Indiana University’s men’s basketball program has announced the addition of Sam Alexis to its lineup for the upcoming FISU America Games, a move that underscores the team’s intent to field a competitive squad on the international stage.
A Familiar Face Returns
A familiar face returns as Alexis, a former Hoosier who previously wore the crimson and gold, arrived in Peru on Tuesday morning and is slated to start in Thursday’s opening match against the Virgin Islands.
His recent stint in the NBA Summer League with the Oklahoma City Thunder saw him average 3.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, numbers that coach hopes will translate into a defensive anchor for the tournament.
The roster will be without SMU transfer Samet Yigitoglu, a Turkish prospect who remains eligible only for practice, and freshman signee Clemens Sokolov, an international player not expected to join the team until August.
What’s Next
Indiana opens the group stage of the FISU America Games with a match against Peru on Tuesday night, a contest that will test the new chemistry before the Virgin Islands showdown. With the group stage looming, the focus shifts to how quickly the new additions can gel and whether the team can translate practice performance into competitive wins.