One very important factor in the transfer portal nowadays is that it allows new head coaches to quicker build their programs. Darian DeVries has a lot to prove to the Hoosier faithful in the years to come, but landed another important transfer in Lamar Wilkerson, a talented scorer who comes by way of Sam Houston State.
Wilkerson is a 6-4 guard originally from Ashdown, Arkansas who wasn’t exactly on a ton of radars out of high school. Despite solid production, he actually began his collegiate career at Three Rivers College, though he put up monster numbers at that level. His incredible play there caught more attention and led him to Sam Houston and a place in Huntsville.
Darian DeVries secures major transfer portal win by landing Lamar Wilkerson
During his sophomore season, his first with the Bearkats, Wilkerson carved out a role off the bench with decent production, though he really starting coming into his own as an upperclassman. Wilkerson was a starter in Sam Houston’s backcourt each of the last two seasons with rising production. His junior year saw him eclipse more than 13 points a game, but he far exceeded that production as a senior.
This third and final year with the Bearkats wasn’t the greatest, as the team finished just 13-19, but Wilkerson put up incredible numbers. He led the team in numerous categories, averaging 20.5 points and 4.0 rebounds while knocking down 44.5% of his 3-pointers on the season. His efforts earned him First Team All-CUSA honors for a second-straight season while also ranking 7th in the entire nation in 3-point shooting percentage.
Wilkerson scored in double figures in every single game this past season, even putting up 18 points at Indiana back in early December. More notably, he had 28 points in a win at Lamar, dropped 29 several times in CUSA play, and ended the regular season with a 32-point outburst against New Mexico State. In fact, over Sam Houston State’s final eight games of the season, Wilkerson averaged 24.6 points per game and was pretty lethal from long range.
Obviously, doing that in Conference USA is different from putting together that much production in the Big Ten. While Wilkerson likely won’t be dropping twenty every night at the power conference level, those shooting numbers are something that the Hoosiers hope he can replicate at Assembly Hall. He becomes one major focal point of what should be a new-look offense that’ll also lean heavily on Tucker DeVries.
Wilkerson notably opted for the Hoosiers over a few other prominent programs, beliving in what Darian DeVries and this staff can do this upcoming season. He has a chance to be one of the best shooters in the country next season and help put Indiana on the map. We’ll have to see what other talent Indiana can land in the portal, especially in shoring up depth in that frontcourt.