Indiana Basketball Is Finally Doing It Right: DeVries’ Portal Overhaul Sends a Message

The Indiana Hoosiers aren’t just having a good week.

They’re having a defining one.

Darian DeVries didn’t dip into the transfer portal—he attacked it. Six additions in a matter of days, and suddenly, Indiana sits with the No. 1 portal class in the country. That’s not hype. That’s a statement.

And for once, it actually feels different. It feels a lot different when you realize that for the first time in a few years, the Hoosiers actually have a top-rated incoming Freshman class. Now it will come down to coaching, and Devries has proven to be a capable coach in the past.

Last Year Was a Lesson — This Year Is a Correction

Let’s not pretend last year worked.

It didn’t. Not even close.

DeVries’ first portal class was built on mid-major production and one-year rentals. Guys who put up numbers elsewhere but didn’t translate physically or athletically at the Big Ten level. The result?

A roster that lacked:

• Size
• Toughness
• Explosiveness
• And most importantly… depth that could win games in March

That team wasn’t built to survive a Big Ten grind, let alone make a tournament run. And it showed.

But here’s the key:

DeVries didn’t double down on a mistake.

He adjusted.

A lot of coaches want to play a certain way and are too stubborn to adjust, that is not Devries and you can tell by the addition of the two Bigs so far.

This Portal Class Is Built for the Big Ten

This isn’t a collection of hopefuls.

This is a roster overhaul with purpose.

The additions of Jaeden Mustaf, Darren Harris, Markus Burton, Samet Yigitoglu, Aiden Sherrell, and Bryce Lindsay immediately change the identity of this team. More athletic. More physical. More versatile.

But the real difference?

Experience that matters.

These aren’t one-year fixes. These are players with:

• Multiple years of high-major experience
• Multiple years of eligibility remaining

That’s how you build something—not just for now, but for the next two to three seasons.

And that’s something Indiana hasn’t had in a long time. Next year they will have a returning roster to build from instead of another complete rebuild if this is done right and I think it is being done right.

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Short-Term Buzz, Long-Term Stability

Let’s be clear—this class raises the ceiling immediately.

Indiana should be better in Year 2. Period. An NCAA Tournament bid should be a given with this roster, last year we hoped it would be enough, this roster is different though.

But the bigger win is sustainability. This roster isn’t going to reset every offseason. There’s continuity being built here, something Indiana fans have been begging for.

You can actually see a foundation forming.

That hasn’t been the case in Bloomington for years.

The Freshmen Matter Too — And They Fit

The transfer class gets the headlines, but don’t ignore the incoming freshmen.

Vaughn Karvala (6’6 forward) — A legit wing with size and versatility, ranked inside the Top 60 nationally. Trevor Manhertz (6’8 forward) — Length, athleticism, and positional flexibility—exactly what this roster needed. Prince-Alexander Moody (6’4 guard) — A combo guard who can create, defend, and give Indiana backcourt depth with real upside.

This is a Top 20 class nationally, and more importantly—it complements the portal additions.

That’s how good teams are built.

Not just stars.

Pieces that fit.

What This Really Means

This isn’t about winning the offseason.

Indiana’s done that before. Well, at least we thought they were.

This is about finally understanding what wins in the Big Ten:

• Size and strength
• High-major experience
• Depth across multiple positions
• And players who can grow together

For the first time in a while, Indiana looks like a team being built—not patched together.

Final Word

Darian DeVries got it wrong the first time.

Let’s be honest about that.

But what matters is what he’s doing now.

He learned. He adjusted. And now he’s building something that actually has a chance to last.

Indiana fans have heard promises before.

This time?

It looks like a plan.

And if it works…

This week might be the moment Hoosier basketball finally turned the corner.