2026 General Recruiting Thread (Bball)

[Demo 25,889]

https://x.com/TravisBranham_/status/1975243920125927758
 

Uh, did I miss an offer? I remember Old Fart mentioning the staff watching him but it seems like kind of an odd time for a new offer.

[WayneFleekHoosier 52,304]

12 minutes ago, Demo said:

https://x.com/TravisBranham_/status/1975243920125927758
 

Uh, did I miss an offer? I remember Old Fart mentioning the staff watching him but it seems like kind of an odd time for a new offer.

My educated guess is this relates to Thompson as an option for us. 

[Stuhoo 93,307]

3 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

My educated guess is this relates to Thompson as an option for us. 

Agreed - though the new SF recruit could be a backup plan, on its surface it doesn't bode well for Thompson.

The upside? It seems as though we are not bringing in new PF or C recruits!

[Demo 25,889]

13 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

My educated guess is this relates to Thompson as an option for us. 

My thinking as well 

[HoosierHoopster 9,466]

Seems like a pretty good backup option imo. 

https://247sports.com/player/vaughn-karvala-46150191/

"Karvala is loaded with glaring upside. He’s a big, nearly 6-foot-7 wing with a pretty shooting stroke from downtown. He runs well, covers the court, and can rise-up explosively to play above the rim. The key is putting it all together consistently and efficiently in order to impact winning to the highest degree.

While this was a breakout grassroots season for Karvala, he averaged 14 points per game on just 38% shooting from the floor and 34% from behind the arc, while attempting roughly two-third of his total from three. There’s no question that Karvala is a projectable shooter. He has a smooth release and showed versatility in his shot-making – on the move, running to the arc in transition, and being particularly good off the dribble. There were times though when his shot could get a little flat or when he could disappear altogether for stretches and not impact the game quite as much as someone with his talent should.

As he continues to adjust to playing against high-level competition, he needs to learn to assert himself consistently and find other ways to impact the game when he isn’t getting looks from downtown. Simultaneously, he has to build up his body, finish through contact more consistently at the rim, defend with consistent competitive physicality, and improve his decision-making abilities with the ball (0.8 assists vs. 2.2 turnovers). The bottom line though is that he has extreme tools and could be in the very early stages of putting them all together."

[Class of '66 Old Fart 95,871]

57 minutes ago, Demo said:

https://x.com/TravisBranham_/status/1975243920125927758
 

Uh, did I miss an offer? I remember Old Fart mentioning the staff watching him but it seems like kind of an odd time for a new offer.

No you did not.  We did watch him more than once during AAU season and then nothing.

247

On3

https://www.hudl.com/profile/18787117/Vaughn-Karvala

https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/article/top-50-small-forward-vaughn-karvala-scheduled-two-visits-before-making-college-decision-255684190/

https://www.zagsblog.com/2025/06/04/fast-rising-prospect-vaughn-karvala-breaks-down-recruitment/

 

Vaughn Karvala '26 - Team Herro
Date	Gms		Pts		FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	Reb	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk
4/25  L			19		7	17	0	1	5	6	9	0	2	1	0
4/26 W			17		6	10	5	7	0	0	6	0	0	0	2
4/27  W			9		4	10	0	4	1	3	4	0	4	0	1
5/16  W			14		5	15	4	12	0	0	8	2	3	2	2
5/17  W			14		5	8	1	3	3	5	3	0	1	1	1
5/17  W			12		4	11	2	9	2	2	3	3	1	0	1
5/18  L			18		6	10	4	7	2	4	6	0	1	2	2
5/23  W			16		6	14	4	9	0	0	3	1	3	0	2
5/24  L			14		5	14	3	11	1	1	1	0	3	1	1
5/26  W			24		7	14	4	10	6	6	4	1	1	1	1
7/10  L			5		2	11	0	7	1	2	3	1	6	0	1
7/11  L			10		2	7	1	4	5	8	3	0	2	2	0
7/12  L			28		9	20	5	12	5	8	1	1	3	2	1
7/13  W			16		4	10	2	5	6	7	7	2	3	0	3
7/14  L			18		4	14	2	10	8	9	4	2	3	1	4
7/15  W			14		5	10	2	5	2	2	4	0	1	0	1
7/15  L			0		0	7	0	3	0	0	1	1	2	1	2
Count/Avg	18		14.0		39%		33%		74%		4.1	0.8	2.3	0.8	1.6

[Demo 25,889]

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

No you did not.  We did watch him more than once during AAU season and then nothing.

