4-star Indiana commit is proving the Hoosiers scored big time with his recruitment

Always be 'crootin'. When it comes to the Indiana Hoosiers, yes, they may be at the top of the college football world under Curt Cignetti, but things have been better for Darian DeVries on the hardwood. Tuesday's awful home loss to Northwestern may keep Indiana out of the NCAA Tournament. That being said, Indiana appears to have a special player committed to them in 2026 in Trevor Manhertz.

This highlight reel of Manhertz putting dudes in a blender in North Carolina should have fans amped.

According to the 247Sports Composite, Manhertz is the No. 1 player from North Carolina, the No. 39 small forward in the country, and the No. 100 prospect in the 2026 recruiting cycle. He committed to Indiana on Jan. 28 over Duke and Louisville. At 6-foot-8 and 185 pounds, he has the necessary athleticism and range to be great out on the wing for IU. It is a matter of level of competition for him...

The real question is how soon can Manhertz start playing for a Hoosiers team that might need him.

4-star commit Trevor Manhertz cannot get to Bloomington fast enough

There are three things that stand out from Manhertz's highlight video. The first is how silky smooth his stroke is from 3-point range. With how effortless it looks coming out of his left hand, it is easy to seeing that part of his game translating quite well into Big Ten play. The second has to be his on-court awareness. Whether he is blocking a shot, attacking the rim, or distributing, he makes the smart play.

And finally, the third aspect of this package of highlights that stands out is the sheer presence he has on the court. You get the impression that the other team wants to do everything in its power to stop him, but it cannot. Yes, he will be going up against the heavy-hitters of the Big Ten and not some Christian private school from North Carolina. However, he does seem to play with a ton of confidence.

To be quite frank, Indiana needs more players like Lamar Wilkerson to grow and learn under DeVries. This may be his last year in school, so he and Manhertz's path may not overlap. However, there seems to be too much isolation and hero ball nonsense going on within this year's team. It is playing a part in why Indiana could miss the tournament. The upper echelon of the Big Ten is not scared of them at all.

For now, Manhertz will arrive on campus in a few months to help usher in a new era for Indiana hoops.