2026 General Recruiting Thread (Bball)

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

'26 Najai Hines commits to Seton Hall and will re-class to '25.

https://www.zagsblog.com/2025/07/21/ny-rens-big-man-najai-hines-weighing-college-decision/

[Stuhoo]

5 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

'26 Najai Hines commits to Seton Hall and will re-class to '25.

https://www.zagsblog.com/2025/07/21/ny-rens-big-man-najai-hines-weighing-college-decision/

Dang - that's a shame; appears he would have been a good fit for us.

Gonna be hard to get a kid to reclass when high-level kids that are considering reclassing are largely doing so to play that first year. And Hines will see the floor in his first year at Seton Hall.

[Demo]

11 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Dang - that's a shame; appears he would have been a good fit for us.

Gonna be hard to get a kid to reclass when high-level kids that are considering reclassing are largely doing so to play that first year. And Hines will see the floor in his first year at Seton Hall.

Hate not getting the kid but I’m a big Shaheen Holloway guy so I’m ok with him landing there.

[Home Jersey]

11 minutes ago, Demo said:

Hate not getting the kid but I’m a big Shaheen Holloway guy so I’m ok with him landing there.

That guy would be a nightmare at a program with half decent / competitive NIL. Convincing a kid to reclassify and step into THAT situation is no small thing... the guy is good. 

[Demo]

32 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

That guy would be a nightmare at a program with half decent / competitive NIL. Convincing a kid to reclassify and step into THAT situation is no small thing... the guy is good. 

Some AD at a school with resources is gonna overlook winning the presser and hire that guy and solve his HC problem for 15 years. Love the guy. May not be a perfect fit everywhere, but in the right job he’s gonna kick everybody’s a$$.

[go iu bb]

Rabby says IU has been recruiting C Sayon Keita. He's a 7' international player. He's from Mali but has been playing in Spain for FC Barcelona.  Scouted as being a really good recruit who is currently raw offensively but a very good defender. Just turned 17.

[mike vannice]

14 minutes ago, go iu bb said:

Rabby says IU has been recruiting C Sayon Keita. He's a 7' international player. He's from Mali but has been playing in Spain for FC Barcelona.  Scouted as being a really good recruit who is currently raw offensively but a very good defender. Just turned 17.

Well now that Najai Hines has chosen Seton Hall it seems like the international route is the only option left. Still wondering if we have a shot at Pavle Nikolic, Aleksa Ristic's teammate from Serbia. Hope there are other options and we do not leave the 13th scholarship open.

If Keita can provide depth and 5 fouls it would be worth taking a chance. Then pair him with one of the 2026 centers we are after the following year and add Isaiah Hill in 2027.

[go iu bb]

5 minutes ago, mike vannice said:

Well now that Najai Hines has chosen Seton Hall it seems like the international route is the only option left. Still wondering if we have a shot at Pavle Nikolic, Aleksa Ristic's teammate from Serbia. Hope there are other options and we do not leave the 13th scholarship open.

If Keita can provide depth and 5 fouls it would be worth taking a chance. Then pair him with one of the 2026 centers we are after the following year and add Isaiah Hill in 2027.

He's in the 2026 class and isn't planning on changing that from what Rabby says he's hearing.

[ebridges24]

Let's get Sayon Keita. He is long, so he should be able to rebound and block shots.

[Demo]

4 minutes ago, mike vannice said:

Well now that Najai Hines has chosen Seton Hall it seems like the international route is the only option left. Still wondering if we have a shot at Pavle Nikolic, Aleksa Ristic's teammate from Serbia. Hope there are other options and we do not leave the 13th scholarship open.

If Keita can provide depth and 5 fouls it would be worth taking a chance. Then pair him with one of the 2026 centers we are after the following year and add Isaiah Hill in 2027.

Haven’t watched games of Keita yet, may do that tonight, but in watching some stuff of him last night I would think there is no way he’s a reclass candidate. He’s really young and a mile away physically. But as run/jump athletes go, he’s got that stuff.

