That’s A Wrap: IU basketball senior forward Sam Alexis

Photos from IU basketball's win against Wisconsin.

Welcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our player-by-player recap of the 2025-26 Indiana Hoosiers. Our next recap focuses on Sam Alexis.

Alexis (32 games): 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 68.7 FG% in 21.3 minutes per game.

Previously: Trent Sisley, Jasai Miles, Nick Dorn, Tayton Conerway, Reed Bailey, Conor Enright

Sam Alexis transferred to Indiana as a reigning national champion from Florida.

Bloomington was the third and final stop of Alexis’ career. He spent two seasons at Chattanooga, averaging 7.9 points per game while shooting 54.1 percent. Alexis averaged just 11.9 minutes per game over 24 games with the Gators and hoped to make an impact on a new team.

Brought in to provide depth in the frontcourt, the 6-foot-9 forward started the season behind fellow big Reed Bailey. Playing off the bench for the first nine games of the season, Alexis earned his playing time with consecutive dazzling outings in non-conference play.

The Apopka, Florida, native made an immediate impact in the season opener against Alabama A&M. Alexis scored 17 points on 6-for-7 shooting, adding eight rebounds and three assists in his debut in the cream and crimson. Alexis averaged 10 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on 74 percent shooting in the first nine games of the season.

He ultimately made his first start in the Hoosiers’ Big Ten home opener against Penn State on Dec. 9, but only played 16 minutes in a 113-72 win.

Unfortunately for the Florida transfer, his next eight games were vastly different than the first nine of the season. Despite earning the starting role, Alexis’ minutes dropped because of foul trouble. In the team’s home loss to Nebraska, Alexis played just 10 minutes and was whistled for three fouls.

Because he was sitting on the bench, he failed to eclipse double figures in points during the stretch from December 9th to January 13th.

Although his minutes were limited due to foul trouble, Alexis maintained a high field-goal percentage. Alexis shot 66.7 percent from the field in January. Even through his foul woes, head coach Darian DeVries maintained faith in his big man.

Following a road loss at Michigan State, Alexis got back on track against Iowa. He totaled 13 points and eight boards on 5-for-7 shooting. Even in a crushing loss for the Hoosiers, it was a good sign that the forward was starting to return to form.

Alexis added 13 points in the blowout loss in Ann Arbor to Michigan, but failed to reach double-digit points in the next four games. In the Purdue game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Alexis’ minutes were scarce due to foul trouble. He made just one basket in 14 minutes on the floor in the Hoosiers’ upset victory against their in-state rival.

His points were limited on the West Coast, but he continued his stretch of efficient shooting. In the three-game stretch against Purdue, UCLA and USC, Alexis made all seven of his shots. It transferred back home during the brief, two-game homestand.

In games against Wisconsin and Oregon, Alexis dominated. He shot 17-of-18 from the field, scoring 19 points and 16 points, respectively. From dunks to short midrange jumpers, there wasn’t a shot that Alexis was uncomfortable with.

It was a five-game stretch that began to define who Alexis was in the Indiana system. While Bailey struggled to provide the team consistency on offense, Darian DeVries’ offense ran through Alexis at times, putting the forward in the spotlight. Because of the high usage rate, Alexis got to the line at a career-high clip. The career 57.9 percent free-throw shooter shot a career-best 72.5 percent from the charity stripe.

In addition to his offensive explosion, Alexis thrived on defense. He recorded multiple blocked shots in eight different games. Alexis averaged over a block per game during Big Ten play.

On senior night in Bloomington, No. 4 in white ended his short tenure at Assembly Hall with a bang. The senior recorded his lone double-double of the season, finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

In his final three games in an Indiana uniform – losses to Ohio State and Northwestern – but in true form, he was efficient from the field. Alexis set a program record by shooting 68.7 percent from the field this season (minimum 100 made field goals).

Bottom line: Alexis’ progression over the course of the 32-game season was ultimately a success story. Not only for the graduating senior, but for DeVries and his staff. The development of a forward was unexpected from DeVries in year one and gives future high school and portal recruits a blueprint of how they can get better at Indiana. Alexis was the second-most reliable player down the stretch behind Lamar Wilkerson.

Quotable: “He’s given us these last two games some low presence that maybe we haven’t utilized enough to be honest with you. Sometimes, as coaches, you’ve got to admit your mistakes. Tonight, he was able to do it big on big and get to a spot and get into a move.” – Darian DeVries on the play of Alexis in early February.

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