247

On3

https://www.hudl.com/profile/18787117/Vaughn-Karvala

https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/article/top-50-small-forward-vaughn-karvala-scheduled-two-visits-before-making-college-decision-255684190/

https://www.zagsblog.com/2025/06/04/fast-rising-prospect-vaughn-karvala-breaks-down-recruitment/

 

Vaughn Karvala '26 - Team Herro
Date	Gms		Pts		FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	Reb	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk
4/25  L			19		7	17	0	1	5	6	9	0	2	1	0
4/26 W			17		6	10	5	7	0	0	6	0	0	0	2
4/27  W			9		4	10	0	4	1	3	4	0	4	0	1
5/16  W			14		5	15	4	12	0	0	8	2	3	2	2
5/17  W			14		5	8	1	3	3	5	3	0	1	1	1
5/17  W			12		4	11	2	9	2	2	3	3	1	0	1
5/18  L			18		6	10	4	7	2	4	6	0	1	2	2
5/23  W			16		6	14	4	9	0	0	3	1	3	0	2
5/24  L			14		5	14	3	11	1	1	1	0	3	1	1
5/26  W			24		7	14	4	10	6	6	4	1	1	1	1
7/10  L			5		2	11	0	7	1	2	3	1	6	0	1
7/11  L			10		2	7	1	4	5	8	3	0	2	2	0
7/12  L			28		9	20	5	12	5	8	1	1	3	2	1
7/13  W			16		4	10	2	5	6	7	7	2	3	0	3
7/14  L			18		4	14	2	10	8	9	4	2	3	1	4
7/15  W			14		5	10	2	5	2	2	4	0	1	0	1
7/15  L			0		0	7	0	3	0	0	1	1	2	1	2
Count/Avg	18		14.0		39%		33%		74%		4.1	0.8	2.3	0.8	1.6

I vaguely remember him having a pretty good game against Mokan when I was watching one of Taylor’s games at Peach Jam.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 95,871]

And while bringing in Karvala for an OV this late probably doesn't bode well for landing AT, Karvala isn't like we'd be shopping at Dollar General.  He's #47 on 247, #30 on ESPN and #59 on On3.

[Demo 25,889]

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

And while bringing in Karvala for an OV this late probably doesn't bode well for landing AT, Karvala isn't like we'd be shopping at Dollar General.  He's #47 on 247, #30 on ESPN and #59 on On3.

Of the 3 kids they’re in on hardest, Thompson is the one it would bother me least to miss on. Love his talent, but not sure he’ll be ready to be a top 2 option on a really good team next year. But I see him possibly still being good enough to go after 1 year. So I’m not sure he’s a building block. Allmond and Taylor are almost certainly not 1 year kids. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 95,871]

https://www.insidethehall.com/2025/10/06/report-class-of-2026-wing-vaughn-karvala-sets-iu-basketball-visit/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNQ9S1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHr0wvYsqhJZDx9Oosc7jXRSK1WOwxcNQYOxMfj7i0aviJ0KiAsDjGxhYGrWr_aem_l6GXi6KsOgiRoy4YQKqyeA

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-basketball-recruiting-hoosiers-getting-visit-from-2026-top-50-4-star-vaughn-karvala/

[Stuhoo 93,307]

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

https://www.insidethehall.com/2025/10/06/report-class-of-2026-wing-vaughn-karvala-sets-iu-basketball-visit/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNQ9S1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHr0wvYsqhJZDx9Oosc7jXRSK1WOwxcNQYOxMfj7i0aviJ0KiAsDjGxhYGrWr_aem_l6GXi6KsOgiRoy4YQKqyeA

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-basketball-recruiting-hoosiers-getting-visit-from-2026-top-50-4-star-vaughn-karvala/

 

Fast Times with Vaughn Karvala

 

[HoosierHoopster 9,466]

50 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

 

Fast Times with Vaughn Karvala

 

Hopefully Karvala he can finish better than this guy in Fast Times

[WayneFleekHoosier 52,304]

And while bringing in Karvala for an OV this late probably doesn't bode well for landing AT, Karvala isn't like we'd be shopping at Dollar General.  He's #47 on 247, #30 on ESPN and #59 on On3.

Yeah, seems like a talent. He’s a 3 point gunner. But he’s shooting like 33% and 37% from the field. Takes some wild shots.


Sent from my iPad using BtownBanners mobile app

[Scotty R 3,865]

I went back and looked at the recruiting classes of UL and UM for the 2025 class. These were classes that both coaches brought in for their first class which was before they coached a game at that school. This is the same scenario that Devries is doing this year. UL class was ranked 25th with a 3 high school players and UM was ranked 30th with 3 high school play. Both had one highly ranked player one being a 5 star and another a high 4 star player.

