[6BS] Hoosiers Add First 2026 Recruit
Power-Five Home Game Added to Schedule For This Fall
Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall, and presented by our friends at Homefield Apparel, where we highlight the five most essential IU basketball stories of the past week, plus take a look at how the other IU sports programs are doing.
For the first time in many weeks, several major stories occurred in Hoosier Nation. This was highlighted by the team adding their first high school recruit for 2026.
Besides this, a schedule addition, a TBT update, and a former Indiana player wrapping up their series in the NBA Finals. As usual, we will conclude with weekly shows and a look at other IU sports, which was highlighted by a licensing announcement.
The Assembly Call is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Here is what is in this week’s edition:
Hoosiers Add First 2026 Recruit
IU Adds Power-Five Home Game For Non-Conference
TBT Information Confirmed
Bryant And Pacers Play Fall In Painful Game Seven To Lose NBA Championship
Weekly Shows
Hoosier Roundup-Licensing Partnership Announced
Banner #1: Hoosiers Add First 2026 Recruit
With the roster finally set for this fall seemingly, the Hoosiers have now turned to 2026-2027. The chasing of prospects for a year from now seems to have worked. This is because new IU coach Darian DeVries’ pursuit of future talent has landed a commitment from combo guard Prince-Alexander Moody.
Indiana hauled in the Maryland product by beating out several other power-five schools including Illinois, Michigan State, Providence, Virginia Tech, and several others. Moody ranks no. 170 in the 247Sports composite rankings and a three-star. However, 247’s own numbers have him much higher at no. 123 and a four-star.
There was one other small piece of recruiting info. This comes in the form of fellow 2026 target Bryson Howard having a highlight video released.
Banner #2: IU Adds Power-Five Home Game For Non-Conference
Another piece of the non-conference schedule was announced this week. It was already known the Hoosiers had signature matchups against Marquette, Louisville, and Kentucky. However, these will all come away from Bloomington.
Now a power-five school was confirmed to be coming to Assembly Hall for a higher-end pre-Big Ten matchup. This opponent is Kansas State and the game will be on Nov. 25. While the Wildcats have been up and down recently performance-wise, they still represent a quad-two opportunity if last year’s no. 65 KenPom ranking is similar in 2025.
Also, if Bart Torvik’s preseason ranking of no. 47 is correct, it will give Indiana a fourth top-50 challenge before the calendar flips to 2026. The only other known opponent so far is mid-major Milwaukee.
In other news related to this coming season, features were written about Tayton Conerway, Tucker DeVries and Conor Enright, Trent Sisley, and Lamar Wilkerson. Also, Joe Lunardi’s bracketology still has the squad just outside the NCAA Tournament as the second team missing the field.
Finally, when it comes to coach Devries himself, he confirmed his entire staff for the upcoming fall. He also provided an update on summer workouts.
Banner #3: TBT Information Confirmed
The IU alumni team for the TBT continues to come together for next month’s tournament. The squad is now up to eight former Hoosiers after Miller Kopp confirmed his participation. He joins James Blackmon Jr., Al Durham Jr., Yogi Ferrell, Jordan Hulls, Juwan Morgan, Race Thompson, and Troy Williams.
The competition will be in July beginning at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Their first matchup will be on July 19 as the two seed in their regional against Fail Harder. The winner of the whole event receives one million dollars and tickets for the games can be purchased here.
Banner #4: Bryant And Pacers Play Fall In Painful Game Seven To Lose NBA Championship
The NBA Finals wrapped up last weekend with major implications locally. Former Hoosier Thomas Bryant is part of the team that competes in Indiana and is just up the road from Bloomington. While he is the backup center to Myles Turner, he plays a role off the bench for the Pacers at times.
However, Bryant contributed minimally since the first game of the series and appeared only sparingly thereafter. With that said, he was playing for his second NBA championship and the Pacers looked to deliver the state’s first major basketball title since IU in 1987.
Indiana as a whole, created a dogfight before falling 4-3 in the series against the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers lost game seven in the most painful way possible with star Tyrese Haliburton tearing his Achilles which will result in him missing all of 2025-2026 as well. He joins a growing number of star players in the league to recently suffer this injury which commissioner Adam Silver said is being looked into why this is.
Indiana came the closest they ever had to raising the Larry O’Brien Trophy as champions since joining the NBA and provided the state with a thrilling ride. However, with Haliburton’s injury, their championship window likely shuts for now (although they still feature a very deep and competitive roster that should make the postseason even without its best player). With that said, it is likely to reopen in 2026-2027 upon Haliburton’s return with all its young and talented personnel intact.
Also, when it comes to former Hoosiers, another very recent one has a shot at playing at the next level. Oumar Ballo will get his chance to show his skills after joining the NBA’s upcoming summer league.
Presenting Sponsor: Homefield Apparel
Homefield’s annual Black Friday sale has already begun. Use the promo code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout to get 20% off your entire order.
The item of the week for this week is the new “Hurryin’ Hoosiers” snapback hat. Both
Jerod Morris and
Tony Adragna
have it, and can attest to its quality and fit.
Plus, how cool is it to have an item celebrating the great teams under Branch McCracken?
Banner #5: Weekly Shows
The Back Home Network was on air multiple times this week. Crimson Cast and Dribble Drive both had shows over the last few days. Also, a new BHN program called Welcome to Football Weather had its debut this week.
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Banner #6: Hoosier Roundup-Licensing Partnership Announced
IU announced a partnership with CLC for the promotion of its brand licensing.
Baseball’s Devin Taylor was named an All-American. Also, former Hoosier Jack Perkins made his MLB debut.
Softball had one of its players receive the Big Ten Medal of Honor.
Multiple IU athletes were present at the Ally Activism Summit.
Thanks for your continued support for The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall. We’ll be back next weekend with a new roundup.
Now go enjoy yourself a 6-banner Sunday.
Aaron (Ari) Shifron
Assembly Call Contributor
The Assembly Call is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.