Class of '66 Old Fart

Doesn't sound like a player who's waiver got approved.

Phenom Hoops had a tremendous opportunity to go out to Kansas City to check in and help out with the US Open Basketball. It was terrific to check out new talent from all over the country once again, learning plenty of new names and new programs. Here were some of the best players I saw from the weekend. 2027 Chase Branham (KC Run GMC) Branham is a known name coming in and he showed why on several occasions this past weekend in Kansas City. Branham, a strong, high-IQ point guard was able to flourish in leading his team to a championship. He consistently showcased his ability to knock down shots and create, being a threat in catch-and-shoot situations from outside but also using his size, playmaking ability, and creativity to score off the bounce. This is a guard that holds multiple high-major offers from schools like Creighton, Iowa, Kansas State, Indiana, and others, and he showed why throughout the event.

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-basketball-recruiting-hoosiers-offer-2026-7-footer-marcis-ponder/

Would appear Allmond is transferring from John Marshall HS to Petersburg HS in Petersburg, VA.

Ponder now attending The Gillion Academy in Springfield, VA. Plays AAU ball for Team Breakdown on the New Balance circuit and there aren't any published AAU statistics that I've been able to find. He did play in the recently concluded DMV Live event and those stats are below. Ponder's high school career has been well-traveled. The following is from a Providence Friar story this past March: Two things stand out when watching clips of Ponder: the athleticism for a young player his size and the ferocity with which he plays. Ponder is a traditional center in that he owns the paint — a “get out of the way” dunker and a solid rebounder, with signs of shot blocking ability. Ponder is a Miami native who now plays at West Oaks Academy in Florida. Like so many players in today’s day and age, he is well-traveled. Ponder started his career at Miami Northland High School, spent an injury-filled 2023-24 season with Overtime Elite, and played this year with West Oaks. A return to Florida (and good health) led to Ponder losing 40 pounds last offseason, and the high school junior looks plenty explosive now: https://247sports.com/college/indiana/article/rim-rocking-big-bodied-7-foot-class-of-2026-center-marcis-ponder-of-the-gillion-academy-lands-an-indiana-scholarship-offer-251400608/ https://www.on3.com/teams/indiana-hoosiers/news/2026-7-foot-center-marcis-ponder-earns-offer-from-indiana/ DMV Live Stats 247 Rivals On3 West Oaks Acad Stats 24-25

3SSB spring circuit awards. All of the players listed hold offers from DDV. MVP - Caleb Holt Offensive MVP - Tay Kinney Defensive MVP - Cameron Williams Underclass MVP - Bruce Branch 1st Team: Holt, Kinney, Williams, Arafane Diane and Deron Rippey 2nd Team: Colben Landrew, Anthony Thompson, Trey Thompson and Latrell Allmond 3rd Team: Martay Barnes and Bruce Branch All Underclassmen: Barnes and Branch All Defense: Diane and Rippey

Nothing definitive from the NCAA but Raby indicates it does not look like Leal's waiver request was approved. He's not indicating the source or the reliability of that source so take it FWIW. It wouldn't at all be surprising if it was indeed denied.

(2026) -

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/short-tenured-iu-basketball-center-luke-fischer-joins-2025-assembly-ball-tbt-squad/

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-basketball-recruiting-hoosiers-offer-2027-guard-jlon-lyons/

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-basketball-recruiting-hoosiers-offer-2027-4-star-guard-martay-barnes/

Recruits Zone - Top-90 2027 prospect Martay Barnes tells me he’s heard from Indiana along with a dozen other high major programs. Plays AAU for Southeast Elite on the 3SSB circuit. 247 Rivals Hudl

https://www.insidethehall.com/2025/06/30/darian-devries-explains-why-iu-basketball-fans-will-enjoy-conor-enright/

Nice background story on 247 but unfortunately behind the paywall. But this quote really sticks out and I immediately thought @WayneFleekHoosier is gonna love this kid if we land him. "I know they like my attitude on the court. Every coach loves a dog, and I'm a dog, on offense and defense," he said. "I'm a guy with crazy energy who doesn't back down from anyone or anything.

