Quick IU basketball recruiting notes as staff looks for final pieces of 2026-27 roster

Cal State Fullerton forward Ben Winker is a name to know on the IU basketball front as the staff looks to add depth in the frontcourt.

Winker took a visit to Indiana this week.

The 6-foot-10 and 230-pound Winker played sparingly for the Titans as a true freshman in 2025-26. He averaged .9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 4.4 minutes a contest, appearing in eight games.

Bradley was a school involved in his high school recruitment. Winker attended Chaminade H.S. in St. Louis, Mo. IU staffer Mike Bargen was at Bradley at the time. Several members of the IU staff, including head coach Darian DeVries and assistants Rod Clark and Nick Norton have connections in St. Louis.

Lindenwood, SIUE, Florida Gulf Coast, and Southeast Missouri State offered Winker, who was a 3-star prospect and the No. 64 center in the 2025 class. During his time in High School, Winker has played four-years on the varsity team while helping lead the program to three district championships and two final four appearances.

Winker looks like a developmental big man who could provide support in practice while given a chance to improve. He’ll have three years of eligibility left, maybe four if the anticipated five-year rule passes.

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Last week we did a quick profile on a new target in the class of 2026 — power forward Ladarius Givan.

Sam Kayser of League Ready reported Givan was planning to visit Bloomington.

It sounds like Indiana focused its attention elsewhere.

Givan was going to visit IU after Central Florida. He next visited Seton Hall instead.

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Villanova transfer guard Bryce Lindsay was on campus this week for an official visit.

Lindsay announced his commitment to IU last month. An official visit after a commitment is not uncommon in the speed-dating world of the transfer portal.

Lindsay will be back in Bloomington in a few weeks with the rest of his new teammates. Here are some photos and video from Lindsay’s visit: