Welcome to another edition of 6-Banner Sunday, a joint production between The Assembly Call and Inside the Hall, and presented by our friends at Trueblood Real Estate, where we highlight the five most essential IU basketball stories of the past week, plus take a look at how the other IU sports programs are doing.
Another week and more big-time commitments for IU basketball. This time, two of the top players in the portal committed to the Hoosiers.
Besides this, Mackenzie Holmes was drafted, former Hoosiers are in the NBA Playoffs, Inside The Hall’s player recaps began and Inside the Hall and the Back Home Network had new podcasts. We will, as usual, conclude with a look at other Indiana sports led by Little 5 and the football spring game.
Here is what’s in this week’s edition:
• Oumar Ballo and Kanaan Carlyle commit to Indiana
• Mackenzie Holmes drafted by Seattle Storm
• Hoosiers in the NBA playoffs
• Inside The Hall’s That’s A Wrap series
• Podcast on the Brink and Back Home Network shows
• Hoosier Roundup
Banner #1 – Oumar Ballo and Kanaan Carlyle commit to Indiana
The roster for next season continues to take shape. The week began with a commitment from Arizona center Oumar Ballo, who is considered the top player in the transfer portal. Ballo averaged a double-double last season and figures to be the next elite big man on IU’s roster, following Kel’el Ware and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Also pledging to Indiana this week was Stanford guard Kanaan Carlyle, who is currently visiting campus. During his time in Bloomington on Saturday, Carlyle made it official. He will bring his double-figure scoring average from the west coast to his new home.
With Ballo and Carlyle in the fold, 10 of the 13 roster spots are now full with Indiana officially announcing the addition of 5-star freshman Bryson Tucker. How IU might fill the final spots remains up in the air. Inside the Hall took a look at who the Hoosiers are targeting.
Banner #2 – Mackenzie Holmes drafted by Seattle Storm
Despite knee surgery keeping her out for next year, IU star and first team All-American Mackenzie Holmes became the third straight Hoosier drafted into the WNBA. She joins current assistant coach Ali Patberg and the Indiana Fever’s Grace Berger as players taken in the last three seasons.
Speaking of the Fever, they will now be at the center of the women’s basketball world with the drafting of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark. While her team…