Indiana Basketball: Breaking down the 2019 Recruiting Class

Joey Brunk

A 6-foot-11 graduate transfer from Indianapolis, Indiana, the former Butler center comes to Indiana with two years of eligibility left and come into the program as an experienced and seasoned player.

The former four-star recruit provides a little bit of everything, from great size to his ability to shoot from the perimeter and stretch the floor.

Brunk is a traditional back to the basket big man who does a great deal of his scoring from the post. He shot an efficient 61.7 percent from the field during his sophomore season where he saw his minutes grow from the previous year.

Aside from his elite finishing ability near the basket, the big man has shown potential to shoot from the perimeter.

He is confident enough to step out into the midrange and take a jump shot when necessary.

Though he doesn’t necessarily have three-point range, his ability to keep the defense honest from 15-feet will open up the lane and allow for a more free flowing offense.

Despite only averaging one assist per game last season, Brunk recorded multiple games where he had two to four assists in limited action. He possesses great potential as an interior passer who could help create shots for his teammates out of the post.

A weakness of the former Butler Bulldog is rebounding. Even with his ideal size, he averaged only 3.6 rebounds per game and had multiple games where he recorded more assists than rebounds. In a Big Ten Conference where elite post players dominate the paint, he will need to improve his rebounding prowess.

Another issue with him will be finding a way to differentiate himself from teammates De’Ron Davis and Trayce Jackson-Davis, two big men whose strengths are also low post scoring.  This is where his jump shot will become crucial to his development and level of involvement for the Hoosiers.

Averaging just 18.6 minutes, Brunk scored less than five points just seven times out of his 33 appearances, three of which coming when he played less than 10 minutes.

Brunk played well when he saw extended action though. In six games where he played over 24 minutes, he scored in double-figures five times, averaging 14.2 points a game.

If Brunk can consistently knock down a mid-range shot, he will open up the court more for his teammates and separate himself as a new asset for Archie Miller and the Indiana program in the form of a stretch big man.

Expect to see Brunk challenge and compete with the other Indiana big men for minutes, with the potential of becoming a starter if he can continue to develop his offensive skill set and rebounding ability.