As Indiana enters the Archie Miller era, the program enters the offseason with some level of roster uncertainty. Player defections are not uncommon during a head coaching change, so it would almost be surprising if Miller keeps Indiana's roster intact. At least two players have potential professional futures to weigh, one has to decide if he wants to pursue a medical redshirt and return for a fifth year, and two former Indiana signees have re-opened their recruitment. Here's a look at where the team's roster stands on March 27, the day of Miller's introductory press conference.
Medical Redshirt
Collin Hartman - Hartman suffered a season-ending, non-contact knee injury in September and underwent surgery a week later. He did not appear in any games during the season, which leaves the door open for a possible return. Former Indiana coach Tom Crean was open to Hartman returning to the team next season but the situation will have to be re-evaluated by Miller, as Indiana currently doesn't have any available scholarships.
However, that will likely change as a few Hoosiers might forgo their remaining college eligibility to pursue a professional career.
Possible Professional Decisions
OG Anunoby - CBS Sports' Gary Parrish reported that Anunoby is "leaning" towards entering the NBA draft. There's a chance Anunoby could have been drafted after his freshman season, based on his relatively meteoric rise last spring, and he entered his sophomore campaign with the expectations of a future first round draft pick. However, Anunoby suffered a season-ending knee injury against Penn State in January. Given the pre-injury hype surrounding Anunoby and his athletic potential, turning pro could be a sound business decision for him. DraftExpress.com project Anunoby to be selected 15th overall.
Thomas Bryant - DraftExpress.com projects Bryant to be drafted 39th overall in the 2017 NBA draft, which means the sophomore has a legitimate stay-or-go decision to make. He could have been a first round selection in last year's draft but he didn't even opt in to the pre-draft workouts, which he could have attended and still returned to school without penalty. While his three-point percentage improved as a sophomore, his overall shooting percentage and some of his per-40 minute number decreased during his second season in Bloomington.
James Blackmon Jr. - Blackmon Jr. toyed with entering the NBA draft after the past two seasons but wisely opted to return to school both times. The junior guard has stated his intention of graduating this year, so even if he's not a ready-made NBA player, he would leave Bloomington as a college graduate if he did enter the draft.
However, there is a chance Blackmon Jr. could leave Indiana while continuing to play college basketball...
Possible Graduate Transfers
James Blackmon Jr. - If Blackmon Jr. does graduate this year, he'll be eligible to take advantage of the NCAA's graduate transfer provision, allowing him to transfer and play immediately elsewhere. The junior guard has had somewhat of a tenuous relationship with Indiana, from his de-commitment and re-commitment to the Hoosiers in 2013, his season-ending injury that corresponded with Indiana's outright Big Ten title in 2016, consistent criticism regarding Blackmon Jr.'s defense from observers, and of course, a rocky 2016-17 season for everyone involved in the program. Could Blackmon Jr. graduate and look elsewhere for shots and playing time at the college level? Perhaps.
Robert Johnson/Tim Priller/Josh Newkirk/Freddie McSwain: One of the hallmark's of Indiana basketball under Crean was the team's academic record. Numerous players were able to graduate in three years and earn a second degree in four. Now, that success could come back to bite the Hoosiers in the form of possible roster attrition. If Indiana's other rising seniors, namely Johnson and Priller since they've been in Bloomington for three years, are able to graduate, they could potentially enter the grad transfer market. Newkirk and McSwain face different circumstances. Both players have already transferred to Indiana. Newkirk is in his fourth year of college (and second at Indiana) so it's possible he could be able to graduate and transfer again if he doesn't see at future in Bloomington. McSwain, arriving at Indiana from a junior college, is unlikely to be in position to be a grad transfer.
Staying
De'Ron Davis - The freshman forward will reportedly stay at Indiana. He's the only player who has made such a decision publicly.
Recruits
Justin Smith - Smith, Indiana's highest-rated 2017 signee, is the only member of Crean's recruiting class to not ask for his release amid the team's coaching change. The 6-foot-7 forward from Stevenson (IL) High School is rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 72 prospect in the country, according to 247Sports' Composite rankings.
Clifton Moore - Moore reportedly asked for his release from his letter of intent after Crean was fired. The 6-foot-10 stretch-four is a three-star recruit ranked among the top 150 recruits in the class of 2017.
Aljami Durham - Durham committed to Indiana in the fall of 2015 and has been vocal, on Twitter, of his support for the Hoosiers during the past year and a half. However, he also asked for his release from the school. Durham is a 6-foot-4 combo guard.
Miller has reportedly reached out to both Moore and Durham, expressing his interest in both players attending Indiana.
*****
It's nearly impossible to project what Indiana's roster will look like when next season rolls around, depending on who decides to go pro, who transfers and which members of Indiana's 2017 recruiting class ultimately decide to become a Hoosier. Indiana could possibly be over-signed by a scholarship or two, or Miller may have a few open scholarships to work with in the transfer market.
Here's what Indiana's rough depth chart of scholarship players would look like if every player currently on Indiana's roster, or who has signed a letter of intent, returns next season.
G - Josh Newkirk, Devonte Green
G - James Blackmon Jr., Curtis Jones
G - Robert Johnson, Freddie McSwain, Grant Gelon
F - OG Anunoby, Juwan Morgan, Justin Smith
C - Thomas Bryant, De'Ron Davis, Tim Priller
Considering that Anunoby and Bryant are probably the most likely player defections, Indiana's frontcourt could take a real hit, both in terms of All-Big Ten talent and depth. Juwan Morgan and De'Ron Davis have been solid backups and, at times, complimentary starters for the Hoosiers but they would be relied upon heavily if they are forced into starting roles next season.
