Hoosiers rolling out ‘red carpet’ for Alabama F

Indiana basketball looked for much of the season like it was an NCAA Tournament team in its first year under Darian DeVries, but the Hoosiers fell apart late in the season and ended up missing out on March Madness as one of the first four teams out.

The Hoosiers fanbase is understandably already losing its patience with DeVries, which makes this a pivotal offseason in Bloomington. With Tucker DeVries graduating, Indiana has to hit multiple transfer portal signings to get back near the top of the Big Ten.

Indiana is trying to do just that with Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell. The Hoosiers are reportedly making a strong push for the Crimson Tide big man, according to Joe Tipton of On3 Sports.

“Aiden Sherrell took his first official visit this weekend. That visit was to Indiana; he arrived early Sunday afternoon,” Tipton wrote. “I am told that Indiana plans to pull out the red carpet in hopes of securing a commitment.”

If Indiana isn’t able to secure a commitment from Sherrell, Duke is among the number of other high-major programs that could make a run at him, per Tipton. However, the Hoosiers look to be in front at the moment and have their full focus on landing him.

Sherrell started 34 games last season for the Crimson Tide, playing nearly 24 minutes a night in those contests. In those games, he averaged 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as a force inside for Nate Oats and company. Sherrell also knocked down about a third of his 3-point attempts on decent volume, so he adds spacing on the offensive end.

The interior was a major weakness for Indiana last season, especially defensively, as some of the bigger and more talented teams in the Big Ten were able to wear down the Hoosiers on the interior during their late-season skid. Getting someone who can protect the rim like Sherrell would ensure that won’t be nearly as big a problem as Indiana seeks a return to the NCAA Tournament in 2027.

Indiana basketball looked for much of the season like it was an NCAA Tournament team in its first year under Darian DeVries, but the Hoosiers fell apart late in the season and ended up missing out on March Madness as one of the first four teams out. The Hoosiers fanbase is understandably already losing its patience with DeVries, which makes this a pivotal offseason in Bloomington.