This is profile No. 5 in our 2021 transfer portal names to know series.
The retention of assistant coach Kenya Hunter gives Indiana a strong recruiting presence in the Washington D.C. / Baltimore metropolitan area, and that has no doubt played a role in IU reaching out to one of the best shooters in the transfer portal.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reported that IU contacted Baltimore, Md (McDonogh H.S.). based Florida junior Noah Locke
Locke is ranked No. 9 in Florida program history with 217 3-pointers. He started all but one game this season for the Gators and averaged 10.6 points and shot 42.5 percent overall, just over 40 percent from deep and and 77.8 percent from the free throw line to go with 2.3 rebounds and just 17 assists over 25 games. Locke exited his career in Gainesville just 77 points shy of the 1,000-point milestone.
A three-year starter, the 6-foot-3 and 203 pound Locke was at his best as a sophomore. He shot 48 percent from 3-point range in SEC play, tied for the highest in league play since 1996 (minimum 50 attempts).
IU didn’t offer Locke a scholarship when he was in high school, but the top-80 recruit was heavily targeted by high-majors and he took a close look at a couple Big Ten programs. In addition to Florida he also visited Ohio State, Michigan, Providence and Xavier. Locke played for Team Melo on the Nike EYBL AAU circuit.
New head coach Mike Woodson has already stated repeatedly that 3-point shooting will be central to his offensive attack., so from that perspective Locke is a clear fit. Locke has said publicly that he is looking to take on more of the scoring load at his next step after finishing fifth in points per game in Gainesville in 2020-21. Therefore, Indiana guard Armaan Franklin’s own transfer portal decision is likely to impact how attractive IU appears to Locke.
Locke’s 2019-20 highlights are below.
More transfer portal names to know:
- Xavier Johnson (Pittsburgh) | Indiana in Johnson’s final four
- Jalen Cone (Virginia Tech)
- Wendell Green (Eastern Kentucky)
- Cole Swider (Villanova –> Syracuse)
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