Busting Brackets
Fansided

Indiana Basketball: Setting 2019 offseason priorities for the Hoosiers

By Lukas Harkins

BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 14: A rack of basketballs at the Indiana Hoosiers games against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on January 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 14: A rack of basketballs at the Indiana Hoosiers games against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on January 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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DES MOINES, IA – MARCH 19: The Hoosiers cheer team performs. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IA – MARCH 19: The Hoosiers cheer team performs. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Bring Hunter and Thompson up to speed.

In order for Indiana to reach its potential during this coming season, Race Thompson and Jerome Hunter will need to return to 100%. Both players missed the vast majority of this past season as they were unable to show why they were so highly-rated out of high school. And while both of them are extremely inexperienced at the college level, they could play major roles during this coming campaign. Hunter and Thompson were top-50 recruits from their respective classes and should see roles this year. Due to the fact that they have played 63 combined collegiate minutes, though, they might need some time to ease into playing big minutes.

Thompson, who was ranked at No. 134 in the 2017 class, is a well-rounded wing with the ability to contribute in many ways. While he might not boast any “elite” skills, he can do just about everything well when on the court. He is a high-energy player who can be tasked with major assignments defensively and put together his fair share of offensive buckets as well. Thompson’s all-around game should warrant plenty of minutes in the frontcourt next season.

Hunter, on the other hand, was ranked higher out of high school at No. 59, but he came in the 2018 class. A 6-foot-7 wing, Hunter underwent leg surgery in November and elected to redshirt this past season. This will technically be his freshman year coming up and he should be in for plenty of minutes. Due to his size and perimeter play, Hunter projects as a versatile defender with the ability to consistently create mismatches on the offensive end.

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