its approach this year.
The six players Indiana earned commitments from in the transfer portal all began their careers at the high-major level and all six played at high-major programs last season.
In addition, four of the six players Indiana landed from the portal played in the NCAA tournament last season: Sherrell, Darren Harris, Bryce Lindsay and Yigitoglu.
As the Big Ten season wore on last season, it was clear the Hoosiers were outmatched at point guard and in the post.
Conor Enright took on a larger role than anticipated after the struggles of Tayton Conerway and Sam Alexis, who was signed as a backup to Reed Bailey. Alexis became the primary big after Bailey struggled against the size and physicality in conference play.
Indiana has, on paper, answers at point guard and up front entering the offseason. In Markus Burton, who arrives from Notre Dame, the Hoosiers have a lead guard who has proven production in the ACC.
In Sherrell and Yigitoglu, Indiana has two power-five starters who can rebound, protect the rim and score efficiently in the paint.
Last season, Indiana relied on too many unproven players at the highest level of college basketball and the results showed. With a better collection of overall talent now in the fold, DeVries and the coaching staff must fit the pieces together and translate that talent into more wins next winter.
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