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BB RECRUITING

Indiana Basketball Recruiting Roundup: A look at key transfer portal options

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Nov 11, 2022; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers forward Kadin Shedrick (21) dunks the ball over Monmouth Hawks center Amaan Sandhu (33) in the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

The Indiana basketball program came into this offseason knowing it needed a big haul in the transfer portal to remake its roster for next season. Thus far, Mike Woodson and his staff have been extremely active.

The Indiana staff has already conducted multiple in-home visits as well as numerous zoom calls with prospects.

On Wednesday, the Hoosiers landed their first commitment out of the transfer portal with Ball State forward Payton Sparks. Sparks is a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward.

This week, Indiana guard Tamar Bates and forward Jordan Geronimo both entered the transfer portal joining Logan Duncomb.

The Indiana basketball program has five available scholarships for the 2022-23 season. It is also waiting on the medical hardship waiver for Xavier Johnson.

Indiana is involved with numerous transfer targets and are progressing nicely with multiple of those recruitments. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key portal targets and where they rank in mutual interest with Indiana.

Chris Ledlum (6-6 forward; Harvard)

Ledlum is a sturdy-built hybrid forward who was an All-Ivy League selection this year after averaging 18.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. In 70 games across three years he is averaging 13.6 points while shooting 45 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three. In 13 games as a junior, Ledlum averaged 16.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. He has scored in double-figures in 38 of his 41 games played over the last two years. In his career, he is shooting 29.4 percent (72-of-245) from three on 3.5 attempts per game.

Ledlum won’t blow anyone away with his athleticism, but is terrific getting into the lane and using his length and strength around the rim. His off-ball skills are great and his IQ is terrific. He’s a fantastic cutter and slasher.

Indiana has conducted an in-home visit with him and a source confirmed to HoosierIllustrated.com that a visit is likely next week.

Ledlum has one year of eligibility remaining.

Kadin Shedrick (6-11 center; Virginia)

Shedrick is an athletic and long center who could fill a lot of voids for Indiana. He averaged 6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in 17.5 minutes a game this season. He spent first half of the season as a starter but saw his minutes decrease the back half of the year as Virginia went with a smaller lineup. In the Round of 64 loss to Furman, he had 15 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.

Shedrick played in 76 career games and averaged 6.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a game across three seasons at Virginia. In the past two years, Shedrick has shot 64.3 percent from the field (157-of-244) and 74.7 percent from the foul line (115-of-154). Last year he was second in the ACC in block percentage (11.2) and defensive rating (93.2).

Shedrick had a zoom call with Indiana on Wednesday and it went very well according to sources. The next step is looking to set up a visit, something the two sides are discussing.

Shedrick has two years of eligibility remaining.

Jamison Battle (6-7 wing; Minnesota)

Battle is a big and athletic wing who has spent a few years in the Big Ten. He has the reputation as a shooter and is a high-volume shooter. This season he averaged 12.4 points and shot 31.1 percent from three. He made 59 3s which would have been second on Indiana this season. As a junior, Battle was terrific. He averaged 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 36.6 percent from three. In his career, he averages 7.1 attempted 3s per game. He shot 134-of-395 in two years at Minnesota.

Indiana had a in-home visit with Battle earlier this week.

Battle has one year of eligibility remaining.

Nick Timberlake (6-4 guard; Towson)

Timberlake is an athletic shooter who can create both on and off of the ball. He averaged 17.7 points per game last season while shooting 41.6 percent on 2.8 made 3s per game. As a junior, he averaged 14.4 points and shot 40.6 percent on 2.3 made 3s per game. He has made 170 3s in the last two seasons. For his career, he is a two-time All-CAA First-Team selection and averaged 12.5 points and shot 37.9 percent from three in 122 games.

Timberlake had an in-home visit with Indiana last weekend. Timberlake took an on-campus visit to North Carolina this week and the Tar Heels may be the team to beat at the moment.

Timberlake has one year of eligibility remaining.

