Player observations from IU basketball’s practice on July 7

IU basketball practice

Inside the Hall was in attendance for IU basketball’s practice on Tuesday morning at Cook Hall.

Last week, we had the chance to observe practices on June 18 and June 25.

The Hoosiers continue to prepare for a trip to Peru later this month for the FISU America Games. The 2026-27 IU roster will represent the United States in the event.

Here are some player observations from Tuesday morning’s practice:

Markus Burton – Burton continues to show why he was such a productive player over the last three seasons at Notre Dame. He’s a willing distributor who gets where he wants with the ball and has the speed to get all the way to the rim. The midrange is a pivotal part of his game. Defenses that choose to go under screens on him will likely be burned by his polished midrange shot, which he isn’t afraid to take. As was the case in the first two practices we observed, Burton talks a lot on the floor and competes hard on every possession.

Darren Harris – The Duke transfer continues to look like a player who is capable of capitalizing on his opportunity for a bigger role. Harris never broke through as a rotation regular in Durham but is certainly in the top six of the IU rotation as things currently stand. On Tuesday, he made some plays off the dribble that showed he’s more than a spot-up shooter. He twice got all the way to the rim and finished with a layup and also made a few midrange jump shots off the dribble. Still, the most intriguing part of his game is the perimeter shot. Harris has a quick, efficient release and very good form.

Jaeden Mustaf – Mustaf’s participation in practice was limited as he briefly left early on with a lower-body injury and then observed the rest of practice from the sidelines. It did not appear to be anything serious.

Bryce Lindsay – Lindsay didn’t participate in IU’s first open practice, but he did many of the same things today that he did 12 days ago in the second open practice. He’s a capable ball handler and a proven 3-point shooter. One thing that has stood out with Lindsay is his balance. He plays off of two feet and doesn’t put himself in many situations where he gets up in the air with the ball without anywhere to go. His perimeter shooting was streaky last season at Villanova, but he will have games next winter in Bloomington where he makes three or four 3-pointers.

Aiden Sherrell – Sherrell’s length continues to stand out this summer and his ability to impact shots all over the floor will be impactful for IU’s defense next winter. He moves his feet very well for a player who is 6-foot-10 and does a good job of using his length to alter shots. Sherrell is very comfortable stepping out to the perimeter and doesn’t hesitate to shoot from the midrange. His ability to space the floor will allow him to play alongside Samet Yigitoglu in a new look frontcourt that will look much different than what the Hoosiers put on the floor last winter.

Samet Yigitoglu – Yigitoglu is always smiling and appears to be having fun on the floor. That’s been the case in all three of the practices we’ve watched this summer. He’s also shown himself to be a pretty good passer from the high post area and isn’t going to be a player who demands the ball to be effective. When he does get position, he will be able to overpower most of the defenders he’ll face and he’s also aggressive on the offensive glass. Most of the shots he will be taking will be from inside of five feet, so expect him to shoot a high percentage and get to the line at a decent clip.

Trevor Manhertz – Manhertz has a smooth shooting stroke for a lefty and he’s still adjusting to the physicality of the college game. All of the rotation forwards on the roster outside of Vaughn Karvala are stronger than him, so he’s constantly battling to keep his position. Continuing to add weight and strength will benefit his game in the months and years to come. Right now, he’s most effective as a catch-and-shoot threat on the perimeter.

Trent Sisley – Sisley continues to work on his defense and the progress he makes on that end will likely determine how substantial his role will be next season. He’s clearly added upper-body strength since the end of last season and is playing with more confidence than he did as a freshman. Both Vaughn Karvala and Trevor Manhertz have said in interviews that he’s someone they look to for advice, which is a positive sign as he develops his voice in the locker room.

Prince-Alexander Moody – Moody looks the most ready of the three freshmen currently on campus to contribute next season. He’s a capable ball handler and while he didn’t shoot it particularly well on Tuesday, he’s proven that he can make shots in our previous looks at him this summer. These extra practices in June will be beneficial to his development as a freshman, as will the exhibition next week and the games later this month in Peru.

Vaughn Karvala – Long term, there’s a lot of potential with Karvala. He’s very active on both ends of the floor, can make perimeter shots and he’s athletic enough to get the occasional put-back in traffic. As is the case with Manhertz, he’ll have to keep getting stronger and more physical, which should come with time.

Justin Monden – Many have wondered why the Hoosiers added Monden, who played last season at Maryland Eastern Shore and at the Division II level before that. He’s been a solid practice player in three open practices, going at IU’s other guards and putting them in challenging situations.

Note: Freshman big man Clemens Sokolov is not yet on campus.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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