The air in Bloomington feels different these days. If you walked into Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall a year ago, you saw the remnants of a Mike Woodson era that had simply run out of steam. Fast forward to early 2026, and the indiana hoosiers basketball transfer portal strategy has completely gutted and rebuilt this program in a way that feels almost reckless, yet somehow surgical.
Darian DeVries didn't just tweak the edges. He blew the whole thing up.
When he took over in March 2025, the roster was a ghost town. Malik Reneau bailed for Miami. Mackenzie Mgbako headed for Texas A&M before a season-ending foot injury sidelined him. Even the young core like Gabe Cupps (Ohio State) and Bryson Tucker (Washington) scattered to the winds. It was the kind of mass exodus that usually signals a five-year rebuild. Instead, DeVries used the portal like a high-speed 3D printer, churning out a competitive Big Ten roster in a single summer.
The new look: Who actually showed up?
You won't find many "blue blood" names on this jersey list, and honestly, that was the point. DeVries prioritized "skill and fit" over "stars and hype." The headliner, obviously, is his son, Tucker DeVries. After lighting it up at Drake and a brief stint at West Virginia, Tucker brought his two-time Missouri Valley Player of the Year hardware to Bloomington. He isn't just a coach's kid; he’s the fulcrum of an offense that actually values floor spacing.
But the real story is the mid-major hunters. Look at Lamar Wilkerson from Sam Houston State. The guy was a bucket in Conference USA, and critics wondered if his game would translate to the physical grind of the Big Ten. It has. He's currently one of the most impactful scorers on the team, proving that 20 points per game in Texas still counts for something in Indiana.
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The roster is a patchwork quilt of experience:
- Reed Bailey (Davidson): A 6'10" forward who can actually pass. He’s the type of "connector" player Indiana lacked for years.
- Conor Enright (DePaul/Drake): He knows the DeVries system better than anyone, acting as a coach on the floor.
- Jasai Miles & Josh Harris (North Florida): Two guys who brought double-digit scoring and, more importantly, a chip on their shoulder.
- Jason Drake (Drexel): A veteran guard who provides the secondary ball-handling needed to survive Big Ten ball-pressure.
It’s a weird group. On paper, it looks like a mid-major All-Star team. In practice, they are 12-4 and sitting at 3-2 in the conference as of mid-January 2026. They play for each other. They shoot the three—something that felt like a foreign concept under the previous regime.
Why the "Purge" was necessary
People hated seeing Malik Reneau leave. It hurt. Reneau is currently tearing it up in the ACC, averaging 20.4 points and 6.7 rebounds. Watching your best players walk out the door is never easy for a fan base that views loyalty as a sacred virtue. But the reality is that the Woodson-era roster wasn't winning. It was stagnant.
The indiana hoosiers basketball transfer portal madness of 2025 allowed DeVries to bypass the "culture building" phase and jump straight into "execution." By bringing in ten transfers, he ensured that everyone on the floor was his guy. There’s no "well, this is how we used to do it" in the locker room. There’s only the DeVries way.
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Is the team perfect? No. They still lack elite size at the five spot, which shows up when they play teams like Purdue or Michigan State. They rely heavily on shooting variance. If the threes aren't falling, the "skill over size" philosophy can look a little flimsy. But compared to the clunky, post-heavy sets of the past, this is a breath of fresh air.
Dealing with the "International Mystery"
One of the most intriguing pivots DeVries made was late in the cycle. He didn't just stick to the NCAA portal; he went global. Adding 6'11" Bosnian center Andrej Acimovic was a massive win that most analysts didn't see coming. Acimovic provides the rim protection that the smaller, more mobile transfer forwards couldn't offer.
Recruiting international talent is the new frontier of the portal era. While other schools were fighting over the same three power conference backups, Indiana's staff was scouting Spanish phenoms like Sayon Keita. It’s a diversification strategy. If you can't outbid the blue bloods for a five-star American point guard, you find the best 19-year-old in Europe who fits your system.
What most fans get wrong about the portal
The biggest misconception is that the portal is just about NIL money. Sure, the "Hoosiers Connect" collective has to be competitive. You don't get a guy like Reed Bailey without a solid package. But for most of these guys—especially the ones coming from places like Sam Houston State or North Florida—it’s about the stage.
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They want to play in Assembly Hall. They want the chance to prove they belong in the NBA conversation. DeVries sold them on a system where they wouldn't be "role players," but featured options. That’s a powerful drug for a kid who has spent three years playing in front of 2,000 people.
The 2026 outlook: What happens next?
The portal never sleeps. Even as we watch this current iteration of the Hoosiers, the staff is already looking at the 2026 spring window. The goal now is to move from "rebuilding via portal" to "supplementing via portal."
You want to get to a point where you're only adding two or three pieces a year, not ten. The 2026 recruiting class, led by targets like Vaughn Karvala and Anthony Thompson, suggests that DeVries wants to build a high school foundation again. But the portal will always be the safety net.
If you are following the indiana hoosiers basketball transfer portal updates, keep an eye on the frontcourt. With Reed Bailey being a senior, that 6'10" spot is going to be the #1 priority when the window opens after the tournament.
Actionable Insights for Following IU's Roster Moves:
- Watch the "Usage Rate": See how much the offense flows through Tucker DeVries vs. the mid-major transfers. It tells you who the staff trusts.
- Monitor International Ties: DeVries is clearly comfortable looking outside the US; expect more European "portal-style" additions.
- Don't Get Attached: In 2026, the roster is essentially a one-year contract. Assume everyone is a free agent until they step on the court for the season opener.
The era of the "four-year starter" is dead in Bloomington. It has been replaced by a high-octane, revolving door of talent that—so far—is actually winning basketball games.