Indiana's frontcourt struggled throughout the course of Darian DeVries' first season at Indiana, and he is aiming to make sure that doesn't happen again. DeVries re-vamped IU's frontcourt for the upcoming season with transfer additions Aiden Sherrell (Alabama) and Samet Yigitoglu (SMU), and is now turning his attention to the future.
Indiana lands commitment from rising international center Felix Kiehlneker
On Tuesday afternoon, Indiana secured a commitment from international center Felix Kiehlneker. He is a 7'1" prospect from Germany, and is one of the top players in his age group. According to Peegs.com, Kiehlneker is heralded as the No. 5 overall prospect in Germany aged 19 or younger.
Currently 18 years old, Kiehlneker was Germany's starting center at this summer's FIBA U18 EuroBasket. That was where Indiana assistant coach Drew Adams scouted Kiehlneker and quickly put him on DeVries' radar. Now, Kiehlneker is officially Bloomington bound.
NEWS: German 7-footer Felix Kiehlneker has committed to Indiana in the class of 2027, agents Michael Canty and Craig Snow of Wyn Sports Group told DraftExpress.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) September 15, 2026
The 18-year-old ratiopharm Ulm product was Germany's starting center at this summer's FIBA U18 EuroBasket. pic.twitter.com/EekRulTvvu
Kiehlneker spent last season playing for ratiopharm Ulm where he averaged 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 60% from the field. He currently plays in Germany's second-tier professional league after moving up a level last year.
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According to 247Sports, DeVries and the Hoosiers beat out a list of competitors consisting of UConn, UCLA, Florida, USC, and Clemson for his services. Along with Indiana, Kiehlneker also took an official visit to USC.
Kiehlneker becomes Indiana's second commitment for the 2027 cycle, joining 6'4" point guard Chase Branham.
Darian DeVries continues bolstering Indiana's frontcourt as much as possible
The Hoosiers underwhelmed in DeVries' first season in Bloomington. Indiana finished with an overall record of 18-14 to go along with a 9-11 mark in Big Ten play, and ultimately missed the NCAA Tournament. The frontcourt was a big reason why.
Simply put, the Hoosiers didn't have the size, athleticism, or physicality at the 4 and 5 positions that is needed to thrive in the Big Ten. Indiana was among the worst rebounding teams in the conference, and ranked dead last in the Big Ten with 8.2 offensive rebounds per game. Opponents regularly controlled the glass when going up against the Hoosiers, which played a big part in Indiana's lackluster season.
Heading into the offseason, DeVries knew that rebuilding the frontcourt would be priority No. 1. He made significant strides in that area, bringing in Sherrell and Yigitoglu via the transfer portal. Together, they could be among the best frontcourt combinations in the Big Ten this season. Other pieces such as Trent Sisley, Trevor Manhertz, and Clemens Sokolov could also provide valuable frontcourt depth.
Landing a guy like Kiehlneker shows that DeVries is continuing to prioritize size and athleticism in the frontcourt. Kiehlneker brings intriguing upside and gives Indiana another versatile piece to work with in the paint. Moving forward, look for DeVries to continue searching for players with a strong combination of size and potential. If that continues, the Hoosiers’ frontcourt could be significantly more dangerous moving forward.
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