Other notable names on the radar:

Graham Ike (6-9 forward; Wyoming)

Season Stats (2021-22; DNP in 22-23): 19.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg

Caleb Love (6-4 guard; North Carolina)

Season Stats: 16.7 ppg, 29.9 3pt%

Quincy Olivari (6-2 guard; Rice)

Season Stats: 18.7 ppg, 36.4 3pt%

Dalton Knecht (6-6 wing; Northern Colorado)

Season Stats: 20.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 38.1 3pt%

Kowacie Reeves (6-6 wing; Florida)

Season Stats: 8.5 ppg, 26.6 3pt%

Follow Hoosier Illustrated on Twitter @Indiana_FRN to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics. 

BB RECRUITING

2024 top-25 wing Tyler Betsey sets Indiana basketball visit

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2024 top-25 wing Tyler Betsey has set an official visit date with the Indiana basketball program. (@EliteHSscouting / Twitter)

Top-25 wing in the 2024 class Tyler Betsey of St. Thomas More (CT) has set an official visit with the Indiana basketball program.

Betsey will be on campus from June 14-16, he confirms with HoosierIllustrated.com. 247Sports had the initial report. Betsey will be on campus alongside 2024 five-star guard Boogie Fland, who has officially set his Indiana basketball visit for June 13-15.

Betsey is a 6-foot-8 wing who is ranked No. 22 in the 247Sports composite rankings for the 2024 class. He is rated as the No. 8 small forward.

At 6-foot-8, Betsey is a versatile wing who is known as a shooter. He is a high-volume shooter who is very good off of the catch. He’s improving off of the dribble as well and has shown more of an ability to create plays for himself.

Playing for NY Rens on the Nike EYBL circuit and is averaging 11.6 points this summer in 16 games. He’s shooting 35.1 percent from three on 2.5 made 3s per game. He’s 40-of-114 this summer from three. He’s had four games with at least four made 3s. Betsey plays alongside current Indiana basketball target and five-star guard Dylan Harper on NY Rens as well. Harper visited Indiana in the fall.

247Sports National Recruiting Director Eric Bossi broke down Betsey’s game from earlier this summer.

“At nearly 6-foot-8 with smooth athleticism and a good-looking jumper, it was pretty clear that he has all of the tools to make a move towards the top of the class and he’s one of those kids who seems like he could end up ranked as high as he decides he wants to be.”

Currently, Betsey has offers from Indiana, Duke, Alabama, Kansas, UConn, Cincinnati, Auburn, Rutgers, Michigan State, Providence and others.

SEE ALSO: Indiana basketball recruiting beginning to click on all cylinders: ‘I wanted to be able to sit at the table with the best players’

Make sure to follow Hoosier Illustrated on Twitter @Indiana_FRN and YouTube to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics. 

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Indiana basketball extends offer to 2025 top-30 prospect Jasper Johnson

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National top-30 2025 guard Jasper Johnson received a scholarship offer from the Indiana basketball program. (Jasper Johnson - @BruhJasperJ / Twitter)

The Indiana basketball program has extended a scholarship offer to 2025 top-30 guard Jasper Johnson of Woodford County (Ky).

Johnson is ranked No. 23 in the 247Sports composite rankings for the class of 2025. He is also the No. 3 combo guard in the class.

Part of Team Thad on the Nike EYBL circuit, Johnson is playing two divisions up in the 17U division. Through 16 games this spring and summer, Johnson is averaging 12.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He is shooting 51 percent from the floor and 40.3 percent from three (27-of-67).

Johnson had his best game of the summer last weekend in Memphis — scoring 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 5-of-6 from three. He was 12-of-21 from three in four games last weekend.

Travis Branham of 247Sports broke down Johnson’s performance.

“In a three-minute span, Johnson scored a dozen points including three triples and a dunk in transition that took a three-or-four point lead and stretching it to double figures.,” Branham wrote. “Johnson has continued to grow as a player this spring. His confidence and aggressiveness are continuing to elevate along with his improving handle and jumper to create offense for himself and others.”

Johnson and the Indiana basketball program had a relationship prior to this offer. Johnson has mentioned to HoosierIllustrated.com that the NBA pedigree of head coach Mike Woodson is appealing.

