Indiana just landed the kind of recruit that changes the tone of a class.
On Tuesday, 2027 five-star center Darius Wabbington announced his commitment to Darian DeVries and the Hoosiers, giving Indiana its highest-ranked high school pledge of the DeVries era. Wabbington picked Indiana over Arizona and Illinois after taking visits to all three finalists, and that alone makes this a major recruiting victory for the new staff.
It also matters because of who Wabbington is. The 6-foot-11 center is ranked No. 13 overall and No. 2 among centers in the 2027 class by the 247Sports Composite, and he was named to the USA Basketball U18 National Team. For DeVries, this is his first five-star commitment and the first top-15 high school prospect he’s landed at Indiana.
Wabbington’s addition gives the Hoosiers something they haven’t had in a while: a true high-end frontcourt commitment straight out of high school. Indiana has leaned heavily on the transfer portal to patch together its big-man rotation in recent years, but Wabbington brings a different kind of value. If he grows into the NBA prospect his skill set hints at, he could become the type of player around whom the program can build both offense and future recruiting momentum.
The appeal starts with the production. As a junior at Sunnyslope High School in Arizona, Wabbington averaged 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. On the Adidas 3SSB Circuit this spring, he posted 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting about 38% from three-point range.
At 6-foot-11 and 255 pounds, he brings more than just size. Wabbington handles the ball well for a player his frame, can pass, and has the kind of shooting range that lets him stretch defenses. That gives DeVries a lot to work with at the college level, whether Wabbington is operating on the block, facilitating from the elbow or pulling opposing bigs away from the rim.
He’s still a work in progress, though. Wabbington is developing as a self-creator, and bigger, longer centers have caused him problems at times during his high school career. Even so, his reported 7-foot-4 wingspan and uncommon offensive feel make him one of the most intriguing big men in the class.
He’s also the first high school center to commit to Indiana since Logan Duncomb chose Mike Woodson out of the 2021 class, which makes this more than just another name on the board.
Wabbington joins four-star, top-25 recruit Chase Branham and German 7-footer Felix Kiehlneker in a 2027 Indiana class that could rise into the top 10 nationally with his commitment. Branham gives the Hoosiers a perimeter headliner, Wabbington anchors the frontcourt, and Kiehlneker adds another developmental 7-footer to the mix.
There’s still plenty that can change before the 2027-28 season, especially in the transfer portal era. For now, though, Indiana has a class with real balance and a centerpiece big man. And if DeVries wants to sell the next elite prospect on Bloomington, he can point to a five-star center already on board.
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