Hoosier Men’s Hoops: Late 2023 Recruiting Update

The hiring of Mike Woodson following the 2021 season has proven to be program changing for Indiana University men’s basketball. Woodson has instilled confidence in the players that he has coached, and that confidence has been contagious when it comes to prospective Hoosiers’ belief in him. Kel’el Ware, the 8th rated prospect in the freshman class of 2022, elected to bring his talents to Bloomington following one season at Oregon. After the success that Trayce Jackson-Davis had under Woodson’s tutelage, Ware has emerged as another big who has truly blossomed under Woodson’s wing.

Not long after Ware’s acquisition, Woodson won the services of 2023 McDonald’s All American Mackenzie Mgbako. It was yet another seismic addition to add to his impressive track record. Woodson has quickly established himself as a recruiting mastermind, and he has not shown signs of letting up in that department anytime soon.

While we remain focused on the 2023-2024 Hoosiers, here is what has been going on as of late behind the scenes regarding the future Hoosiers.

CLASS OF 2024

Unfortunately for Hoosier fans, the team was unsuccessful in landing the 2nd rated player in next season’s freshman class:

While that may be a tough pill to swallow, the team has already secured one major commitment for 2024. Earlier this Fall, smooth swingman Liam McNeeley chose Indiana over the likes of Kansas and Texas. McNeeley is a 6’7″ combo forward with a versatile offensive arsenal. His shot-making ability from all levels should be critical to a program in such desperate need of some outside shooting assistance.

While the Hoosiers may have missed out on Dylan Harper to Rutgers and fellow 5-star guard Boogie Fland to Kentucky, it appears that they are still firmly in the mix for 5-star center Derik Queen as he ponders his decision. The team has other 2024 targets, but we will have to wait and see how the chips fall in the weeks to come.

CLASS OF 2025

There may not be any commitments to show for it so far, but the class of 2025 wheels have already been turning. With an offer already on the table, one of 2025’s most talented wings Joson Sanon will reportedly be in attendance for the Hoosiers’ December 16th showdown with Kansas. The springy 6’5″ guard has the potential to develop into quite a problem for opposing defenses. If the Hoosiers can pull out a win against the Jayhawks, it should bode well for their probability of landing him.

During football season, Indiana hosted a trio of talented prospects from the class of 2025. Jalen Haralson, Darius Adams, and Malachi Moreno traveled to Bloomington for unofficial visits, getting a taste of the tailgating experience and atmosphere inside of Memorial Stadium. Haralson and Adams are each 5-star guards, with Moreno being a 4-star prospect at the center spot. Woodson and the entire program will surely be upping their efforts for this particular class in the near future, and these will be some names to keep an eye out for in the foreseeable future.

CLASS OF 2026

Extending a bit further into the future, the Hoosiers also have some things brewing beneath the surface as it pertains to the class of 2026. Mike Woodson’s first official 2026 offer came to fruition roughly a month ago when the class’s 10th rated prospect Sam Funches secured a proposal from the Hoosiers. The crafty left-hander maneuvers and manhandle his way on the interior, but also possesses nice touch and is comfortable with his jumper. He would be yet another massive pickup for the program.

Guards DeZhon Hall and Jonathan Sanderson have also come up in recruiting discussions, with both taking visits to B-Town in recent months. This was Hall’s second visit with Indiana, as he was also in attendance for Hoosier Hysteria in October. Do not be surprised if these guys come up again in rumors tied to IU, but there will definitely be other 2026 (and beyond) names tethered to Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers in the near future.