Former Indiana forward Sam Alexis has cleared a legal hurdle that could open the door to a fifth season of college basketball.
Alexis won an injunction in a Tennessee court, and the development comes only days after IU coach Darian DeVries said Indiana was willing to add a player late to the roster. It is still unclear whether Alexis will actually suit up for the Hoosiers.
An Indiana spokesperson declined to comment on the situation, and there is no sign Alexis entered the transfer portal during the April window. For now, it remains uncertain how he would be able to play for another team.
Alexis spent the week with Indiana in Peru and turned in a strong showing for Team USA at the FISU America Games in Lima. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound big man appeared in three games and put up 39 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and four blocks while shooting 18-of-22 from the field, good for 81.8%.
If Alexis does land back in Bloomington, he would bring a familiar and potentially valuable presence to a frontcourt that already has 6-foot-11 Aiden Sherrell and 7-foot-2 Samet Yigitoglu projected as probable starters in 2026-27. Because he already knows DeVries’ system and has high-major experience, he could give Indiana a meaningful lift in depth.
His lone season with the Hoosiers was productive enough to put him in the record book. Alexis posted a 68.7 field goal percentage, the best single-season mark in IU history for a player with at least 100 attempts.
After transferring from Florida, he played in all 32 games and started the final 23. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks in 21.3 minutes per game. He also set a personal best by shooting 72.5% from the free throw line, went for a team-high 50 dunks, and logged 13 games with at least 10 points and eight games with at least eight rebounds.
The legal fight stems from the NCAA’s recent prospective five-year eligibility rule. Alexis had already spent four seasons on a college basketball roster and sought injunctive relief after the NCAA did not extend the new option to players who had exhausted eligibility in the 2025-26 season under the old rules.
The court order he is part of also blocks the NCAA from using the Rule of Restitution to punish any school Alexis plays for in 2026-27.
Another member of Indiana’s 2025-26 team, Reed Bailey, is also pursuing court relief to play this season.
In Other News...
Indiana Landed A Proven Big Ten Receiver And His First Day Turned Heads
Nick Marshs arrival gives Indiana football the kind of proven Big Ten production it doesnt often get to add in the transfer portal. After two seasons as Michigan States receiving leader, he comes to Bloomington with a reputation built on strong hands, polished route-running and a game that teammates on his former team trusted in key moments.
His first day with the Hoosiers, though, was a reminder that every program has its own standards before a newcomer ever catches a pass. Marsh was sent back to the locker room for wearing gold cleats, a uniform misstep that violated Indianas policy and provided an early glimpse of how exacting the details can be around the program. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti Sent Indiana Fans A Clear Message At Media Days
Big Ten Media Days offered the usual mix of optimism, praise and a little locker room humor, with coaches and players across the league taking turns setting the tone for the fall. Oregons Dan Lanning had plenty to say about tight end Jamari Johnsons versatility, while Ohio States Ryan Day pointed to Julian Sayins accuracy and intelligence as reasons for confidence, and even a lighthearted huddle story from Dante Moore and Johnson found its way into the conversation.
For Indiana fans, though, the more relevant message came from Curt Cignetti, who used the moment to make his stance clear about where the program is headed and what he expects from it. In a league where every coach is selling belief in July, Cignettis comments stood out because they fit the bigger Indiana question: whether the Hoosiers are ready to back up the new standard with results once the season begins. [Read more 🡒]