Indiana’s week in Peru ended with gold, and the FISU America Games gave a useful look at how a handful of future Hoosiers handled live reps on Team USA. Over four games, the group ran through the tournament and finished Monday with a win over the Virgin Islands. Not every player came away with the same kind of momentum, but there was enough in Lima to sort through who looked ready and who still has work to do.
Markus Burton had the roughest stretch of the bunch. He shot 11-for-25 from the floor and just 1-for-6 from beyond the arc, finishing the event at 7.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
Among the nine players being graded, Burton scored the fewest points. That said, the trip doesn’t erase what he already is: a proven high-major guard with career averages of 19.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals.
The bigger issue in Peru was that the inefficiency came with turnovers, as he forced pocket passes into tight windows, sprayed errant throws and looked both careless and over-aggressive at different moments. Even so, he still enters 2026-27 as one of the Big Ten’s best lead guards.
Bryce Lindsay’s main issue was the jumper. He finished just 7-for-24 from deep, which comes out to 29.2 percent, but that’s the kind of number that can swing quickly.
The broader track record still matters here, and Lindsay’s career mark of 37.7 percent from three, along with 167 made triples at the Division 1 level, carries plenty of weight. What also stood out was how much more he showed beyond spotting up.
He looked capable of sliding over to point guard and starting offense if needed, even if Burton and freshman standout Prince-Alexander Moody may keep that role limited.
Moody was one of the biggest winners in the event. The freshman averaged 12.3 points and 4.5 assists, shot well inside and outside the arc, and hit 11-for-24 from three.
He created for others, looked dangerous in transition and was a constant problem on defense. His hands were active, his on-ball pressure was relentless and he finished with 1.8 steals per game.
Indiana got exactly what it wanted from him: energy, playmaking and disruption.
Darren Harris had a more uneven trip, though that fits his profile as a shooter. He hit 7-for-22 from deep, or 31.8 percent, and also chipped in 2.0 assists per game.
Indiana will like the way he looked for Aiden Sherrell in mismatches, something that should matter even more in 2026-27. Harris also averaged 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals, but he wasn’t especially strong defensively or on the glass.
Jaeden Mustaf’s athletic edge was obvious from the start. He is explosive, fast off the dribble and dangerous in the open floor.
Most of his 9.3 points per game came on drives, and he also finished with 26 total rebounds, which ranked second on the team. The perimeter shot still needs work, and his 9-for-14 showing at the free-throw line wasn’t ideal, but his slashing and rebounding gave Indiana a real jolt.
Vaughn Karvala had the cleanest all-around week of the group. He led the team with 65 points, an average of 16.3 per game, and did it with strong efficiency from the floor and from deep.
He defended well, kept mistakes to a minimum and generally looked like the most polished player in the event. If there’s a small nitpick, it’s the rebound total - 3.3 per game - but that hardly changes how strong his tournament was.
Trevor Manhertz also made a strong impression by staying efficient and steady. He shot 11-for-17, which works out to 64.7 percent, and hit half his threes.
He didn’t force shots, rebounded well, passed the ball with purpose and defended with effort. There were moments when a little more assertiveness might have been nice, but his willingness to fit into a team-first role, even in blowouts, was a good sign.
Trent Sisley filled a similar connector role. He missed only five shots all tournament, scored 9.3 points per game, pulled down 5.3 rebounds per game and gave Indiana a physical defensive presence.
One thing that stood out, though, was the same issue that followed him through 2025-26: the jumper. Even though he came into college with a reputation as a shooter, he was hesitant to let it fly from deep in Peru and instead leaned into drives, which he converted often enough.
Aiden Sherrell walked away with Tournament MVP honors after putting up 14.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. He shot 61.5 percent from the field and made three threes, though that came at 33.3 percent from long range.
More than the numbers, though, Sherrell looked like a player who knew exactly how to use his size. He got to the block in one dribble over and over, powered through defenders and finished at the rim.
He also mixed in enough of the tougher, less polished shots that this event was meant to test, giving Indiana a chance to see what he might have to lean on against Big Ten defenses.
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