Ranking the six offseason additions for Indiana basketball

Indiana basketball faced it’s most important offseason of the Mike Woodson era after coming off a disappointing 2023-24 season which saw the Hoosiers miss the NCAA Tournament. So how did Mike Woodson the Hoosiers approach this offseason?

With a clear mission to improve and get better, and that is exactly what they did.

In total, Indiana brought in six new faces replacing the seven that they lost from a season ago. Not only did they bring in these new faces, the Hoosiers brought back an outstanding core of Trey Galloway, Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako, Gabe Cupps, Anthony Leal and Jakai Newton.

In the transfer portal, Indiana brought in guards Myles Rice and Kanaan Carlyle, wing Luke Goode, and big men Oumar Ballo and Langdon Hatton. Indiana also even replaced five-star, McDonald’s All-American wing Liam McNeeley with fellow five-star, McDonald’s All-American wing Bryson Tucker.

The players that Indiana brought in, on paper, is a major improvement from a season ago.

So where do each of these additions rank for the Indiana basketball team? Below are our rankings of each of the newest Hoosiers as far as the player, need, and importance.

Related: 5 questions on Indiana basketball heading into summer workouts

6. Langdon Hatton

(Photo: Indiana Athletics)

Former School: Bellarmine, William & Mary

Grade/Eligibility: Senior/1 Year

Position: Center

Breakdown: While Indiana basketball still has one open scholarship remaining for the 2024-25 season, the former Bellmaine big man is likely the last signee for the Hoosiers this offseason. When Mike Woodson added Oumar Ballo to the frontcourt unit of Malik Reneau and Mackenzie Mgbako, finding a serviceable big man that can play that reserve role was crucial and honestly they found the perfect player for that in Langdon Hatton. Not only is he experienced having been a player a that has played a ton of college basketball over the years, he is also an Indiana kid that knows what it means to wear the candy stripes and the tradition that comes with the program. As a player, he is versatile enough to be real effective on both ends of the floor while being a great rim-runner as well. While theoretically, the Hoosiers could have gone with a smaller frontcourt rotation of Ballo, Reneau, and Mgbako, the addition of Hatton takes a lot of pressure off of them.

Mike Woodson’s Comments: “Langdon is an experienced, versatile big man that will help us with our frontcourt depth. He is a big body that can work in the post, get after the glass, and step out to knock down a shot. He is an Indiana kid that plays the right way, and we are excited to bring him home to the Hoosier state.”

Indiana Basketball Player Scouting Report: Langdon Hatton

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5. Bryson Tucker

(Photo: Indiana Athletics)

Former School: Bishop O’Connell High School

Grade/Eligibility: Freshman/ 4 years

Position: Forward

Breakdown: The lone freshman for Indiana basketball this upcoming season and another one that Mike Woodson got late in the spring. When it looked like Indiana may not have a single freshman on the roster when Liam McNeeley decomitted, Woodson got arguably the best possible substitute you could in Bryson Tucker. While he is not great in one particular thing, he will be great as a utility player and with the depth of Indiana basketball this season, he can slowly be brought along and not thrown into the fire like Mackenzie Mgbako or Gabe Cupps was last season. He is certainly a wildcard for this team this season, which is crazy to say about five-star, McDonald’s All-American.

Mike Woodson’s Comments: “Bryson has a chance to be impactful for our ballclub right away. He has a polished offensive game with the size and strength to get to his spots on the floor. His midrange game is very impressive, and he has the athleticism to get to and score efficiently at the rim. He is a talented young man that we cannot wait to work with when he gets to campus.”

Indiana Basketball Player Scouting Report: Bryson Tucker

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4. Kanaan Carlyle

(Photo: Indiana Athletics)

Former School: Stanford

Grade/Eligibility: Sophomore/3 years

Position: Guard

Breakdown: Indiana basketball needed to bring in more guard depth than they had last season and become a lot more dynamic. Indiana did just that this offseason and while we will get to another dynamic guard shortly, let’s talk about the addition of Kanaan Carlyle first. Carlyle may be the most underrated addition to this Indiana basketball team this offseason because he can honestly fit with any lineup. He can be your primarily ball handler or even play off the ball given how elite his versatility is. Mike Woodson wants to get out and run, and the addition of Carlyle helps him do so.

