Chase Branham, a standout prospect for the Indiana class of 2027, is set to make waves in his senior season at La Lumiere in La Porte, Indiana. Standing tall at 6-foot-4, Branham has already carved out a reputation as the No. 4 combo guard and the No. 23 player overall in the 2027 class according to 247Sports. This young talent committed to Indiana back on September 20, 2025, and has been turning heads ever since.
Branham made a significant impact during the 2025-26 high school season, leading Logan-Rogersville to a Class 4 state championship in Missouri. His performance in the state semifinal was nothing short of spectacular, dropping 31 points and grabbing seven rebounds to topple Vashon, a team that had dominated with five consecutive state titles and eight in ten years.
The victory over Vashon was a major upset and a testament to Branham's prowess on the court. In the state championship game, he added 15 points to help secure a decisive 72-36 win over Clayton.
This spring, Branham's talents were recognized on a national level as he was selected for the USA Basketball Junior National Team Mini-Camp and the NBPA Top 100 Camp. With his AAU team, KC Run GMC, Branham showcased his shooting skills by hitting 44 percent from beyond the arc, 50 percent from the field, and a perfect 100 percent from the free-throw line over four games. His averages of 16.7 points, 2.8 steals, 1.8 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game highlight his all-around game.
Branham is a versatile guard, capable of playing both positions with ease. His ability to create for teammates, shoot the three off the dribble or catch, and finish at the rim against shot blockers makes him a dynamic threat on the court.
Joining La Lumiere, a school with a storied basketball tradition, Branham is stepping into a program that has been a national powerhouse for years. The Lakers clinched the national championship in 2017, have made ten appearances at the Geico (now Chipotle) Nationals, and consistently rank among the nation's best. Notably, they produced the Naismith National Player of the Year in 2019, Isaiah Stewart.
In the 2025-26 season, La Lumiere finished 11th in ESPN's final national rankings for high school basketball teams. Competing in the fiercely competitive EYBL Scholastic League, the Lakers led in several key statistics, including points per possession and 3-point shooting metrics, while ranking high in points per game and assist to turnover ratio. Branham's addition to this formidable lineup promises to bring even more excitement and potential to an already impressive team.
In Other News...
Indiana Just Landed A Massive National Spotlight Moment
Indiana has a fresh national-stage reminder that its recent rise has reached beyond Bloomington. ESPNs early 2026 ESPY nominations put multiple Indiana-connected figures in the spotlight, with former Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza drawing notice in two separate individual categories and the football program earning a place among the nations top teams. Add former IU basketball standout OG Anunoby to the list, and it becomes a pretty strong showing for an athletic department that has been pushing itself back into bigger conversations.
Mendozas double nomination speaks to how quickly his profile has grown, while the football teams presence in the Best Team field gives the program another platform after a perfect championship run. Indiana will have plenty of company among the nominees, with the category crowded by recent winners and title teams, but just getting into that mix says plenty about where the Hoosiers stand right now. The only real question is how much more hardware this burst of attention can bring back to Bloomington when the awards are handed out. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Lost Another Experienced Arm To The Portal
Indianas pitching depth took another hit this offseason as an experienced arm moved on after one year in Bloomington. The left-handed reliever had already bounced from Delaware to Indiana, and he entered the portal after his latest stop with the Hoosiers, part of the wider roster churn that has become a constant for programs trying to keep veteran bullpen pieces in place.
His departure adds another layer to Indianas search for reliability on the mound, especially with a pitcher who had already logged a few seasons of college baseball and could give a staff some stability. Instead, he is headed to USC for his fifth collegiate season, while the Hoosiers are left to sort through another turnover point as the roster continues to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Vaughn Karvala Faces One Big Test To Earn Indiana Minutes
Vaughn Karvala arrived at Indiana with the kind of profile that usually gets attention right away: a highly regarded freshman who committed and signed in November and brings the athleticism and scoring pop that made him one of the more intriguing names in the class. For the Hoosiers, though, the excitement around his arrival comes with an immediate reality, since freshmen are walking into a roster built around experienced transfers who have already spent multiple years at the high-major level.
That makes Karvalas path to minutes less about reputation than readiness. His talent gives Indiana another upside piece to develop, but the first challenge is simply finding a way to break into the rotation ahead of older, more seasoned options. The Hoosiers will keep watching how he adjusts, because his role could grow quickly if he shows he can handle the physical side of college basketball and keep his game translating against adults. [Read more 🡒]