Indiana is showing interest in a big man they were game planning for a year ago.
Wyoming star center Graham Ike entered the transfer portal earlier this week, and IU is one of several high profile programs to make contact.
He sat out this past season due to a foot injury.
The 6-foot-9 and 255-pound center averaged 19.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists for the Cowboys during the 2021-22 season. According to KenPom, Ike’s usage rate was 35.4 percent, third-highest in the country, he took 33.9 percent of the shots (No. 10), and he drew 7.3 fouls per 40 minutes (No. 5). Ike’s defensive rebounding rate (24.1 percent) was No. 64 in the country.
Ike made 51.5 percent of his two-point shots and 71.6 percent of his free throws. He only attempted nine threes in 2021-22, and he made one.
Against Indiana in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, the left-handed Ike scored 17 points and added nine rebounds.
Ike hails from Aurora, Col., and at least according to On3’s Jamie Shaw, Colorado could be a program to watch in this portal recruitment. On3 ranks Ike as the third best overall player in the portal right now.
Arkansas, Arizona, Arizona State, Butler, Colorado, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, San Diego State, Seton Hall, Tennessee, Xavier, Washington State, and West Virginia all made early contact with Ike upon his entering the portal.
Whatever direction Indiana pushes for a big man, they can make a great case based on the development of Trayce Jackson-Davis under head coach Mike Woodson. That’s something Ike says he’s looking for.
“I want to be coached,” Ike told 247Sports national analyst Brandon Jenkins. “That in addition to post touches, being developed, and being held accountable is what I am looking for.”
If he gets a medical redshirt for the 2022-23 season, Ike should still have three years of eligibility remaining.
Ike graduated from Overland H.S. and was a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com. In AAU, Ike played for the Colorado Hawks.
He was also recruited out of high school by Washington State, Saint Louis, UMass, Air Force, Bucknell, Akron and Loyola Marymount.
See other names to know in the portal:
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