Mike Woodson’s Comments: “Kanaan is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands with the length and skillset to create scoring chances for himself and others. His ability off the bounce pairs nicely with his shooting stroke. His length, quickness, and mentality give him the capability to be a high-impact defender for our ballclub. We are really excited to welcome him and his family to IU.”

Indiana Basketball Player Scouting Report: Kanaan Carlyle

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3. Oumar Ballo

(Photo: Indiana Athletics)

Former School: Arizona, Gonzaga

Grade/Eligibility: Senior/1 year

Position: Center

Breakdown: Alright let’s get a little controversial here because I bet you didn’t except to see arguably the No. 1 overall player in the transfer portal listed at No. 3 right? Hear me out … obviously the presence of Ballo makes Indiana’s front court one of the best in the country and yes, Indiana needed to find a replacement for Kel’el Ware. But if you are being honest as an Indiana fan there was some hesitation with the Ballo addition. Not because he isn’t a great player, but because the inside-out style that Woodson will likely run again. Regardless of all that, Indiana basketball has the best big in the Big Ten next season and when it comes to the post, they should dominate that area once again. The addition Ballo works if Indiana can get an outside game going consistently.

Mike Woodson’s Comments: “Oumar is a dominating post presence on both ends of the floor with a winning background. His experience playing at the highest level will elevate our program. He is a big fella with soft touch around the rim, good hands, and solid footwork. He is very physical and is a perfect fit in our system and our league. We are really happy to welcome Oumar and his family to Bloomington.”

Indiana Basketball Player Scouting Report: Oumar Ballo

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2. Luke Goode

(Photo: Indiana Athletics)

Former School: Illinois

Grade/Eligibility: Senior/1 year

Position: Wing

Breakdown: If you ask a lot of diehard Indiana fans, the addition of Illinois transfer wing Luke Goode was the best of the entire offseason because of well, you guessed it, outside shooting. Indiana basketball was one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the country last year so Mike Woodson and the Indiana basketball staff had no choice but to go out and land some shooting. Going after Luke Goode made all the sense in the world because he grew up an Indiana fan, has Indiana family ties, has played in the Big Ten for multiple years, and because he is a sniper of a shooter from beyond the arc. Mike Woodson has made it very clear that he wants to play inside-out and while that is ok, you absolutely have to have great guard and perimeter play. Luke Goode helps make that style much more enticing and is going to improve Indiana’s three-point shooting a great deal.

Mike Woodson’ Comments: “Luke is a knockdown 3-point shooter that provides length and rebounding ability from the wing position. He comes from a very athletic background with deep family ties to this University. He has competed at the highest level of the Big Ten and is a player we will count on to help us stretch the floor. We are excited to bring his family back to Hoosier Nation.”

Indiana Basketball Player Scouting Report: Luke Goode

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1. Myles Rice

(Photo: Indiana Athletics)

Former School: Washington State

Grade/Eligibility: Sophomore/3 years

Position: Guard

Breakdown: The number one offseason need for Indiana basketball was for it to improve its guard play. Last season, you saw such a depleted guard rotation that often saw awkward backcourt lineups due to injury and inexperience. Mike Woodson and Indiana basketball needed to go out this offseason and find true playmaking guard that can help them in so many areas, and they found that player in Pac 12 Freshman of the Year Myles Rice. He is a true three-level scorer that can dictate the pace of a game while getting downhill and being a playmaker on the ball. The addition of Rice makes everyone on Indiana’s roster much better as they now have a player than can run the show and do it a high level. When he announced that he would be coming to Indiana, he was instantly Indiana No. 1 offseason addition. Mike Woodson has his point guard and the Hoosiers are in business.

Mike Woodson’ Comments: “Myles is a savvy, downhill guard that really succeeds in pick-and-roll situations. He is a three-level scorer that makes the right play consistently, whether that is getting to the rim or finding the open man. He is going to be a huge help for our ballclub, and we are very excited to welcome him and his family to Bloomington.”

Indiana Basketball Player Scouting Report: Myles Rice

SEE ALSO: Mike Woodson learned you ‘win with good guards’. He emphasized that this offseason so Indiana basketball ‘didn’t get caught’ in similar situations again

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