After a disappointing first season at the helm of the Indiana basketball program, Darian DeVries is looking to orchestrate a much-improved season in 2026-27. If the Hoosiers are going to get back to the NCAA Tournament, DeVries' new-look roster is going to need to gel together quickly. Sophomore forward Trent Sisley is the only returning player from last year's team, meaning there are plenty of new faces in Bloomington this season.
While Indiana's roster consists mostly of transfers, the incoming group of freshmen can all make an immediate impact and help the Hoosiers get back into the March Madness field. Prince-Alexander Moody, Vaughn Karvala, and Trevor Manhertz all got their first action with the Hoosiers on Wednesday in an exhibition game against Canada's Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. All three were impressive.
Hoosier freshmen make impressive debut
All three incoming freshmen saw substantial playing time on Wednesday in Indiana's first exhibition game of the new campaign. No rookies were included in the starting lineup, but Karvala and Moody were part of the first group to come off the bench. Manhertz joined them shortly after, and ended up leading the group with over 22 minutes of playing time. Moody was on the floor for 17:29 while Karvala saw just under 15 minutes of action.
Karvala's athleticism was on full display, as he was making plays above the rim on both ends of the floor. He is a highlight reel waiting to happen, and has great potential in Bloomington.
Manhertz made his presence known throughout the contest, as he racked up 10 points, 4 rebounds, and an assists. Owning a lanky 6'8" frame, Manhertz can also stretch the floor with a strong outside shooting ability. He wasn't afraid to let it fly, as he went 2-for-7 from beyond the arc.
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All three rookie were impressive, but the most eye-popping performance came from Moody. He racked up 13 points to go along with 3 assists and 3 rebounds. The 4-star prospect showed plenty of energy and athleticism when manning the point guard position, which is a great sign for his potential moving forward. He also displayed great chemistry with his fellow freshmen, as he made multiple impressive plays in transition with both Karvala and Manhertz. Moody also went 3-for-7 from three-point range.
Furthermore, Moody put on a show defensively. He led the Hoosiers with 5 steals and was pesky pressuing the ball all night long. Those steals led to quick transition buckets for IU. Moody's all-around impressive performance gives IU basketball fans a lot to be excited about.
Darian DeVries praises freshmen performances in first exhibition game
Following Indiana's 98-64 victory, DeVries had plenty of praise for his incoming group of freshmen.
"I thought they did a great job. They just came in and gave incredible effort. I thought they played with pretty good composure too for their first time out. They were very confident in what they were doing, so I was really happy with what that group brought. "Darian DeVries
Indiana basketball coach Darian DeVries on getting a productive night from a trio of true freshmen: "I thought they played pretty good composure too for their first time out. They were very confident in what they were doing. I was really happy with what that group brought." pic.twitter.com/ltuSTfTGgS
— Michael Niziolek (@michaelniziolek) July 16, 2026
It will be interesting to see how DeVries utilizes the incoming group of freshmen. Indiana's roster features six transfers that have multiple years of high-major experience. That kind of veteran leadership is key.
At the same time, all three rookies have strong potential, and if they continue to impress, could be in line for quality playing time. A lot of that has yet to be determined, but one thing is clear: This group of freshmen give IU basketball fans a lot to be excited about.
It's also worth noting that the incoming freshman group also includes German 7-foot center Clemens Sokolov, but he has not yet joined the team stateside.
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