Indiana’s pursuit of 5-star big man Darius Wabbington just got a little more interesting.
The Hoosiers have been in the mix for one of the most coveted players in the 2027 class, and the board appears to be tightening around him. Wabbington, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 12 overall player and No. 2 center in the country, has already taken an official visit to Bloomington. He was there on September 3 and watched Indiana’s 52-16 win over North Texas on the gridiron.
That trip came shortly before Louisville was removed from consideration, and now North Carolina has joined the list of schools no longer in the hunt. Over the weekend, multiple outlets reported that the Tar Heels had backed off, with Wabbington’s father telling David Sisk of Tar Heel 247 that North Carolina made the decision and is no longer involved.
Back in July, Wabbington had named a final six that included Indiana, North Carolina, Arizona, Kentucky, Louisville, and Texas. His visit schedule was built around that list, but it has shifted since then. The planned late-October trip to Chapel Hill will not happen now.
With UNC out and Louisville already gone, the race appears to be down to Indiana, Arizona, Kentucky, and Texas. Illinois has also become a program to watch after Wabbington moved up his visit to Champaign from October 23 to this past weekend. That has put Brad Underwood and company firmly in the conversation as well.
For Darian DeVries, Wabbington represents the kind of recruit who could change the perception of Indiana’s class in a big way. DeVries has already put together a promising 2026 group with three 4-stars in Prince-Alexander Moody, Vaughn Karvala, and Trevor Manhertz, while the 2027 class currently includes 4-star Chase Branham and international center Felix Kiehlneker.
Still, Wabbington would be the kind of headliner that stands out. At 6'10" and 245 pounds, he brings size, but that’s only part of the appeal.
He can handle the ball with guard-like skill, score off the dribble, work effectively inside, and stretch the floor with dependable shooting from outside. That blend is exactly the type of versatility DeVries tends to value.
Wabbington’s recruiting process is clearly picking up speed, and the next few months should tell the story. For now, the expectation is that he’ll continue working through the rest of his official visits before making a decision.
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