When Indiana men’s basketball head coach Mike Woodson sat behind the microphone on an elevated podium March 15 in Minneapolis following the Hoosiers’ season-ending loss to Nebraska, he said his team needed to get better from a talent standpoint.
Now a month and a half removed from that Friday night at the Target Center, Woodson and the Hoosiers have officially welcomed 5-star freshman Bryson Tucker and four impact transfers, earning them palpable summer expectations even with two available roster spots.
From past production to Woodson’s remarks, here’s a look at the Hoosiers’ portal additions thus far.
Myles Rice, Guard, Washington State University
SIZE: 6-foot-3, 180 pounds
ELIGIBILITY: Three years remaining
WHAT TO KNOW: Rice graduated from Sandy Creek High School in 2021 but redshirted twice at Washington State, the first for developmental purposes and second because of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. In his one season of on-court action with the Cougars, the Columbia, South Carolina, native started all 35 games, averaging 14.8 points, 3.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game en route to first team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors.
WOODSON’S WORDS: “Myles is a savvy, downhill guard that really succeeds in pick-and-roll situations. He is a three-level scorer that makes the right play consistently, whether that is getting to the rim or finding the open man. He is going to be a huge help for our ballclub, and we are very excited to welcome him and his family to Bloomington.”
Kanaan Carlyle, Guard, Stanford University
SIZE: 6-foot-3, 185 pounds
ELIGIBILITY: Three years remaining
WHAT TO KNOW: Carlyle, who hails from Atlanta, averaged 11.5 points, 2.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game as a true freshman while shooting 32% from distance. He scored double figures in 15 of the 23 games he played while earning All-Pac-12 freshman team honorable mention.
WOODSON’S WORDS: “Kanaan is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands with the length and skillset to create scoring chances for himself and others. His ability off the bounce pairs nicely with his shooting stroke. His length, quickness, and mentality give him the capability to be a high-impact defender for our ballclub. We are really excited to welcome him and his family to IU.”
Oumar Ballo, Center, University of Arizona
SIZE: 7-foot, 260 pounds
ELIGIBILITY: One year remaining
WHAT TO KNOW: Ballo started his career at Gonzaga University before transferring to Arizona after two seasons. He’ll be a sixth-year senior in Bloomington this fall. Across three seasons with the Wildcats, Ballo averaged 11.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, twice earning first team All-Pac-12 and All-Pac-12 defensive team honors.
WOODSON’S WORDS: “Oumar is a dominating post presence on both ends of the floor with a winning background. His experience playing at the highest level will elevate our program. He is a big fella with soft touch around the rim, good hands, and solid footwork. He is very physical and is a perfect fit in our system and our league. We are really happy to welcome Oumar and his family to Bloomington.”
Luke Goode, Forward, Illinois
SIZE: 6-foot-7, 210 pounds
ELIGIBILITY: One year remaining
WHAT TO KNOW: The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native has extensive ties to the Hoosiers, headlined by his father, Craig Goode, and uncle, Trent Green, who played football at IU in the 1990s. The newest Bloomington-bound Goode shot 38.8% from 3-point range across three campaigns with the Fighting Illini. This past season, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game while connecting on 38.9% of his triples.
WOODSON’S WORDS: “Luke is a knockdown 3-point shooter that provides length and rebounding ability from the wing position. He comes from a very athletic background with deep family ties to this University. He has competed at the highest level of the Big Ten and is a player we will count on to help us stretch the floor. We are excited to bring his family back to Hoosier Nation.”
Follow reporters Will Foley (@foles24) and Matt Press (@MattPress23) and columnist Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball offseason.
