Darian DeVries is still chasing his first 5-star commit since taking over at Indiana, but the Hoosiers are in the mix for a pair of elite frontcourt prospects who could change the feel of the program’s recruiting future.
That push comes as the top names in the 2026 and 2027 classes begin lining up visits. Indiana already has one 5-star visit locked in, and DeVries’ staff is working to get more on the calendar as the program tries to keep building momentum after adding a trio of 4-star prospects in its latest class.
The biggest name on the board right now is Darius Wabbington, a Phoenix native who checks in at 6-foot-11 and 245 pounds. Rivals ranks him as the No. 2 center and No. 14 overall player in the country, and Indiana has already made his final list. Wabbington is set to take an official visit to Bloomington on September 5, with Arizona, Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisville and Texas also still in the hunt.
For DeVries, the fit is obvious. Indiana needed more size and skill at the 4 and 5 spots in his first season, and he’s already started addressing that through the transfer portal by landing 6-foot-11 power forward Aiden Sherrell from Alabama and 7-foot-2 center Samet Yigitoglu from SMU. But the next step is bringing that kind of talent in through high school recruiting, and Wabbington would be a huge way to do it.
His game matches what makes DeVries’ offense tick. Wabbington brings elite athleticism, can handle the ball with guard-like ability, scores in the paint, can create off the dribble and stretches the floor with dependable outside shooting.
Another name worth tracking is Paul Osaruyi, a 2027 prospect ranked by Rivals as the No. 2 power forward and No. 12 player overall. He’s been on DeVries’ radar for some time, and Indiana will need to keep pressing if it wants to separate itself from a crowded field.
According to On3, Osaruyi is still being pursued by North Carolina, Arkansas, Creighton, West Virginia, Houston, Oklahoma State, Arizona and Indiana. The next move is getting an official visit in place, and with that many programs involved, that process matters.
Indiana does have one possible edge there. Incoming freshman Vaughn Karvala knows Osaruyi well, since both played at Bella Vista Prep in Arizona. That connection could matter as DeVries looks to keep the Hoosiers in the race and push toward landing one of the country’s most coveted big men.
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The ruling stretches beyond just those two players, too. The original injunction had applied to athletes from the class of 2022 who used four years of eligibility, and this latest move affects all athletes covered by that order across multiple fall sports. For Indiana, the immediate takeaway is simple enough: Daley and Wyatt are out for now, and the next court decision will determine whether that remains the case. [Read more 🡒]
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Jaeden Mustafs IU Summer Put One Key Question In Focus
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Just as important, Mustaf used the summer to talk through his offseason goals and get a feel for how he fits in during practice sessions with his new teammates. Those glimpses matter because Indiana is still sorting out roles, and a newcomer who can help on both ends of the floor can change the shape of the rotation quickly. The bigger question now is how all of that summer progress carries over once the pace picks up for real. [Read more 🡒]