2026 General Recruiting Thread (Bball)

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Visited a couple of times.  No idea if the new staff will have any interest or not.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Absolutely no idea with a new sheriff in town if Hall would be a player of interest or not so this is just a FWIW,.

6’3” 2026 G DeZhon Hall (@HallDezhon) of Phenom United 3SSB 17u had 20 points and 4 assists in an 83-66 win over All Ohio Red EYBL

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Just a general FYI.  We've had reports that Coach Adams was on the road to see a couple of targets this past week but don't be shocked when you don't see any more reports of such visits.  Starting May 1 and running thru June 30 the biggest majority of that time is an NCAA Quiet Period --  no off-campus in-person visits or evaluations.  They can visit IU but we can't visit the recruit.  And May 21 thru June 1 is a Dead Period - no contact or visits on or off-campus.  May 16-18 is an Evaluation Period and it coincides with the 3 major shoe circuits events and coaching staffs will be out in droves.  That's when we'll start getting a true sense for who our new staff is targeting.

EYBL in Memphis, TN

3SSB in Council Bluffs, IA

UAA in Hamilton, OH

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Overall high school recruiting is in a state of flux to say the least with a new head coach in charge.  The Daily Hoosier has provided a nice summary and as I've said before by the end of May we'll have a good handle on who the new staff is prioritizing.

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/first-look-indianas-class-of-2020-and-2021-prospects/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR44NQ6EZvDC1FjX1t89Jx-E0C5NXEqzyhs5DuhnCV1xnoxidJOSz-BuIGB4ew_aem_SgyZos9b6E0mdSAcUMpm9Q

[BA47591]

I'm getting into my initial scouting mindset for the year before the summer aau season kicks off. I like tough, salty defensive guys with chips on their shoulder. 

I wanna see:

•Omari Scott 6'5" 190, plays all three perimeter spots, just transfered to Worcester Academy • Manny Green• Dylan Mingo

I need to get out and see Adkins  and Jordan Smith too. 

 

[Demo]

8 minutes ago, BA47591 said:

I'm getting into my initial scouting mindset for the year before the summer aau season kicks off. I like tough, salty defensive guys with chips on their shoulder. 

I wanna see:

•Omari Scott 6'5" 190, plays all three perimeter spots, just transfered to Worcester Academy • Manny Green• Dylan Mingo

I need to get out and see Adkins  and Jordan Smith too. 

 

Smith’s an interesting case. I watched a fair amount of him as a freshman and didn’t love him as much as most because I had him pegged as an early maturer because he looked 3 years ahead of his class physically. Turns out he wasn’t, he’s just a straight physical freak. Kid’s 17 and got the body and athleticism of a grown man. 

[schoosier]

In today’s age of NIL and older players being more developed and dominant; I’m not sure I understand much focus being on high school athletes unless they are game changers or home grown products. Chances are good these younger players still need to develop just in time to leave you for more NIL. Whereas you can cherry pick these developed players from mid majors and sprinkle in pros. I’m of the mindset of Papa Pitino where he’s recruiting few high schoolers and focusing on mature and developed seasoned players. 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

One thing that is clear with these offers, is DeVries isn't set on being a Transfer Portal guy.  Clearly looking to go after top rated Freshman.  Maybe more cost effective than the Portal.  Need both.  Does youth win? etc etc.  Liking the offers though.  nice looking players.  

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Clark and Johnson making their mark early on the recruiting trail.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Quick summary of the ranking of the '26 offers that have been extended or reaffirmed by our new staff.  Wilkins doesn't have an offer but if we're trying to get him to visit, you'd think an offer would be forthcoming.

2026 OFFERS	247	2026 OFFERS	Rivals	2026 OFFERS	On3	2026 OFFERS	ESPN
Jordan Smith	6	Caleb Holt	3	Jordan Smith	4	Jordan Smith	4
Caleb Holt	7	Jordan Smith	5	Anthony Thompson	5	Caleb Holt	7
Anthony Thompson	9	Caleb Gaskins	13	Caleb Holt	7	Caleb Gaskins	13
Caleb Gaskins	11	Anthony Thompson	14	Taylen Kinney	18	Sebastian Wilkins	17
Taylen Kinney	14	Taylen Kinney	20	Caleb Gaskins	24	Taylen Kinney	21
Davion Adkins	23	Sebastian Wilkins	24	Davion Adkins	30	Anthony Thompson	24
Sebastian Wilkins	31	Ethan Taylor	28	Ethan Taylor	34	Davion Adkins	32
Ethan Taylor	72	Davion Adkins	37	Sebastian Wilkins	56	Ethan Taylor	76
Prince Alexander-Moody	121	Prince Alexander-Moody	103	Prince Alexander-Moody	na	Prince Alexander-Moody	na

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Sammy Jackson's AAU stats from the April EYBL event.

