Darius Wabbington’s commitment gave Indiana’s 2027 recruiting class a true centerpiece, and it also pushed Darian DeVries into a different tier on the trail.
The 6-foot-11 center from Phoenix, Arizona is the kind of addition that changes the look of a class immediately. Wabbington is a 5-star prospect, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 12 overall player and No. 2 center in the country, and he picked Indiana over final contenders Illinois and Arizona.
“I’m going to Indiana University and I chose there because the plan they have for me and the trust that the entire organization has in me,” Wabbington told 247Sports about his commitment to Indiana. “They're getting someone who's gonna work his tail off day in and day out,” Wabbington added.
What makes Wabbington such a big get is not just the ranking. He brings a rare mix of size and skill, with the ability to operate as a center while also handling the ball like a guard.
That gives DeVries some flexibility in how he uses him, whether that ends up being at the 5 or sliding him to power forward. Wabbington also rebounds well on both ends and can score in a variety of ways, including off the dribble and from outside.
He is now the headliner of a three-player 2027 class that already had real juice before his pledge.
Chase Branham was the first piece in place, committing to Indiana on September 20, 2025. The 6-foot-4 guard from Missouri led Logan-Rogersville High School to a 4A state title last season as a junior, and he delivered when the pressure was highest.
He put up 31 points in the semifinals and followed that with 15 in the championship game. For the season, Branham averaged 21.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists, while shooting 62% from the field and 41% from 3-point range.
Branham’s stock has kept rising, too. A few months ago, he was ranked No. 42 nationally, but 247Sports now has him at No. 24 in the 2027 class.
That gives DeVries two Top-25 players in the group after Wabbington’s arrival. Branham will spend his senior year at La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana after transferring there earlier this year.
The third commit is Felix Kiehlneker, an international big man who gave Indiana his pledge on September 15. The 7-foot-1 center from Germany is considered one of the top players in his age group. Peegs.com lists him as the No. 5 overall prospect in Germany among players 19 or younger.
Kiehlneker, who is 18, started at center for Germany at this summer’s FIBA U18 EuroBasket. Last season with Ratiopharm Ulm, he averaged 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 60% from the floor. He most recently played in Germany’s second-tier professional league after moving up a level last year.
With Wabbington, Branham and Kiehlneker in the fold, Indiana’s 2027 class has a clear shape: a high-end guard, a skilled international center and now a 5-star anchor who gives DeVries the kind of recruiting win that can define a cycle.
In Other News...
Indiana Is About To Test Everything Nebraska Thinks It Is
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On offense, McBride pointed to the need for explosive plays, a dependable run game and the patience to work the clock instead of forcing the issue. It is a familiar blueprint, but against Indiana it also feels like a test of whether Nebraska can actually live it out for four quarters, especially with the margin for error so thin in a conference game that can swing on one missed tackle or one drive that stalls before it should. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Faces A Shootout Test Its Fast Start Must Survive
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There is also plenty of playmaking out wide, with Charlie Becker and Kwazi Gilmer standing out as targets who can tilt a game quickly. On the other side of the ball, Indiana will need its defense to hold up around Isaiah Jones, while Nebraska leans on Owen Chambliss to steady its own front. With recent performances and injury updates both in the mix, this looks like the kind of test that can either validate Indianas start or expose how much more it still has to prove. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Fans Now Know What Year 2 Will Demand Of DeVries
Indianas 2026-27 mens basketball calendar gives Darian DeVries a clear picture of what Year 2 is going to look like, and it starts earlier than the regular season. The Hoosiers will open with three exhibition games beginning Oct. 11 before settling into a 32-game slate that tips off Nov. 2, a schedule that mixes non-conference tests with the grind of Big Ten play and lays out the kind of weekly rhythm fans have come to expect in Bloomington.
The bigger storyline is what all of that asks of a roster that will again feature both new transfers and returning players as DeVries tries to build on last seasons record. With tip times and TV windows now set, Indiana can start mapping out the climb ahead, but the real intrigue is how quickly the group can come together once the games begin and the conference portion starts to tighten the margin for error. [Read more 🡒]