He visited Indiana twice during this past season. He was in Bloomington when Trayce Jackson-Davis had a triple-double. Johnson has also visited Kentucky, Louisville, Cincinnati, Ohio State, Tennessee and Xavier in addition to others.

The 6-foot-2 guard has offers from Kentucky, Arizona State, Cal, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Louisville, Ohio State, Memphis, Xavier and others.

SEE ALSO: 2024 five-star point guard Boogie Fland eyeing Indiana basketball visit

Make sure to follow Hoosier Illustrated on Twitter @Indiana_FRN and YouTube to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics. 

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IU basketball recruiting beginning to click on all cylinders: ‘I wanted to be able to sit at the table with the best players’

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Mike Woodson won't 'accept no for an answer' when it comes to recruiting and building his IU basketball roster. (Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times-USA TODAY NETWORK)

When Mike Woodson took the job as the head coach of the IU basketball program two years ago — his message was clear. He wanted to get Indiana back into the national conversation by competing for Big Ten and National Championships.

The only way to do that was to bring in high-level talent. Not just local, but from around the country.

The message has always been that Indiana has the best talent in the country — but recently, that hasn’t been the case. The previous staff did a good job of recruiting the state but failed to land top talent from outside of Indiana — or even the midwest — on a regular basis. That resulted in IU basketball failing to make an NCAA Tournament for six years.

So, when Woodson stepped back on campus on day one, it was about getting the best talent in the country — no matter where — to come to Bloomington.

“When I took the job, I made it clear to my coaches that we deserved to sit at the table with the best players,” Woodson told reporters on Wednesday. “We kind of squabbled a little bit early on because they didn’t think we were in that position to be able to do that.

“Well, back in the day, it was always that way.”

Last year saw four scholarship players from Indiana. The year before was five.

Next season will be quite different. There will only be two players from the state of Indiana on scholarship.

A main reason for that is because of what Woodson stressed — and knowing what he wanted for his roster.

“I thought we were based on Indiana basketball and the history of it,” Woodson said. “So, I didn’t accept no for an answer and I told ’em (my staff) that I wanted to be able to sit at the table with the best players and compete with the Kentucky’s, the Kansas’, the Duke’s, teams like that.”

While Woodson just wanted a seat at the table, he’s done more than just sit there.

In the last two years, Woodson has landed four five-star prospects either from high school or through the transfer portal. It resulted in having two McDonald’s All-American’s on the roster this upcoming season for the first time since 2016.

In addition to the two five-star commitments in the past two months, the IU basketball program has also seen a one-and-done five-star prospect move his way into a projected lottery-pick in the upcoming NBA Draft in Jalen Hood-Schifino. That is notable to recruits — and Woodson knows it.

“It’s done a lot, you know,” Woodson said on Hood-Schifino’s development. ” … Not to say he was a one-and-done, but he put himself in that position and was able to do a lot of nice things for our ball club and you know, our program benefited from it.”

A large reason for the (recent) uptick in the national relevancy for IU basketball in the recruiting world is because of Woodson and his NBA pedigree — yes. But, it’s the entire staff that he’s put together that has built their reputations on relationships and honesty — something hard to come by in today’s recruiting world.

“I got a wonderful staff and, you know, we are beating the phones down and when guys come available, we are trying to get in front of their parents and whoever’s their representative and we are doing all the necessary things to get ’em to campus and close the deal,” Woodson said. “And this has been a great, great summer for us in terms of recruiting and, again, I give a lot of credit to my staff and them getting me in front of the people that we’re trying to recruit, the player and we’re starting to pay off. It’s starting to pay off for us.”

And in recruiting, in order to get a yes, you’re going to get a lot of no’s. But, that’s okay and what’s needed in order to reach the next level as a program.

“All they (recruits) can do is tell us no, but we gotta get there and we’ve been able to get there some, so it’s kind of nice.”

SEE ALSO: IU basketball senior guard Xavier Johnson gives update on his health: ‘I’m 100 (percent)’

ake sure to follow Hoosier Illustrated on Twitter @Indiana_FRN and YouTube to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics. 

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