Indiana’s offseason buzz has mostly centered on the newcomers, but the player who may end up mattering most is already in the building.
Darian DeVries brought in seven transfers, six of them with multiple seasons of high-major experience, and the group is drawing real attention for good reason. PF Aiden Sherrell from Alabama, center Samet Yigitoglu from SMU, point guard Markus Burton from Notre Dame, guards Bryce Lindsay from Villanova, Jaeden Mustaf from Georgia Tech, and Darren Harris from Duke make up an Indiana transfer class ranked No. 5 in the country by On3. There’s plenty of upside there, and plenty of summer hype to go with it.
The freshman class has also added to the excitement. Four-star prospects Vaughn Karvala, Prince-Alexander Moody, and Trevor Manhertz have all started their college careers strongly. Each turned in solid performances at the FISU America Games earlier this summer, and all three could push for regular minutes right away.
Still, the most overlooked piece of the puzzle might be sophomore Trent Sisley. He’s the only returning player from last season’s roster, and he could wind up with a major role in Indiana’s success in 2026-27.
Sisley’s first college stretch gave Indiana a glimpse of what he can be. The Santa Claus, IN native scored in double figures in four of his first seven games and earned steady minutes early, averaging 20 per game over his first 12 contests. But the momentum didn’t last.
His inconsistency and the usual freshman learning curve led to a rougher second half. Opportunities slipped away, his playing time dropped, and he barely saw the court down the stretch. From December 20 on, Sisley averaged just 1.6 points and 8.5 minutes per game, and he played only one minute in Indiana’s loss to Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Now the focus shifts to what comes next. For Sisley, the key word is consistency. If he can become a dependable scorer and help on the glass at both ends, he has a chance to become a real factor for the Hoosiers.
He’s already made one notable move this offseason, adding 15 pounds to his frame, which should help him handle the physical side of the frontcourt better. His versatility is another asset. Sisley can play any of the 3-5 positions, and that flexibility could create more chances for him in DeVries’ system.
Indiana’s transfer group is expected to do the heavy lifting this season. But if Sisley breaks through and settles in as a steady presence, the Hoosiers’ ceiling could rise in a big way.
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Indiana Starts Title Defense With One Respect Debate Still Lingering
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For the Hoosiers, the more interesting backdrop is the ranking itself and what it says about how last season is being remembered. Even after an undefeated run, a Big Ten title win over Ohio State and a national championship, Indiana is still being measured against teams that are chasing it, which leaves one lingering question hanging over kickoff: whether the people voting and projecting are ready to treat what the Hoosiers accomplished like the final word, or still think there is something left to prove. [Read more 🡒]