Sunday’s news Indiana was left out of the NCAA Tournament was a heartbreaking end to several college basketball careers.
And for others it marked the beginning of a new phase in their journey.
Where do things stand with the 13 scholarship players on Indiana’s 2024-25 roster?
Let’s quickly touch on each of them.
OUT OF ELIGIBILITY
Anthony Leal – The Bloomington native posted a broken heart on social media when he learned IU had been left out of the Big Dance. This marks the end for Leal, but he finished his playing career living out a childhood dream as a starter for the Hoosiers. “It’s what I always wanted to do,” Leal said last week of this opportunity. Leal is already involved with multiple business interests and could go a number of directions.
Trey Galloway – Like Leal, Galloway spent five years with IU. He transformed his game and became just the seventh Hoosier to reach 1,000 points and 400 assists in their career. Galloway set the new all-time program record for games played. His career should be remembered fondly by IU fans as a player who gave his all. Will he follow his father’s footsteps into coaching, keep playing overseas, of something else?
Oumar Ballo – The 7-footer from Mali probably doesn’t have an NBA career in front of him, but Ballo can certainly play pro basketball somewhere for a long time if that’s the path he chooses. Ballo’s 13 point, 9 rebound per game season at IU was consistent with his two prior seasons.
Langdon Hatton – The Indiana native and Bellarmine transfer wasn’t necessarily expecting a big role in his final college season. But he got opportunities and played at the highest level of the college game before hanging it up.
IN LIMBO
Luke Goode – As we’ve reported extensively here over the last week, Goode will seek a hardship waiver to play a fifth season of college basketball. He says he’d like to do that at Indiana. While he seems like a great foundational piece for the 2025-26 season, the next moves are in the hands of the NCAA and the new coach.
ELIGIBILITY REMAINING
With the season over, the retirement of Mike Woodson is now official. That means all of Indiana’s players with eligibility remaining are currently able to enter the transfer portal due to the coaching change. That’s a minor point, as the portal opens for every college basketball player on March 24.
Under the circumstances, it obviously won’t come as a surprise to see anyone with eligibility remaining enter the portal. And as a reminder, anyone who does enter will be eligible to return if there’s mutual interest with the new coach. There’s obviously a lot that needs to play out here.
Malik Reneau – Reneau has been solid in three seasons at IU, scoring over 1,000 points and pulling down nearly 500 rebounds. Utilized the right way in the right system, he could be a very important piece of the puzzle next season if there’s mutual interest in a return.
Myles Rice – Rice had an up-and-down season at IU, but he probably hasn’t forgotten how to be an all-conference performer like he was a year ago. His speed, his defensive intensity flashed over the last month — those seem like some key attributes a new coach would welcome back if Rice is interested.
Kanaan Carlyle – While there’s obvious potential, Carlyle never seemed confident this year. Perhaps in the right situation — at IU or elsewhere — he can get back on track.
Mackenzie Mgbako – Mgbako has rarely been utilized in the role that obviously fits him best — as a stretch four. He still needs more amateur grooming to be NBA ready, but even after a couple enigmatic seasons you can still see the potential for a long career. Will that continuing development take place in Bloomington?
Jakai Newton – Whatever Newton does next, Indiana fans can rally around the hope that he remains healthy throughout the remainder of his college career and gets a real chance to tap into his immense potential.
Gabe Cupps – After midseason knee surgery, Cupps has a clear case for a medical hardship waiver. That will leave him three seasons of eligibility remaining. He’ll be a strong piece of a program’s culture going forward, whether at IU or elsewhere.
Bryson Tucker – What an interesting season for the McDonald’s All-American, who played in 23 games and averaged 16 minutes — but didn’t play at all in the final six. His next move will be just as interesting.
Dallas James – If you’re wondering why James didn’t participate in Senior Day festivities: He never played this season, meaning he has a redshirt season to utilize somewhere in 2025-26 if he so chooses.
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