A New Era of Shooting
Indiana University basketball coach Darian DeVries knows the Hoosiers will be measured by their perimeter shooting this season, especially after losing two of their most prolific three‑point threats.
Last year, more than half of IU’s field‑goal attempts came from beyond the arc, the highest three‑point percentage ever recorded by a Hoosiers squad.
The departure of high‑volume shooters Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries to the NBA Summer League removed 521 three‑point attempts from the roster, leaving only 48 such attempts from the previous season, all of which belong to sophomore forward Trent Sisley.
To offset the loss of size, DeVries has added Big Ten‑caliber frontcourt players Samet Yigitoglu, a 7‑foot‑2 center, and Aiden Sherrell, a 6‑foot‑11 stretch‑four, both of whom can open up space for shooters.
DeVries sees Darren Harris as the likely successor to Wilkerson’s shooting role; Harris has already logged 28 college triples in two seasons and is showing early signs of improvement.
Returning guards Markus Burton and Bryce Lindsay bring career three‑point percentages of 33.2% and 37.7% respectively, giving the team a solid core of proven shooters.
Freshmen Prince‑Alexander Moody, Vaughn Karvala and Trevor Manhertz have already begun hitting threes during summer workouts, adding depth to the backcourt.
Jaeden Mustaf, while shooting a respectable 37.2% from three‑point range, has done so on a relatively low volume, but his efficiency could increase with more opportunities.
Aiden Sherrell, a career 33.6% three‑point shooter, is being evaluated as a pick‑and‑pop option in the stretch‑four role, potentially stretching defenses further.
Coach DeVries remains confident that the combination of added size, returning experience and emerging freshmen will keep Indiana’s three‑point shooting a competitive weapon throughout the upcoming season.