Lamar Wilkerson was not the highest-recruited player in college basketball. He didn't play season after season for a blue-blood program. He wasn't paid millions in NIL money. Instead, Wilkerson worked hard through JUCO to get to a Division I program, and now all that hard work is paying off as he is getting his chance with a power conference school.
Wilkerson spent three seasons at Sam Houston State after transferring to the Bearkats from Three Rivers College, a JUCO school in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The Arkansas native knew if he wanted to play basketball at a high level, he would have to work his way up from the bottom, and that is exactly what he did.
After much deliberation and a big decision in front of him, Wilkerson chose to transfer to Indiana over Kentucky because he wanted to be an impact player, not just another player on the team. After making his official announcement, Wilkerson joined Rob Dauster and Jeff Goodman live on The Field of 68 podcast to talk about his decision.
It can be seen on the video that Wilkerson is so excited to be joining the Hoosiers because Indiana felt like home for him and when asked what he can promise Indiana fans, Wilkerson had the perfect answer that will make every Indiana fan wish basketball season was back already.
"You can expect to see a good dude that is all in and is 100% into bringing Indiana Hoosiers basketball back," Wilkerson said.
Lamar Wilkerson wants to be a part of the 'big-time name' of Indiana Hoosiers basketball over Kentucky
In the end, it truly was between Indiana and Kentucky for Wilkerson, even though he has interest from Auburn and Ole Miss, as well as other programs. However, when it came to deciding between Indiana and Kentucky, there was one key thing about the Hoosiers that drew Wilkerson in.
"I didn't want to go to Kentucky and just be another guy," Wilkerson said. "Hoosiers basketball you know is a big-time name and they haven't been where they want to be and I trust Coach DeVries and what he is bringing in and the type of coach he is and how he is going to put us in a position to win."
Wilkerson was grateful that Kentucky did so much to recruit him, but in the end, he wanted to stand out adn not just be another player to go through Kentucky's program. Right now, Wilkerson has the ability to be the leading man for the Hoosiers next season and help bring Indiana basketball back to what it has been known to be.
"Hoosier basketball will be back," Wilkerson said.
Those five words are something Indiana fans can hold onto until the season returns later this year, but make no mistake, Wilkerson is ready to go now.