IU basketball recruiting roundup: Hoosiers pushing hard on several members of class of 2022

On the recruiting front, IU basketball has now largely turned its attention to the class of 2022.

The Hoosiers addressed a need with the addition of shooting specialist graduate transfer guard Parker Stewart last week.

And there will be much more noise in the transfer portal in the coming months as the NCAA moved to waive the requirement that transfers sit out a season.

But when it comes to the high school ranks, it is on to 2022.

Priorities going forward seem to be at point guard, adding some length and versatility at the forward positions, and more shooters are always going to be a point of emphasis.

Some of the names that are high on IU’s 2022 hot board are in-state guard C.J. Gunn, forward Alex Karaban, point guard Avery Brown, guard Isaac McKneely, forward A.J. Casey and forward Justin Taylor.

Several other players that IU has been closely involved with in the junior class gave updates over the last week.

IU offered 2022 guard Masai Troutman in August.  The 6-foot-5 Maryland wing fits Indiana’s push for more length and versatility, and he has been hearing from IU regularly.

Troutman told Dushawn London in a national 247Sports report Indiana likes his length and has been in contact almost daily.

“I’ve been in constant contact with head coach Miller and the newest assistant coach Hunter,” Troutman told London.  “I’ve been in contact with them almost every day now and they like the way I play. I’m a bigger sized guard so they all love that about me.”

When Indiana offered Hunter, head coach Archie Miller told him he saw the next Victor Oladipo in the making.

New assistant coach Kenya Hunter is leading the charge for IU with Troutman, and he is pitching a duo.

Troutman told London that Hunter is pushing the idea of him teaming up with fellow Maryland 2022 guard Rodney Rice.

“They feel like me and another DMV kid Rodney Rice could be a good guard duo,” Troutman told London.

Indiana offered Rice in August, and Hunter has been in regular contact with him too according to another London report.

“Their message has been that they like my size as a guard and how they can use me in different ways like on the ball or off the ball. I really like the conference they’re in,” Rice told London about IU.

We brought Chicago area forward Braden Huff to your attention over the summer.

Huff spoke to Brian Snow about Indiana and other schools in another 247Sports national report.

“They’ve just been keeping in contact and telling me that I could help them to shoot at a high level as well as facilitate and score. I just think what’s intriguing about Indiana is the whole state is a big basketball state,” Huff told Snow.

A 6-foot-8 forward that can shoot, IU has clearly been interested in Huff for a while but we are not aware of a formal scholarship to this point.

Indiana did recently offer another 6-foot-8 prolific scoring wing.

Virginia product Tyler Nickel also spoke to London in another national 247Sports report.

Indiana has been pushing hard on Nickel recently, with three different coaches in contact.

“Coach Roberts, Hunter, and obviously coach Miller have all contacted me. … I’ve been watching them and like most college teams, they like to play fast and move the ball. They play fundamentally but at the same time have freedom within their concepts so I like that and that they play to the strengths of their players,” Nickel told London.

To see our interview with Nickel, GO HERE.

WASHINGTON SHINES AT THE FORUM TIP-OFF CLASSIC

Gary West Side forward Jalen Washington is finally playing basketball again.

After injuries cost him most of his freshman season and all of his sophomore campaign, the 5-star from Gary, Ind. is working his way back into peak form.

Below are highlights from Washington at the Forum Tip-off Classic.

IU continues to be heavily involved with the 5-star junior.

To see our in-depth Q&A with Washington, GO HERE.

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