Sammy Jackson '26 - Team Final
Date			Pts	FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	Reb	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk
4/25  W			11	5	10	1	2	0	0	6	7	2	2	0
4/26  W			11	4	7	1	4	2	2	4	4	2	1	0
4/27  L			17	6	13	2	5	3	5	2	1	2	1	0
Count/Avg	3		13.0	50%		36%		71%		4.0	4.0	2.0	1.3	0.0

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

No idea if he's at all on the DDV radar but '26 DeZhon Hall's putting up some good AAU numbers.

• 20pts 4asst vs All Ohio Red
• 18pts 5asst vs Wildcat Select
• 22pts 4asst vs MidPro Academy
• 19pts vs Upward Stars
• 18pts 4asst vs Game Elite 

 

[mike vannice]

N0 idea if we still have interest in him but Neoklis Avdalas is visiting Virginia Tech this weekend. So maybe the college route is still an option for him. Would be an interesting pick up. A 6' 8" guard/forward from Greece.

[HoosierHoopster]

On 5/9/2025 at 7:30 AM, schoosier said:

In today’s age of NIL and older players being more developed and dominant; I’m not sure I understand much focus being on high school athletes unless they are game changers or home grown products. Chances are good these younger players still need to develop just in time to leave you for more NIL. Whereas you can cherry pick these developed players from mid majors and sprinkle in pros. I’m of the mindset of Papa Pitino where he’s recruiting few high schoolers and focusing on mature and developed seasoned players. 

Just my view but need balance. Not just running around every year trying to build whole teams.
If DeVries is successful as expected, team builds, you’re going to get loyalty. Not at the level of continuity pre-NIL, but coupled with rewarding key players with good NIL packages, core loyalty. Already see this to an extent in some teams, or look at someone like Chloe on the women’s team. Time will tell on DeVries, but I think we’ll see team building including some really good HS players, and if you don’t do that, you’ll also miss on the occasional next dominant frosh who you otherwise might’ve landed, shooting oneself in the foot out of the gate never a good idea

[schoosier]

4 hours ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Just my view but need balance. Not just running around every year trying to build whole teams.
If DeVries is successful as expected, team builds, you’re going to get loyalty. Not at the level of continuity pre-NIL, but coupled with rewarding key players with good NIL packages, core loyalty. Already see this to an extent in some teams, or look at someone like Chloe on the women’s team. Time will tell on DeVries, but I think we’ll see team building including some really good HS players, and if you don’t do that, you’ll also miss on the occasional next dominant frosh who you otherwise might’ve landed, shooting oneself in the foot out of the gate never a good idea

I would say that’s fair but let’s look at the kid from Missouri we’re recruiting as example. Just watched a couple videos and he appears Grayson Mullins 2.0. So if he accepts you have a freshman coming in that can use seasoning and bulk to probably contribute year 2 or you just go recruit the actual Grayson Mullins in year 2 with NIL and a year Hurley paid to develop. Unless they are true difference makers or hometown or legacy kids, I wouldn’t be handing out scholarship offers to < the very top players. 

[go iu bb]

4 hours ago, schoosier said:

I would say that’s fair but let’s look at the kid from Missouri we’re recruiting as example. Just watched a couple videos and he appears Grayson Mullins 2.0. So if he accepts you have a freshman coming in that can use seasoning and bulk to probably contribute year 2 or you just go recruit the actual Grayson Mullins in year 2 with NIL and a year Hurley paid to develop. Unless they are true difference makers or hometown or legacy kids, I wouldn’t be handing out scholarship offers to < the very top players. 

If they're going after Grayson Mullins 2.0, they want to have an extremely physical defense. New definition of a lock down defender.

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Nice summary of our '26 offers from Trevor Andershock.

https://247sports.com/college/indiana/longformarticle/indiana-hoosiers-basketball-class-of-2026-recruiting-board-249778224/#2647285

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Raby reports Drew and KJ watched Arafan Diane (Iowa United -3SSB).  Listed at 6'11" and 280 lbs.  Of note, he was extended an offer by WVU while DDV was still head coach.  In this game he scored 23 pts and was 2-3 on 3s.

247

His stats from the April AAU event.

Arafan Diane '26 - Iowa United
Date			Pts	FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	Reb	Ast	TO	Blk	Stl
5/2-5/4	4		15.3	83%		50%		59%		10.0	0.5	0.0	0.5	0

[go iu bb]

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

Raby reports Drew and KJ watched Arafan Diane (Iowa United -3SSB).  Listed at 6'11" and 280 lbs.  Of note, he was extended an offer by WVU while DDV was still head coach.  In this game he scored 23 pts and was 2-3 on 3s.

247

His stats from the April AAU event.

Arafan Diane '26 - Iowa United
Date			Pts	FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	Reb	Ast	TO	Blk	Stl
5/2-5/4	4		15.3	83%		50%		59%		10.0	0.5	0.0	0.5	0

They watched him again yesterday. I wonder if they'll offer soon. He has some range.