Darian DeVries has Indiana one step closer in race for coveted in-state prospect

Darian DeVries has been extremely reliant on the transfer portal over his first two offseasons in Bloomington. That is nothing new in the current era of college basketball, as teams across the country dip into the portal on a yearly basis when constructing their rosters.

Sam Alexis returns to Indiana in big move that raises expectations for Darian DeVries

But it's also important to have talent coming in through the high school ranks. High school recruiting still plays a vital role in roster construction, and Darian DeVries is starting to pickup some momentum on the recruiting trail.

DeVries' most recent step forward has Indiana closing in on one of the top prospects in The Hoosier State.

Indiana among finalists for 4-star prospect Jason Gardner Jr.

Jason Gardner Jr. is a name that Hoosier basketball fans will want to keep an eye on throughout the fall. Hailing from Fishers, IN, Gardner is ranked as the No. 67 overall prospect and the No. 6 player in the state of Indiana for the 2027 recruiting class according to 247Sports.

A 6'1" 185-pound combo guard, Gardner is one of the most sought-after prospects in the 2027 cycle. Indiana has been in the mix since the beginning, and DeVries is putting in the work to bring the local product to Bloomington.

That mission took a big step forward on Tuesday when Gardner announced Indiana as one of his final 8 contenders. Along with Indiana, Gardner is also considering Auburn, Mississippi State, Florida, Stanford, Creighton, Ohio State, and DePaul.

With his recruitment heating up, Gardner has already scheduled four official visits for the fall. He will be at Auburn on September 19, Creighton on September 25, Stanford on September 28, and Ohio State on October 3. He does not have an official visit to Indiana on the docket just yet, so getting that on the calendar is a top priority for DeVries and company.

The Hoosiers figure to have a home-field advantage in Gardner's commitment, as Fishers is only about an hour and a half drive from Bloomington. Using that to Indiana's advantage will be a major key for DeVries.

Darian DeVries looking to continue recruiting momentum

Indiana's incoming 2026 class is full of potential. The group of rookies that consists of Prince-Alexander Moody, Vaughn Karvala, and Trevor Manhertz all put together impressive showings in the FISU America Games last month. Their stock is already rising, and Hoosier fans have a lot to be excited about with this group.

When it comes to the 2027 cycle, DeVries has landed a commitment from 4-star combo guard Chase Branham. Branham is heralded as the No. 21 overall player and No. 4 combo guard in the country by 247Sports.

Those names give DeVries and the Hoosiers some solid recruiting momentum heading into the fall. Hoosier fans are hoping that continues with Gardner's recruitment.

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