 

Looking at this should have made us realize that getting all 3 of Thompson, Almond and Taylor was probably unrealistic. Getting all 3 to go along with Prince Alexander probably would be at least a top 20 class. I still haven't seen anything that makes it look like we won't get any of those players

[HoosierDevils 192]

I am just going to run down what I've gathered from the following: Maryland Terps media like Inside Black and Gold, MSU media sources (Justin Thind and Jason Killop), and, yes, some Trilly so take it for what it's worth: 

• Allmond: Maryland has been trying to get LA on campus, but were not getting much interest from his side. It sounds like a MASSIVE NIL offer was put on the table from Maryland as a last attempt and this is what prompted an upcoming visit, though this visit has not been super widely reported/circulated. There seems to be some skepticism that it will 100% happen and if it does not, then there may be indications where he is headed by the end of the week.
• Taylor: MSU sources are sort of all over the map here in trying to flex on IU but the facts not quite matching their intended story. They want to say that they lead IU because relationships matter more than money to Taylor and that Izzo has a longstanding relationship with ET and his parents. However, they seemed to also say that MSU has a larger NIL offer out than IU does for him and that makes them the clear leader. Honestly, this Izzo recruiting cycle reminds me of what Self is doing and makes me wonder if both are milking their respective donors for putting together one last 5-star studded recruiting class for a last hurrah--or last couple.
• Karvala: Assumption seems to be that there's some ground to make up on Xavier. This should be obvious given he was not really on our radar until this week. I do think the fact that he already had Xavier and Syracuse, dropped Syracuse, and has visits to IU and Cal scheduled for the upcoming several weeks means his Xavier visit is more and more in the past and there's opportunity to cultivate this relationship a bit and he's not sold. If he has a west coast preference, that may keep Cal in the game but as an ACC follower through my divided loyalties my understanding is Cal is a bit of dumpster fire. 
• Thompson: Crickets! Really not much here even from the OSU side...which maybe a no news is good news? Of course, that would also hold for OSU as well.

Edited October 7 by HoosierDevils

[Home Jersey 17,867]

19 minutes ago, HoosierDevils said:

I am just going to run down what I've gathered from the following: Maryland Terps media like Red and Gold, MSU media sources (Justin Thind and Jason Killop), and, yes, some Trilly so take it for what it's worth: 

• Allmond: Maryland has been trying to get LA on campus, but were not getting much interest from his side. It sounds like a MASSIVE NIL offer was put on the table from Maryland as a last attempt and this is what prompted an upcoming visit, though this visit has not been super widely reported/circulated. There seems to be some skepticism that it will 100% happen and if it does not, then there may be indications where he is headed by the end of the week.
• Taylor: MSU sources are sort of all over the map here in trying to flex on IU but the facts not quite matching their intended story. They want to say that they lead IU because relationships matter more than money to Taylor and that Izzo has a longstanding relationship with ET and his parents. However, they seemed to also say that MSU has a larger NIL offer out than IU does for him and that makes them the clear leader. Honestly, this Izzo recruiting cycle reminds me of what Self is doing and makes me wonder if both are milking their respective donors for putting together one last 5-star studded recruiting class for a last hurrah--or last couple.
• Karvala: Assumption seems to be that there's some ground to make up on Xavier. This should be obvious given he was not really on our radar until this week. I do think the fact that he already had Xavier and Syracuse, dropped Syracuse, and has visits to IU and Cal scheduled for the upcoming several weeks means his Xavier visit is more and more in the past and there's opportunity to cultivate this relationship a bit and he's not sold. If he has a west coast preference, that may keep Cal in the game but as an ACC follower through my divided loyalties my understanding is Cal is a bit of dumpster fire. 
• Thompson: Crickets! Really not much here even from the OSU side...which maybe a no news is good news? Of course, that would also hold for OSU as well.

I won't panic if we miss on our 3 top targets, but it would really feel great to land at least one (ideally 2). Personally it would feel like the program has some juice again if we refuse to allow ourselves to be outbid for Allmond and Taylor, but I appreciate that the staff will need to factor in $$ allocation as they build the roster.

No use crying over spilled milk but this is a moment where it feels like the new staff would've really benefited from coming in last year (when we all knew it was time for a change). Before revenue sharing we had a golden opportunity to build some momentum behind the basketball program. We're gonna have to do it the old fashioned way. Luckily we have a college basketball lifer / grinder in the HC seat now. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 95,871]

Side note on Karvala.  Although he transferred to a prep school in Arizona for his senior year, he's originally from Oregon, WI a town located south of Madison, WI.   Playing in the B1G and the number of games within reasonable distance of family could have a bearing on where he ends up.

[Stuhoo 93,307]

I'm going to speculate without stating a detailed basis for doing so, because the different theories have all been recently discussed in this thread:

I think we get Thompson and one of the four between Allmond, Taylor, Diana, and Karvala.

For me the probability order for IU is:

1. Thompson
2. Allmond
3. Taylor
4. Karvala
5. Diane

[Class of '66 Old Fart 95,871]

The current state of recruiting.

 

[Stuhoo 93,307]

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

The current state of recruiting.