2026 General Recruiting Thread (Bball)

[BA47591]

I'm eager to see your 2027 coverage. 

Jaylen Mitchell, Kenny Lamply, Ben Ly, Cooper Zachary and Jason Gardner Jr look like the clubhouse leaders at their positions. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

'26 Aidan Chronister transferring to Sunrise Christian for next season.  Plays AAU on the Pro16/NXT circuit on the 17U AAO team.

https://www.on3.com/news/4-star-sf-aidan-chronister-updates-his-recruitment-talking-missouri-oklahoma-arkansas-indiana-and-more/

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

The link starts out talking about Meleek Thomas and Kiyan Anthony arranging visits but then talks about '26 Ethan Mgbako and '26 Aidan Chronister.

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/recruiting-roundup-two-2025s-considering-iu-basketball-visits-two-2026-names-to-know/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR38vzPMzkDU8nLUWxR_xZTPK7jxDYKz8f7YWyqGvohXvpxm8wLfnIUkewA_aem_AUabYt-44AGuLvH6vDGGnaoj9EQjCyqeCcBi2MHbj0qbcDgBHajBbs-GYorNIULbxOEcBjCaGFGyhvHOXc9hubXE

[Demo]

1 hour ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

The link starts out talking about Meleek Thomas and Kiyan Anthony arranging visits but then talks about '26 Ethan Mgbako and '26 Aidan Chronister.

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/recruiting-roundup-two-2025s-considering-iu-basketball-visits-two-2026-names-to-know/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR38vzPMzkDU8nLUWxR_xZTPK7jxDYKz8f7YWyqGvohXvpxm8wLfnIUkewA_aem_AUabYt-44AGuLvH6vDGGnaoj9EQjCyqeCcBi2MHbj0qbcDgBHajBbs-GYorNIULbxOEcBjCaGFGyhvHOXc9hubXE

Chronister had a hug weekend at NXT a couple of weeks ago and now his name’s everywhere. Not like he wasn’t already a big deal, but, man, has he taken off.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

2026 PROSPECTS: TOMORROW NIGHT AT 12 AM EST IS THE START OF THE INITIAL CONTACT DAY.

Always interesting to see who the staff reaches out to in the first 48 hours or so.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

The midnight witching hour arrived and more for fun than anything else I'll try to keep a running log of who we've reportedly contacted.  Keep in mind this is not an all-inclusive list, just names I've seen mentioned by various sources.    I'll update it this evening.  FYI the first 5 names have IU offers.

1. Taylen Kinney
2. Sam Funches
3. Jalen Montonati
4. Gabe Sularski
5. Steven Reynolds
6. Caleb Holt SF - Buckhorn HS, New Market, AL
7. Jordan Smith SG - Paul VI HS, Fairfax, VA
8. Jayden Hodge SF - St. Rose HS, Belmar, NJ
9. Dean Rueckert SF - Timpview HS, Provo, UT

[MemphisHoosier]

Appreciate the yeoman's work here @Class of '66 Old Fart!

[Demo]

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

The midnight witching hour arrived and more for fun than anything else I'll try to keep a running log of who we've reportedly contacted.  Keep in mind this is not an all-inclusive list, just names I've seen mentioned by various sources.    I'll update it this evening.  FYI the first 5 names have IU offers.

1. Taylen Kinney
2. Sam Funches
3. Jalen Montonati
4. Gabe Sularski
5. Steven Reynolds
6. Caleb Holt SF - Buckhorn HS, New Market, AL
7. Jordan Smith SG - Paul VI HS, Fairfax, VA
8. Jayden Hodge SF - St. Rose HS, Belmar, NJ
9. Dean Rueckert SF - Timpview HS, Provo, UT

Will be really interested to see how Jordan Smith develops. Great athlete with some skill projectability, but he’s 3 or 4 years ahead of his class, physically. If you watched a Paul VI game last year and didn’t know which kid was a Soph there was no way you were landing on him. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

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

The midnight witching hour arrived and more for fun than anything else I'll try to keep a running log of who we've reportedly contacted.  Keep in mind this is not an all-inclusive list, just names I've seen mentioned by various sources.    I'll update it this evening.  FYI the first 5 names have IU offers.

1. Taylen Kinney
2. Sam Funches
3. Jalen Montonati
4. Gabe Sularski
5. Steven Reynolds
6. Caleb Holt SF - Buckhorn HS, New Market, AL
7. Jordan Smith SG - Paul VI HS, Fairfax, VA
8. Jayden Hodge SF - St. Rose HS, Belmar, NJ
9. Dean Rueckert SF - Timpview HS, Provo, UT

Additional names we've contacted.  The first 3 have IU offers.  Probably hear some more names tomorrow.

1. Jayden Johnson
2. Manny Green
3. Gabe Weis
4. Aidan Chronister (SF) - Sunrise Christian 
5. DeZhon Hall (PG) - Indpls. Pike
6. Lincoln Williams (SG) - Kankakee, IL

 

 

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Only seen 1 additional name since last night's update.

