Indiana Basketball: Potential grad transfer for Hoosiers enters portal

The Indiana basketball program continues to look at ways to add to its 2020 recruiting class and the grad transfer market could be in play with Kobe Webster.

Archie Miller has been very adamant about adding more pieces to the Indiana basketball 2020 recruiting class. Before last week, there were many questions about where those pieces would come from, but with the commitment of Khristian Lander and the possibility that he moves into the 2020 class, the Hoosiers are starting to find possibilities.

Outside of Lander, the other route that the Hoosiers could go is with potential grad transfers. That market has paid off for Indiana over the past few seasons and Archie Miller could reap the benefits of another transfer this offseason.

Western Illinois guard Kobe Webster announced on Wednesday that he would be transferring and be eligible immediately as a grad transfer.

Thus far, Webster has heard from Nebraska, Ball State, Vanderbilt and Arkansas amongst others. Moving forward, the Hoosiers may not be far behind.

Not only do the Hoosiers have a need at the point guard position, but also with three-point shooting, something Webster can do.

On the season, Webster is averaging 17.1 points and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 34 percent from deep. Though a slight dip in his percentage this season, throughout the course of his first two years Webster connected on 37.4 percent of his threes, making a total of 135 threes.

If the name sounds familiar, that is because Webster scored 18 points on 3-of-5 from three against the Hoosiers in the season opener. A guy who can score the ball, the 6-foot guard has six games with 20+ points, including a 40-point outing against Omaha a few weeks ago.

Also with a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio, Webster has the ability to be a high-major point guard. He has seven games this year with at least five assists and also has 12 games with one or less turnovers.

Indiana’s issue this season has been at the guard position. With little to no depth when it comes to ball handling, having someone be able to come in off of the bench and keep the offense in rhythm while Phinisee is off of the floor is critical to IU’s success next year.

If Khristian Lander decides to stay in the 2021 class, Kobe Webster could immediately be that guy who soars up to the top of Indiana’s radar.