After spending the week with IU basketball in Peru, Sam Alexis has won an injunction in a Tennessee court to play a fifth season of college basketball.
The news comes just days after head coach Darian DeVries said Indiana was open to a late roster addition to the team.
It is not yet clear if Alexis will play for Indiana. An Indiana spokesperson declined to comment on the developing situation. There is no indication Alexis entered the transfer portal during the April window. The court order also requires the NCAA to open the transfer portal Aug. 3-10, which would seem to allow Alexis to pursue opportunities at other schools.
The 6-foot-9 and 240-pound Alexis played in three games for Team USA (Indiana) in Lima at the FISU America Games and produced 39 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks while shooting 18-of-22 (81.8%) from the field.
The Hoosiers have 6-foot-11 Aiden Sherrell and 7-foot-2 Samet Yigitoglu as probable starters in 2026-27. As a veteran high-major player with experience in DeVries’ system, Alexis could provide a major boost to the depth and overall outlook for this year’s team.
Alexis spent one season with Indiana and etched his name in the program record book. His 68.7 field goal percentage is the best single season ever by an IU player on 100 or more attempts.
After transferring in from Florida, Alexis played in all 32 games and started the final 23 for the Hoosiers. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 21.3 minutes per game.
Alexis also made a personal best 72.5% (50-of-69) from the free throw line, had a team-best 50 dunks, posted 13 games with 10-plus points, and eight games with at least eight rebounds.
Alexis was on a college basketball roster for four seasons. He sought injunctive relief after the NCAA recently passed a prospective five-year eligibility rule but did not extend that option to players who exhausted their eligibility in the 2025-26 year under the old rules.
The court order Alexis is party to also enjoins the NCAA from enforcing sanctions under the Rule of Restitution against any school Alexis plays for in 2026-27.
Another member of the 2025-26 IU team, Reed Bailey, is also seeking relief in the courts to play this season.
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