Indiana men’s basketball head coach Mike Woodson is no stranger to 5-star freshmen. His newest one is even less of a question mark — because Woodson has seen similar.
Forward Bryson Tucker, the Hoosiers’ lone high school recruit in the 2024 class, made an immediate impression on Woodson and his staff.
And while Indiana is just under three weeks away from its exhibition opener Oct. 27 against the University of Tennessee, Woodson feels he’s seen enough to dish lofty praise toward Tucker.
“He kind of reminds me of ‘Fino’ a little bit in terms of his demeanor,” Woodson said Oct. 3 at Big Ten Media Day in Rosemont, Illinois, referencing former Hoosier guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Like Tucker, Hood-Schifino entered Bloomington as a highly touted recruit. He was Indiana’s highest-ranked signee in the 2022 class and quickly proved why, averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists en route to winning 2022-23 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Hood-Schifino was selected No. 17 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2023 NBA Draft. His smooth midrange jumper and scoring capabilities made him the prospect he was, but his veteran poise allowed him to maximize it. Take, for instance, Hood-Schifino's 35-point explosion in a winning effort at Purdue on Feb. 25, 2023, in a raucous Mackey Arena.
Whether Tucker gets the playing time to produce such results this season remains to be seen. Indiana has a deep roster, one that fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway called the most talented he’s played on.
Tucker, however, may leave the Hoosiers with no choice but to let him see the court.
Woodson said Sept. 18 at Indiana basketball’s institutional media day Tucker still has to learn the college game, but he’s very talented and has played at a high level since arriving on campus in June for summer workouts.
This reasoning stems from the 18-year-old Tucker’s mental maturity, which Galloway said isn’t typical for players with his high school resume. Tucker quickly picked up Indiana’s style and system with an eagerness that’s stood out to his veteran teammate.
“The way he’s wanted to come in and learn has been very, very helpful for us,” Galloway said Sept. 18. “We haven’t had to do as much teaching for him, because he’s gotten it pretty quickly.”
Tucker adds versatility to the Hoosiers’ offense, as he can play both on and off the ball and Woodson believes he can handle the ball if needed. Galloway noted Tucker’s also a proven shot maker.
Indiana knew it was getting a talented player in Tucker — one look at a recruiting page said as much — but his maturity and the way he carries himself off the court have been pleasant surprises.
For this, Woodson credits Tucker’s upbringing to his father, Byron, and mother, Tina.
“I think a lot of that is because he didn't play AAU ball,” Woodson said. “Daddy (and) Mama kept him away from it, and he basically trained the old-fashioned way. And it's been a nice carryover for him.”
Freshmen often face a steep learning curve in-season, a phenomenon better known as the “freshman wall.” Galloway said it’s challenging for first-year players to find a rhythm and get comfortable, which prohibits them from playing to their potential.
It’s possible, if not probable, Tucker encounters that at some point. But thus far, it’s been smooth sailing for the Hoosiers’ latest prized recruit.
“Now, does he have a lot of things to learn? They all do,” Woodson said. “But boy, he's shown in our early stage right now that he belongs.”
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) and columnist Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