[mike vannice]

16 minutes ago, Demo said:

Haven’t watched games of Keita yet, may do that tonight, but in watching some stuff of him last night I would think there is no way he’s a reclass candidate. He’s really young and a mile away physically. But as run/jump athletes go, he’s got that stuff.

Yeah, just watched several highlight videos and lots to like- plays with energy, runs the floor , pick and roll lob threat and shot blocker.

But thin and only 17 so definitely a 2026 prospect. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Current list of '26 offers.

Name	High School	Location		IU Offered
Adkins, Davion	Prolific Prep	Ft. Lauderdale, FL		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	IMG Academy	Bradenton, FL		05.20.25
County, Adolph "Junior"	Wasatch Academy	Mount Pleasat, UT		07.06.25
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
Muurinen, Miikka	AZ Compass Prep	Chandler, AZ		07.09.25
Ponder, Marcis	The Gillon Academy	Springfield, VA		06.30.25
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
Williams, Cameron	St. Mary's HS	Phoenix, AZ		05.19.25

[Stuhoo]

12 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Current list of '26 offers.

Name	High School	Location		IU Offered
Adkins, Davion	Prolific Prep	Ft. Lauderdale, FL		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	IMG Academy	Bradenton, FL		05.20.25
County, Adolph "Junior"	Wasatch Academy	Mount Pleasat, UT		07.06.25
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
Muurinen, Miikka	AZ Compass Prep	Chandler, AZ		07.09.25
Ponder, Marcis	The Gillon Academy	Springfield, VA		06.30.25
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
Williams, Cameron	St. Mary's HS	Phoenix, AZ		05.19.25

Wow -- currently zero in-state offers (it could change).

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

51 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Wow -- currently zero in-state offers (it could change).

Yes, it certainly could, but there certainly wasn't any evidence of high in-state recruit interest at July's last big AAU hurrah for the summer.  FWIW, these are names that have been mentioned at one time or another as being watched by IU but none at all recently that I've seen.

Keriawn Berry - Avon HS

Justin Curry - Noblesville

Evan Harrell - Carmel HS

Kai McGrew - Fishers HS   [Just 'awarded' limited eligibility for the 25-26 season by the IHSAA for his transfer.  Won't be surprised if it doesn't get rescinded and he gets full eligibility.]

Brennan Miller - Lawrence North HS

Noah Smith - Plainfield HS

And more FWIW, I'm not seeing any of these getting lots of high major interest

 

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Noah Smith (Plainfield, IN) committed to DePaul today.

[NYhoosier]

Jordan  Smith down to final six. Not likely to IU. 

[Stuhoo]

2 minutes ago, NYhoosier said:

Jordan  Smith down to final six. Not likely to IU. 

 

[Demo]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

 

Has always felt like a Cal sort of kid, and I don’t mean that critically, but we shall see. On the plus side, Paul VI is playing in the Bass Tournament of Champions in January and there’s a pretty decent shot Smith plays against Colben Landrew and/or Chase Branham. Those would be must see games.

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, Demo said:

Has always felt like a Cal sort of kid, and I don’t mean that critically, but we shall see. On the plus side, Paul VI is playing in the Bass Tournament of Champions in January and there’s a pretty decent shot Smith plays against Colben Landrew and/or Chase Branham. Those would be must see games.

Get a visit; make a competitive NIL offer; hope for some Clark/KJ magic.

Edit: Also make sure   |v|.this.|v|   AAU teammate of JSmith and soon to be Hoosier mega-favorite is in Btown during the official visit:

[NYhoosier]

5 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Get a visit; make a competitive NIL offer; hope for some Clark/KJ magic.

Edit: Also make sure   |v|.this.|v|   AAU teammate of JSmith and soon to be Hoosier mega-favorite is in Btown during the official visit:

I think it will be Duke