Indiana Basketball: Breaking down the 2018 recruiting class

Indiana basketball has high expectations heading into this season thanks in part to the recruiting class coming in. How might these newcomers help the team?

Indiana basketball is one of the most historic programs in college sports. Even though there have been some tough hurdles to leap over in recent years, the Hoosiers have made the NCAA Tournament with some regularity (not compared to usual standards, though) and are now moving into a new era. 2018-19 will mark the second season under head coach Archie Miller, someone who is well-respected in the coaching ranks as a recruiter and teacher of the game.

Even though IUBB did not reach the Big Dance this past season, that is the expectation this time around. Not only do the Hoosiers return a fair amount of talent, including star forward Juwan Morgan, but they also bring in a top-15 recruiting class in the country. While I understand that just about everyone already knows about Romeo Langford but one recruit does not equate to an elite recruiting class.

In total, Coach Miller is bringing in five top-150 recruits (including Langford) to join his returning roster. The Hoosiers are going to have a mix of veterans and inexperience but it might just be one of the most talented rosters in the Big Ten. If Coach Miller is able to maximize the potential of this team, then Indiana basketball won’t just make the Big Dance but also compete for the conference title.

In order for this to happen, though, these recruits will need to fill important roles within the rotation. Here is a look at what each player in the 2018 recruiting class (stating this to explain why Race Thompson is excluded) can bring to the table.