Indiana’s 2027 class is officially on the board.
The Hoosiers announced Wednesday that guard Chase Branham has signed his letter of intent, locking in the 6-foot-4 prospect who first committed to Indiana in September of 2025. Branham was the program’s first pledge in the class of 2027.
Under head coach Darian DeVries, Branham arrives as a four-star guard and the 10th-highest ranked Hoosier recruit in the 247Sports era.
Branham is listed at 6-4, 185 pounds and hails from Rogersville, Mo., though he spent his senior season at La Lumiere School in Indiana. His national rankings come in at No. 28 on ESPN, No. 25 on 247Sports and No. 38 on Rivals.
His résumé is packed with production. At Logan-Rogersville, he was a three-year letterwinner for coach John Schaefer and earned 2026 MaxPreps Small-Town All-American honors.
As a junior, he averaged 21.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.2 stelas per game while shooting 61.7% from the floor, 41.1% from 3-point range and 84.8% at the line. He also helped lead the Wildcats to the 2026 Class 4A state title and dropped 31 points in a semifinal upset of Vashon.
After transferring to La Lumiere, Branham continued to put up numbers on the Under Armour circuit for KC Run GMC in 2026, posting 18.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He shot 41% from beyond the arc and 94% from the free throw line, earned All-UAA First Team honors and was named Under Armour Next City Classic MVP. He also attended USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team minicamps in 2025 and 2026.
DeVries had high praise for his newest signee.
“Chase is a dynamic playmaker that is effective at all three levels. Because of his work ethic and love for the game, he continues to push himself to new levels and has developed multi-dimensional skills.
As good of a player that Chase is, he is an even better person and exemplifies all the attributes that we want our program to be about. It is exciting that Chase is officially a Hoosier and we cannot wait for him to get to Bloomington.”
Branham is the son of Lori and Nick Branham. He has one sister, Brooke, and one brother, Jake, and was born on Sept. 5, 2008.
In Other News...
Lincoln Riley Just Sent Indiana A Message Before Bloomington Showdown
Lincoln Riley had plenty of praise for Indiana as USC turns its attention toward a trip to Bloomington, and the message was clear enough: this is not a matchup the Trojans can treat casually. Asked about the Hoosiers, Riley pointed to an experienced defense and the kind of coaching continuity that can make a team harder to prepare for, while also showing respect for Curt Cignettis program.
For Indiana, the compliments matter because they come with a reminder of what usually decides games at this level: which team can bring the same standard from one week to the next. Riley said consistency is the challenge, and that is exactly the sort of test the Hoosiers want in a high-profile home game, where a strong defensive identity and steady coaching should give them a chance to make USC earn everything. [Read more 🡒]
Tobi Osunsanmi May Decide Whether Indiana Can Survive USCs Attack
USC brings one of the Big Tens most dangerous passing attacks into this matchup, and Indianas best answer may come from the front line. The Trojans have leaned on quarterback Jayden Maiava to drive the offense, while the Hoosiers have built their defensive identity around getting pressure and disrupting timing before a play can fully develop.
Tobi Osunsanmi is at the center of that challenge. Indiana has to find a way to make USC uncomfortable early and often, because if Maiava settles in, the Trojans can turn a game fast through the air. The Hoosiers have shown they can defend at a high level, but this one may hinge on whether Osunsanmi and the pass rush can force USC out of rhythm before the secondary has to hold up for long stretches. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Young Talent Faces A Brutal Indiana Test With Everything At Stake
USCs freshmen have already been thrown into some meaningful moments this season, and Lincoln Riley says those reps matter as the calendar turns to November and the stakes rise. Ahead of a key matchup with No. 9 Indiana, Riley pointed to the experience his young players have picked up in pressure spots, a sign that the Trojans are leaning on that growth as they try to stay in the hunt for the Big Ten Championship and a College Football Playoff berth.
Indianas defensive line is the next major test, and Riley made it clear that challenge is part of what makes this stage of the season so demanding. He also sounded confident that USC can handle the spotlight in games of this size, but the Hoosiers are the kind of opponent that can expose whether a young roster is truly ready for the grind of a November run. [Read more 🡒]