Darian DeVries and his IU basketball staff have made a splash this week with one of the nation’s best transfer portal hauls.
But the Hoosiers still have three open spots on the roster as of Friday morning.
And while they appear to have a solid first six or seven players, there are still some rotational and backstop needs that need to be addressed.
The good news, IU has not only added talent this portal cycle, but they already have a functioning team, with starting caliber players at each position.
But in at least two ways, Indiana has done the easy part so far. It’s easy to sell a starting role, and it’s easy when you have a mountain of cash. But finding competent, Big Ten caliber talent for limited minutes while ostensibly on a budget? Yeah, that’s more difficult.
But one way or another, IU needs to add depth across the board. Nothing goes according plan, and how they complete this roster may end up defining their ceiling in 2026-27.
Here are some thoughts on their rotation and needs at each role.
CENTER
Samet Yiğitoğlu from SMU looks like Indiana’s starting center for 2026-27. He may be the tallest player in program history at 7-foot-2. To this point he has not played more than 30 minutes per game on average in a season, and he was called for 4.5 fouls per 40 minutes in 2025-26. So there are open minutes at the five.
Aiden Sherrell from Alabama looks like a hybrid power forward/center for the Hoosiers. He’ll almost certainly start at the four alongside Yiğitoğlu. And at 6-foot-11 and 255 pounds, Sherrell can roll over to the five when Yiğitoğlu is out of the game.
But that’s it for players who, on IU’s current roster, could even conceivably play the five. If/when they run into foul trouble or injuries, there’s really nowhere to turn.
So the top need is more Big Ten size. A rotational 6-foot-10 plus body with a big frame who can absorb contact, rebound and rim protect is still a clear need.
POWER FORWARD/STRETCH FOUR
As mentioned, Sherrell is your starter in this role. But what about when he plays center? What about overall depth at the critical role that helps space the floor in DeVries’ open offense?
Sophomore Trent Sisley is the top option at the moment. He’s listed at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds but seems a bit undersized for the role against high major opponents. Sisley is a good rebounder for his size and has a great motor. But he’s a bit of a combo-forward at this level.
IU is listing freshman Trevor Manhertz at 6-foot-8, so in theory he’s another contender here. But they also list him at 185 pounds. He’s unlikely to be ready for the physicality of college basketball this year, at least at the four.
Indiana could still use a depth piece in this role to at least compete with Sisley for minutes.
SMALL FORWARD/SHOOTING GUARD
Several players fit the description of off the ball wings.
Jaeden Mustaf (Georgia Tech), Darren Harris (Duke) and Vaughn Karvala (freshman) fit this description in the classical sense, while Bryce Lindsay (Villanova) and Prince-Alexander Moody (freshman) have combo-guard skills but will likely spend most of their time off the ball.
Not to mention, Sisley and Manhertz could both play the three at times.
That’s a lot of bodies for two spots. It’s likely the least of IU’s needs at the moment. But it is worth noting that only Lindsay has made threes at a high rate on high volume in college among this group, and that remains a bit of a concern. Harris will likely alleviate those concerns but hasn’t to this point in his career.
So it wouldn’t come as a total shock if IU took a flyer on a shooting specialist from a lower level of college basketball, or an international prospect, just to add some insurance. Someone with a defensive reputation wouldn’t be the worst idea either.
POINT GUARD
Markus Burton from Notre Dame will be the starting point guard for IU. He has averaged 33 minutes per game for his college career, so at most IU is looking for 10 minutes per game for a backup point guard.
Lindsay slid over to the one when Acaden Lewis was off the floor for Villanova last year, and he’ll likely do the same for Indiana this year. So between Lindsay and Burton, the role should be covered.
But again, what about when injuries or foul trouble come into play?
Mustaf has some primary ball handler skills, as does Moody, so they both could be options.
But IU could still use another classical point guard, who confidently handles the ball against pressure, looks to facilitate first, and can stay in front of opposing ones on defense. There won’t be a lot of minutes here, so this would be a role for an up-and-comer if the staff can find one.
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