The Indiana Hoosiers basketball program are officially a finalist for 7-foot-0, 330-pound junior center Marcis Ponder.
The other finalists for Ponder include Cincinnati, Florida State, Illinois, Miami (FL), Providence and Texas.
NEWS: 4⭐️ Marcis Ponder, a 7-foot center in the 2026 class, is down to seven schools, he tells @Rivals.
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 16, 2025
The Top-75 overall recruit discusses his finalists: https://t.co/cxPikxaisN pic.twitter.com/77sa6ZW4sU
Ponder also held offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Kansas, Texas, Tennessee, Auburn, Arizona State, Georgetown, Florida State, Illinois, Georgia, Rutgers, Providence, UCF, Miami, Murray State, Mississippi State and many more.
Ponder is ranked as the 13th best player in the State of Virginia, the ninth best center prospect nationally and the No. 65 overall player in the country per 247Sports. According to On3 Sports Ponder is the No. 84 player in the nation and ninth-rated center.
MaxPreps lists him as averaging 9.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game this past season in 32 appearances for West Oaks Academy in Florida.
Ponder currently plays at Gillion Basketball Academy in Virginia and goes by the nickname ‘The Big Show’ and has been called ‘Baby Shaq.’
Indiana currently has one player committed in the class of 2026. Prince-Alexander Moody committed to the Hoosiers last month.
Ponder doesn't possess the spacing ability that most highly recruited centers do, but his athleticism, strength, and ability to completely change a game make up for it. There truly hasn't been a big man recruit that dominates the paint quite like him.
Below are extended highlights of Ponder from his junior season.