Medical Redshirt
Collin Hartman - Hartman suffered a season-ending, non-contact knee injury in September and underwent surgery a week later. He did not appear in any games during the season, which leaves the door open for a possible return. Former Indiana coach Tom Crean was open to Hartman returning to the team next season but the situation will have to be re-evaluated by Miller, as Indiana currently doesn't have any available scholarships.
However, that will likely change as a few Hoosiers might forgo their remaining college eligibility to pursue a professional career.
Possible Professional Decisions
OG Anunoby - CBS Sports' Gary Parrish reported that Anunoby is "leaning" towards entering the NBA draft. There's a chance Anunoby could have been drafted after his freshman season, based on his relatively meteoric rise last spring, and he entered his sophomore campaign with the expectations of a future first round draft pick. However, Anunoby suffered a season-ending knee injury against Penn State in January. Given the pre-injury hype surrounding Anunoby and his athletic potential, turning pro could be a sound business decision for him. DraftExpress.com project Anunoby to be selected 15th overall.
Thomas Bryant - DraftExpress.com projects Bryant to be drafted 39th overall in the 2017 NBA draft, which means the sophomore has a legitimate stay-or-go decision to make. He could have been a first round selection in last year's draft but he didn't even opt in to the pre-draft workouts, which he could have attended and still returned to school without penalty. While his three-point percentage improved as a sophomore, his overall shooting percentage and some of his per-40 minute number decreased during his second season in Bloomington.
James Blackmon Jr. - Blackmon Jr. toyed with entering the NBA draft after the past two seasons but wisely opted to return to school both times. The junior guard has stated his intention of graduating this year, so even if he's not a ready-made NBA player, he would leave Bloomington as a college graduate if he did enter the draft.
However, there is a chance Blackmon Jr. could leave Indiana while continuing to play college basketball...
Possible Graduate Transfers
James Blackmon Jr. - If Blackmon Jr. does graduate this year, he'll be eligible to take advantage of the NCAA's graduate transfer provision, allowing him to transfer and play immediately elsewhere. The junior guard has had somewhat of a tenuous relationship with Indiana, from his de-commitment and re-commitment to the Hoosiers in 2013, his season-ending injury that corresponded with Indiana's outright Big Ten title in 2016, consistent criticism regarding Blackmon Jr.'s defense from observers, and of course, a rocky 2016-17 season for everyone involved in the program. Could Blackmon Jr. graduate and look elsewhere for shots and playing time at the college level? Perhaps.
Robert Johnson/Tim Priller/Josh Newkirk/Freddie McSwain: One of the hallmark's of Indiana basketball under Crean was the team's academic record. Numerous players were able to graduate in three years and earn a second degree in four. Now, that success could come back to bite the Hoosiers in the form of possible roster attrition. If Indiana's other rising seniors, namely Johnson and Priller since they've been in Bloomington for three years, are able to graduate, they could potentially enter the grad transfer market. Newkirk and McSwain face different circumstances. Both players have already transferred to Indiana. Newkirk is in his fourth year of college (and second at Indiana) so it's possible he could be able to graduate and transfer again if he doesn't see at future in Bloomington. McSwain, arriving at Indiana from a junior college, is unlikely to be in position to be a grad transfer.
Staying
De'Ron Davis - The freshman forward will reportedly stay at Indiana. He's the only player who has made such a decision publicly.
Recruits
Justin Smith - Smith, Indiana's highest-rated 2017 signee, is the only member of Crean's recruiting class to not ask for his release amid the team's coaching change. The 6-foot-7 forward from Stevenson (IL) High School is rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 72 prospect in the country, according to 247Sports' Composite rankings.
Clifton Moore - Moore reportedly asked for his release from his letter of intent after Crean was fired. The 6-foot-10 stretch-four is a three-star recruit ranked among the top 150 recruits in the class of 2017.
Aljami Durham - Durham committed to Indiana in the fall of 2015 and has been vocal, on Twitter, of his support for the Hoosiers during the past year and a half. However, he also asked for his release from the school. Durham is a 6-foot-4 combo guard.
Miller has reportedly reached out to both Moore and Durham, expressing his interest in both players attending Indiana.
*****
It's nearly impossible to project what Indiana's roster will look like when next season rolls around, depending on who decides to go pro, who transfers and which members of Indiana's 2017 recruiting class ultimately decide to become a Hoosier. Indiana could possibly be over-signed by a scholarship or two, or Miller may have a few open scholarships to work with in the transfer market.
Here's what Indiana's rough depth chart of scholarship players would look like if every player currently on Indiana's roster, or who has signed a letter of intent, returns next season.
G - Josh Newkirk, Devonte Green
G - James Blackmon Jr., Curtis Jones
G - Robert Johnson, Freddie McSwain, Grant Gelon
F - OG Anunoby, Juwan Morgan, Justin Smith
C - Thomas Bryant, De'Ron Davis, Tim Priller
Considering that Anunoby and Bryant are probably the most likely player defections, Indiana's frontcourt could take a real hit, both in terms of All-Big Ten talent and depth. Juwan Morgan and De'Ron Davis have been solid backups and, at times, complimentary starters for the Hoosiers but they would be relied upon heavily if they are forced into starting roles next season.