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-basketball-recruiting-hoosiers-offer-2026-guard-aiden-derkack/

https://www.on3.com/teams/indiana-hoosiers/news/2026-top-100-wing-aiden-derkack-lands-indiana-offer/

Lot of offers been extended recently so here's a summary of the offers from DDV and staff. 2026 Name High School Location IU Offered Adkins, Davion Faith Family Academy Dallas, TX 05.01.25 Allmond, Latrell John Marshall HS Richmond, VA 05.10.25 Bryant, Toni Zephyrhills Christian Acad. Zephyrhills, FL 05.14.25 Cloer, Cole Caldwell Academy Greensboro, NC 05.20.25 Derkack, Aiden Colonia HS Colonia, NJ 06.29.25 Diane, Arafan Iowa United Prep Norwalk, IA 06.14.25 Gaskins, Caleb Columbus HS Florida 05.05.25 Holt, Caleb Prolific Prep Ft. Lauderdale, FL 07.23.24 Howard, Bryson Heritage HS Frisco, TX 05.29.25 Kinney, Taylen Overtime Elite Atlanta, GA 02.03.24 Landrew, Colben Wheeler HS Marietta, GA 09.11.24 Moody, Prince-Alexander Bishop McNamara HS Forestville, MD 05.08.25 Rippey, Deron Jr. Blair Academy Blairstown, NJ 06.14.25 Smith, Jordan St. Rose HS Belmar, NJ 05.08.25 Taylor, Ethan Link Academy Missouri 05.08.25 Thompson, Anthony "Ant" Western Reserve Academy Hudson, OH 02.18.24 Thompson, Trey Greeneville HS Greeneville, TN 05.18.25 Williams, Cameron St. Mary's HS Phoenix, AZ 05.19.25 2027 Name High School Location Offered Anderson, Nasir Norcross HS Norcross, GA 06.15.25 Barnes, Martay Acad. Of Central Florida Orlando, FL 06.28.25 Branch, Bruce III Prolific Prep Ft. Lauderdale, FL 5.20.25 Branham, Chase Logan-Rogersville HS Rogersville, MO 03.28.25 Gardner, Jason Jr Fishers HS Fishers, IN 10.19.24 Hill, Isaiah Indpls Pike Indianapolis, IN 06.07.25 Hampton, Ryan Dynamic Prep Dallas, TX 05.12.25 Jordan, Malachi Christian Community HS Nashville, TN 05.20.25 Lyons, J'Lon Clinton Grace Christian HS Clinton MD 06.27.25 Spears, Marcus Jr. Dynamic Prep Irving, TX 06.15.25

Smith started again today and the USA defeated France 108-77. He played 17 minutes and scored 7p; 2r; 3a; 3s; 1b; 1t. 3-6 FG; 0-2 on 3s; 1-2 FT. Teams are off on Monday and the U.S. will play Cameroon on Tuesday.

Spring AAU Stats Aiden Derkack '26 - Team Final Date Pts FGM FGA 3PM 3PA FTM FTA Reb Ast TO Stl Blk 4/25 W 8 2 6 1 3 3 4 9 3 5 0 0 4/26 W 13 5 8 0 1 3 5 4 4 2 1 2 4/27 L 9 2 7 0 3 5 6 5 4 3 1 0 5/16 W 17 6 12 3 7 2 2 6 2 0 0 0 5/17W 17 7 13 0 3 3 3 7 2 0 1 0 5/17 L 14 6 13 1 5 1 1 8 0 1 0 0 5/18 W 22 9 11 2 3 2 2 3 4 1 2 0 5/23 L 8 3 6 2 5 0 2 2 1 2 1 1 5/24 W 17 6 8 1 2 4 5 4 1 2 1 1 5/25 L 9 3 9 1 5 2 5 7 3 1 1 0 5/26 L 16 7 17 2 9 0 2 8 0 3 1 0 Count/Avg 11 13.6 51% 28% 68% 5.7 2.2 1.8 0.8 0.4

6'5" 4-star SG attends Colonia HS in Colonia, NJ and plays AAU for Team Final on the EYBL circuit. He comes from an athletic family background as his older brother Jordan played at Rutgers and will play at Dayton this season and his sister, Taylor, plays basketball at UMass. https://collegefootballnetwork.com/mens-college-basketball/who-is-jordan-derkack-brother-aiden-derkack/ 247 Rivals On3 Hudl High School Stats https://nynjsportsworld.com/2024/08/01/aiden-derkack-rising-basketball-star-earns-another-offer-from-providence/

https://www.on3.com/teams/indiana-hoosiers/news/prince-alexander-moody-wraps-up-first-evaluation-period-as-indiana-commit/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLOYWBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF6VWpQUUNvcFVLRnZRTzdKAR7oHuuVUYhln30HhCMmiTQidb3Ec1wMjGMfnN9VjjqwaMV8WMi1Tz_cM8Pfng_aem_2-kS_Fvs_T3p2HL9LwI3xg

Cumulative stats for the DMV Live event https://dmvhoopslive.com/player/prince-alexander-moody-3/

Final game of the weekend against the Placide twins.

Lyon's cumulative stats for the DMV Live event. https://dmvhoopslive.com/player/jlon-lyons-2/