Yardbarker
x

The Indiana basketball program entered March with zero incoming players for the 2024-25 season — so to say there was a need to act quick was an understatement. After losing its only signee in 2024, Indiana and Mike Woodson were looking at seven open scholarships to fill this offseason.

While it was a big haul, Indiana couldn’t just fill spots with bodies. Mike Woodson needed to put a roster together that would be able to compete atop the Big Ten — which will be wide open this year. He also needed to construct a roster that would fit — unlike last year’s group.

What happened next was significant. Not only for this upcoming season, but potentially for the outlook of the program for the next few years … and beyond.

Woodson replaced a McDonald’s All-American that he lost, with another McDonald’s All-American. Then, he went out and secured commitments from five transfers, four of which were extremely productive and talented players at the high-major level. He checked off numerous boxes; shooting, guard play, front court production and depth.

Currently, Indiana still has one available scholarship at its disposal, but the expectation now is Mike Woodson will head into the summer with his roster as is.

It will not only be his deepest team since arriving at Indiana but it’ll also be his most talented.

With the roster set — for likely the immediate future — here is a look at IU’s class.

Here is everything Mike Woodson had to say about the current 2024 class.

Oumar Ballo; Center, Arizona

“Oumar is a dominating post presence on both ends of the floor with a winning background,” Woodson said of Ballo. “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.”

Myles Rice; Point guard, Washington State

“Myles is a savvy, downhill guard that really succeeds in pick-and-roll situations,” Woodson said of Rice. “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.”

Kanaan Carlyle; Guard, Stanford

“Kanaan is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands with the length and skillset to create scoring chances for himself and others,” Woodson said of Carlyle. “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.”

Luke Goode; Wing, Illinois

“Luke is a knockdown 3-point shooter that provides length and rebounding ability from the wing position,” Woodson said of Goode. “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.”

Langdon Hatton; Center, Bellarmine

“Langdon is an experienced, versatile big man that will help us with our front court depth,” Woodson said of Hatton. “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.”

Bryson Tucker; Wing, High School 5-star

“Bryson has a chance to be impactful for our ballclub right away,” Woodson said of Tucker. “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.”

This article first appeared on Hoosier Illustrated and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.