After finishing his first regular season in Bloomington with an overall record of 18-13 and a 9-11 mark in Big Ten play, Indiana head coach Darian DeVries knows what his top priority is for building IU's roster for next season.
During his weekly radio show on Monday, DeVries stated that he was surprised by the strong play at the 4 and 5 positions throughout the Big Ten. He added that addressing the front court is priority No. 1 for the Hoosiers during the offseason.
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In the current era of NIL and the transfer portal, it's quite possible that DeVries leans on the portal to find reinforcements for Indiana's front court. A pair of players on portal watch hailing from Arizona State could help in that effort.
On Monday, On3's Pete Nakos reported that Arizona State is expected to part ways with head coach Bobby Hurley at the end of the season. Naturally, speculation surrounding which players will hit the portal has been making the rounds on social media.
Two players who are immediately on portal watch are redshirt sophomore forward Santiago Trouet and freshman center Massamba Diop. Both could provide much-needed help to Indiana's front court in the 2026-27 season.
Massamba Diop, freshman center
In a tough season for the Sun Devils, freshman center Massamba Diop has certainly been a bright spot. Diop came to Tempe as a three-star prospect from Senegal, and wasted no time making an immediate impact on the hardwood. He's started all 31 of the ASU's games this season, and leads the Sun Devils in rebounds per game (5.9), blocks per game (2.2), and shooting percentage (56.9%). Furthermore, he is second on the team in points per game with 13.9.
On the season, he's averaging 13.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.1 assists, and 0.7 steals per game. He stands 7'1" tall while weighing 230 pounds, and that kind of length could be very effective for the Hoosiers in 2026 and beyond. With three years of eligibility remaining, Diop is definitely a player to keep an eye on.
Santiago Trouet, redshirt sophomore forward
Santiago Trouet spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at San Diego where he posted 15 games with 10+ points, seven games with 10+ rebounds, and five double-doubles for the Toreros. He then transferred to Arizona State for the 2025-26 campaign and quickly stood out. Trouet has made 28 starts for the Sun Devils so far this season, and is effective on both ends of the floor.
His 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game may not jump off the page, but he is an experienced playmaker who owns a 6'11" 218-pound frame. As a redshirt sophomore, Trouet has two years of eligibility following this season. Adding a guy like that to Indiana's depth chart could prove to be very beneficial for DeVries.
