Indiana Basketball: Top Transfers Who Can Help Next Season

Indiana basketball will be in the mix for a handful of transfers, and grad transfers as they look to fill their roster for upcoming years.

This time of year is madness for the college basketball scene, and I’m not just talking about the post-season tournaments.  This is also the time of year when rumors of potential transfers pick up around the country.

For the record, I never pay too much attention to those rumors. They’re typically wrong 99% of the time.  And no, I don’t care that you have a cousin- who has a sister- who has a friend- that has a class with a player who said he may be transferring.  Sorry.

Could an Indiana player or two leave the program?  Of course. That’s always a possibility.  I doubt any of this year’s “core players” would leave, but I could see somebody that wanted more playing time to look elsewhere.

I’m much more interested in who could be transferring TO Bloomington for next season.  And while that’s just as difficult to predict, it’s fun to look at some of the possible options.

Top Transfer Options For Indiana

Derrick Smits-  The Hoosiers already have the son of Dale Davis coming next year.  Why not put together an offspring dream team of the Pacers from the 90’s?   Smits, the son of the Dunkin’ Dutchmen Rik Smits, has decided to test the NBA Draft waters.  If he decides to return to college, he will be transferring from Valpo as a grad-transfer.  He will have one year of eligibility remaining.  The 7-foot-1 center (12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 59.4 FG%) will draw lots of interest, and Indiana figures to be in the conversation.

Justin Pierce- This William and Mary Grad transfer is a hot commodity right now.  He averaged nearly 15 points, nine rebounds, and four assists per game this season.  According to multiple reports, he has heard from Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, USC, Nevada, Ole Miss, Wisconsin, Butler, and several other schools.  The Hoosiers could offer the 6-foot-7 guard lots of playing time from day one, though many other schools on the list could do the same.  Pierce will be someone to keep an eye on.

Kevin Easley-  The Hoosiers and Boilers were both linked to Easley in his initial recruitment.  He ended up at Chattanooga but has decided to transfer.  The 6-foot-6 forward shot 40% from behind the arc, has a high motor, and is a strong player. Though he’s an intriguing prospect, he might have to sit out a year if he transferred to Indiana, unless he were to receive a hardship waiver.

Kira Lewis – One of the most sought after transfers on the market as of now is the shifty guard from Alabama. Lewis averaged 13.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists during his freshman season in Tuscaloosa. Before originally committing to Alabama, Indiana was involved in his recruitment, and have already reached back out to the 6-foot-3 point guard. The former No. 30 overall player in the 2019 class, Lewis reclassified and enrolled in school in 2018, moving to No. 39 in the rankings. Though he will most likely have to sit a year, he is someone the Hoosiers will try to lure to Bloomington.

Other’s That Indiana Could Reach Out To:

Jordan Davis – Started 53 games in two seasons at Dayton. Averaged 9.8 points per game this past season. Was originally recruited by Archie Miller to the Flyers. 

Bryce Moore – Terrific defender, has great toughness from Western Michigan. Averaged 9.8 points per game and shot 40 percent from three. Played for Indiana Assistant, Ed Schilling in high school

Brian Snow of 247Sports had some interesting things to say about the Hoosiers recently pertaining to transfers:

"“I expect a few names familiar to Indiana fans to end up in the transfer portal over the next few weeks,” Snow said.  “While there is no guarantee that any of those players will end up in Bloomington, I think the Hoosiers will take a long look at numerous players either as a traditional sit out transfer or an immediately eligible graduate transfer.”"

You don’t see the same kind of reporting on transfers as you do for incoming freshmen. Many times, a player will choose a school quickly that nobody saw coming.  There are probably a handful of players that Archie Miller has contacted that we know nothing about at this time.

Assuming Romeo Langford heads to the NBA, the Hoosiers will have an open roster spot.  Indiana would love to fill that spot with a good recruit.  Should they fail to land one, or should anybody transfer from Indiana, look for the Hoosiers to grab a transfer that fits.