Deron Rippey, Jr. (PG) - Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ

 

And while it's mildly interesting so see the names we first contact, in the grand scheme of recruiting probably not that big of a deal.  FWIW here's some of the '25 names we contacted last year when direct contact became possible.  Of that group only Tyler Jackson has received an offer and most of these names have dropped off the radar.

• Dezmon Briscoe
• Amare Bynum
• Niko Bundalo
• Derek Dixon
• Hudson Greer
• R. J. Greer
• Bryce Head
• Tyler Jackson
• Ty Jordan
• Greg Lawson
• Nyk Lewis
• Bradley Longcor
• Kellen Pickett
• Jalen Rougier-Roane
• Landon Vanderwarker
• Cam Ward

 

 

[BA47591]

There's 3 Kentucky kids id like to add to Thompson in 26'. Tay Kinney being one. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Deron Rippey is the USA U17 training camp.  Jamie Shaw's comments.

Good things seemed to happen when Deron Rippey was on the floor. Listed at 6-foot-1, the point guard got anywhere on the floor he wanted, touching the paint consistently, and making a play. Rippey plays with an excellent pace, and he does not force things, moving the ball and relocating. Defensively, Rippey shined as well. He was able to heat the ball up, guarding for 94 feet on each possession. He also made a couple of spot threes on relocation kickouts. Through both sessions, Rippey’s team played together and they won, the floor general elevated the play of those around him.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Gavin Lightning (W) a dual sport athlete attends Hilliard Bradley HS in Hilliard, OH has been contacted by our staff.

[Demo]

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

Gavin Lightning (W) a dual sport athlete attends Hilliard Bradley HS in Hilliard, OH has been contacted by our staff.

His name is Gavin Lightning? Outstanding. Also, love me the multi-sport kids.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

46 minutes ago, Demo said:

His name is Gavin Lightning? Outstanding. Also, love me the multi-sport kids.

6'6"  210 lbs.  TE and DE on the football team.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

The Daily Hoosier's list of IU contacts includes a name I did not see previously reported.  Jeremiah Jackson (W) who attends St. Xavier HS in Louisville, KY.

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-basketball-recruiting-heres-eight-new-names-to-know-in-the-class-of-2026/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2rGLecMI2amd0ZYunXbOiexOEgPWLvQN7mJfi5_91AjWmMUK1xwafwlHM_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

[Demo]

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

The Daily Hoosier's list of IU contacts includes a name I did not see previously reported.  Jeremiah Jackson (W) who attends St. Xavier HS in Louisville, KY.

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-basketball-recruiting-heres-eight-new-names-to-know-in-the-class-of-2026/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2rGLecMI2amd0ZYunXbOiexOEgPWLvQN7mJfi5_91AjWmMUK1xwafwlHM_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

Never heard of him. This’ll be fun to dig into.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

To the best of my knowledge here's an updated list of IU contacts since June 15th.   Jonathan Sanderson's name (has IU offer)  just surfaced earlier today.

• Jonathan Sanderson
• Jayden Johnson
• Manny Green
• Gabe Weis
• Taylen Kinney
• Sam Funches
• Jalen Montonati
• Gabe Sularski
• Steven Reynolds
• Caleb Holt SF - Buckhorn HS, New Market, AL
• Jordan Smith SG - Paul VI HS, Fairfax, VA
• Jayden Hodge SF - St. Rose HS, Belmar, NJ
• Dean Rueckert SF - Timpview HS, Provo, UT
• Gavin Lightning (W) - Hilliard Bradley HS, Hilliard, OH
• Deron Rippey, Jr. (PG) - Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ
• Jeremiah Jackson (W) - St. Xavier HS, Louisville, KY
• Aidan Chronister (SF) - Sunrise Christian 
• DeZhon Hall (PG) - Indpls. Pike
• Lincoln Williams (SG) - Kankakee, IL

[Demo]

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

To the best of my knowledge here's an updated list of IU contacts since June 15th.   Jonathan Sanderson's name (has IU offer)  just surfaced earlier today.

• Jonathan Sanderson
• Jayden Johnson
• Manny Green
• Gabe Weis
• Taylen Kinney
• Sam Funches
• Jalen Montonati
• Gabe Sularski
• Steven Reynolds
• Caleb Holt SF - Buckhorn HS, New Market, AL
• Jordan Smith SG - Paul VI HS, Fairfax, VA
• Jayden Hodge SF - St. Rose HS, Belmar, NJ
• Dean Rueckert SF - Timpview HS, Provo, UT
• Gavin Lightning (W) - Hilliard Bradley HS, Hilliard, OH
• Deron Rippey, Jr. (PG) - Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ
• Jeremiah Jackson (W) - St. Xavier HS, Louisville, KY
• Aidan Chronister (SF) - Sunrise Christian 
• DeZhon Hall (PG) - Indpls. Pike
• Lincoln Williams (SG) - Kankakee, IL

Montonati and Rippey are both finalists for the U17 National team. Pretty impressive for rising juniors.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Another name contacted -- Brennan Miller - Lawrence North HS