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Indiana Basketball: 5 signs Matt Cross will commit to Hoosiers

By Alec Lasley

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 22: A detai viewl of a Wilson NCAA basketball as the Kansas Jayhawks play the Wichita State Shockers during the third round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the CenturyLink Center on March 22, 2015 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - MARCH 22: A detai viewl of a Wilson NCAA basketball as the Kansas Jayhawks play the Wichita State Shockers during the third round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the CenturyLink Center on March 22, 2015 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – JANUARY 25: Archie Miller the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his team against the Michigan Wolverines at Assembly Hall on January 25, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – JANUARY 25: Archie Miller the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his team against the Michigan Wolverines at Assembly Hall on January 25, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

1. Ample Minutes

Every freshman who enters the college ranks wants to play, and play immediately, and that’s exactly what the Indiana roster makeup would provide for Cross in 2020.

At 6-foot-7, Cross is slightly undersized at the power forward position, but has the ability to play a stretch four, or even on the wing at times, proving to be a perfect fit for Archie Miller’s offense.

With De’Ron Davis set to graduate after this season, and the potential for freshman five-star Trayce Jackson-Davis to head to the NBA following a great season, Indiana would be left with a pair of seniors in Joey Brunk and Justin Smith, and then a redshirt junior Race Thompson who has played just 63 total minutes in his Indiana career.

Even if Jackson-Davis returns, which most likely he will, a top half of the Big Ten roster holds a four-to-five man front court rotation.

Cross would bring in a much different skillset than all of the other forwards on the roster with his ability to stretch the floor, proving invaluable at times. Though he has been inconsistent throughout his high school and AAU season with BABC, Cross still can put pressure on the defense and force them to defend him on the perimeter.

Dawson Garcia is the only true big man that Indiana is deeply involved with in the 2020 class but with a decision from him not expected to come until closer to the spring, Cross would be able to secure a spot, regardless of a looming Garcia decision, due to their difference in skillset.

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