Indiana Basketball: If Cunningham was an option should Hoosiers go for it?

The Indiana basketball team has a great recruiting class coming in but if the number one recruit in the country was an option should the Hoosiers go after him?

Cade Cunningham, the number one recruit in the 2020 class, made headlines when he committed to Oklahoma State over Kentucky, Duke, and North Carolina among others. The Cowboys do have his older brother on the coaching staff, so it does make a little bit of sense, but it was still a surprise.

His commitment to Oklahoma State, though, now looks in doubt as the Cowboys were just hit with a postseason ban for the upcoming season. Cunningham already looked like a one-and-done player and without the opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament, could he look to go somewhere else?

He would have to be granted a release, but it is widely thought that he would get one if he requested it. There will be no shortage of schools ready to pounce if that does indeed happen.

Kentucky is a perceived favorite for him if he does become available. But this late in the recruiting cycle the teams that are interested could change a bit.

Indiana was never in on him with his original recruiting process, but could they be this time. There is zero indication that they would be, but if there was a chance to get him should the Hoosiers go after him?

Indiana Basketball: Would it be a good idea to go after Cunningham?

Indiana has a great point guard coming in with Khristian Lander and has a pretty good one already on the team in Rob Phinisee. The Hoosiers will be just fine with those two guys running the point, but would the opportunity to bring in the top recruit be worth it?

Cunningham is a great talent and would be a great addition to any school. He is 6’6″ and 215 pounds and is an incredible athlete that could easily decide to take the pro route instead of messing with going to school.

With his size, he has the ability to play multiple positions so that is also valuable. He is a great passer and has a great feel for the game. These are all things the Hoosiers could use.

Let us repeat the Hoosiers are going to be very good with the group they have, but they do have two scholarships open and are undoubtedly still looking to fill those spots. Cunningham would be the icing on the cake for this recruiting class.

Would bringing him in, though, upset the players they have already recruited? It is possible that the players already committed could feel slighted but at the end of the day, they have to understand that a player of his talent will only make the team better. Having depth at the guard position is never a bad thing. You have to bring in talent to compete and make each other better and this is exactly what would happen.

He probably hasn’t even taken a second look at the Hoosiers, but there aren’t a lot of schools that still have scholarships open, let alone two. It may be a pipe dream, but if he was available the Hoosiers should absolutely go after him. There is very little risk of going after him, and a lot of upside.