Indiana commit makes statement showing on national stage at Chipotle Nationals

The Indiana Hoosiers are looking to take a big step forward in Year 2 of the Darian DeVries era in Bloomington. Year 1 ended in disappointment, as the Hoosiers went 1-6 down the stretch which ultimately doomed their NCAA Tournament hopes. IU fans are hungrier than ever for a March Madness run, and DeVries needs to vastly improve from last season when the new campaign rolls around in the fall.

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Help is on the way for DeVries and the Hoosiers, as Indiana's 2026 recruiting class features three top-80 players in the country and is currently ranked as the No. 21 class in the country by 247Sports.

Leading the class is Vaughn Karvala, who is a 6'6" forward who is originally from Wisconsin, but is playing his senior season for CIA Bella Vista Prep in Scottsdale, AZ. This week, Karvala is participating in the Chipotle Nationals in Fishers, IN, and he wasted no time making a strong impression against some of the top players in the country.

Indiana commit Vaughn Karvala shines at Chipotle Nationals

Karvala started quickly in Thursday's first round matchup against Paul VI (VA). He knocked down each of his first four shot attempts, which included draining a pair of three-pointers. He finished the contest with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. Karvala's efforts led CIA Bella Vista to a 79-67 victory.

The well-rounded performance has Hoosiers fans fired up for what is to come in Bloomington.

Karvala is the highest-ranked recruit in IU's 2026 class. He is rated as a 4-star prospect and ranked as the No. 51 overall player in the country, as well as the No. 6 player in Arizona. He committed to Indiana on November 1 and officially signed on November 17. He chose the Hoosiers over other offers from Cal, Xavier, Syracuse, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ole Miss, among others.

The IU roster is undergoing some major turnover, as the Hoosiers are losing six of their top seven scorers from this past season. That means Karvala could compete for substantial playing time as a true freshman in 2026. He owns great versatility and length, can knock down shots from the outside, and is extremely athletic boasting a 40-inch vertical jump.

After leading 3rd-seeded CIA Bella Vista to a first round win over 6th-seeded Paul VI, Karvala and his team will now play on Friday afternoon in the semifinal game. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN2. A win in that contest would put Karvala and Bella Vista Prep in the championship game, which is scheduled for Satrday at Noon E.T. on ESPN. All games are taking place at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, IN.