Former Indiana University Men’s Basketball Forward Sam Alexis Works out for the Indiana Pacers Former IU forward Sam Alexis worked out with the Indiana Pacers on Friday ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft. It was Alexis’ fourth workout ahead of the draft. Alexis is not the first former Hoosier to work out with the Pacers this summer. Former IU forward Tucker DeVries worked out with the Pacers on May 28. Alexis reached out to DeVries before Friday’s workout and said DeVries helped him a lot with the experience. Alexis added that all of the former Hoosiers have all been communicating about their NBA workouts. “If we knew we had a workout, or they had a workout, we’re always texting each other, like ‘How was it?’ If we’re doing conditioning, stuff like that,” Alexis said.
Alexis averaged 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in his lone season in Bloomington, starting in 23 of his 32 games. He shot 68.7% from the floor and 70.9% from two-point range, which led the Big Ten. Alexis shared what he can bring at the next level. “I’m a great energy guy,” Alexis said. “I can bring great energy to your team. Being versatile, being able to guard every position. Bringing that Big Ten physicality to the NBA.” Prior to his year with IU, Alexis played two seasons at Chattanooga (2022-2024) and one season at Florida (2024-25), where he won the national championship.
Fundraiser established for homeless former Indiana University Football Player Former IU football running back Sampson James was recognized on the street in Austin, Texas by an individual named Jasper Steinmetz. James had been homeless in Austin for seven months, he said in an Instagram post by Steinmetz. Steinmetz recognized the IU Athletics bag James was carrying and struck up a conversation. Since then, Steinmetz started a GoFundMe and has helped James get clothing, food and other essentials. Several former Indiana players have donated to the cause, including Mike Katic, Peyton Hendershot, Aaron Casey and CJ West. Steinmetz reported on Saturday he had secured a place to live for James utilizing the money raised, which totaled more than $16,000 as of Saturday evening. The first Instagram post by Steinmetz you can see If you go to his Instagram page you can see a series of posts over the last few days, culminating in Saturday’s news of securing a rental for James.
James attended Avon H.S. just west of Indianapolis. He was a highly coveted 4-star recruit. Once an Ohio State verbal pledge, James committed to IU as part of the class of 2019. He had his best game as a Hoosier as a freshman in 2019 at Purdue, amassing 118 yards on 22 carries in an IU win. James was once the top-rated IU recruit in the rankings era, but beyond that game at Purdue, he contributed just 91 carries for 253 yards during his two seasons at IU. James put his name in the transfer portal in March of 2020 before deciding to stay in Bloomington. He then transferred to Purdue after the 2021 season, and returned to IU briefly as a walk-on in the spring of 2023 but was not on the fall roster. Here was James following the biggest game of his college career at Purdue. In six years he was homeless.
Former Indiana University Quarterback Brendan Sorby’s Eligibility Appeal Denied by the NCAA Texas Tech’s appeal to the NCAA to have quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility reinstated has been denied, according to multiple reports Friday. Sorsby was ruled ineligible after he acknowledged gambling on sports, including on his own team while at Indiana. The denial of Texas Tech’s appeal is separate from Sorsby’s lawsuit against the NCAA. Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech in January after leaving Cincinnati, where he was the starter in 2024 and 2025. He played for the Hoosiers the two seasons before that. Friday’s ruling came while the NCAA and Sorsby were still waiting for a ruling from a Texas judge after the quarterback filed a lawsuit May 18 seeking a temporary injunction against the NCAA in hopes of playing this season for the Red Raiders. A two-hour hearing was held Monday in the 99th District Court in Lubbock County, where Texas Tech is located. As of Friday, there still was no decision from Judge Ken Curry. Texas Tech had said May 26 that it was appealing after the NCAA denied the school’s initial petition to have Sorsby’s eligibility reinstated. University president Lawrence Schovanec at that time wrote in a letter to the Texas Tech community that the school felt “the NCAA’s ruling should be reversed or modified.” The school had ruled Sorsby ineligible May 18, the same day he filed his lawsuit. Tech had to do that to be able to pursue a request for his reinstatement that it submitted to the NCAA the following day. That was denied May 22.
Indiana Fever can’t hold off the New York Liberty’s fourth quarter surge as they fall 83-75 Despite three strong defensive quarters, the Indiana Fever couldn’t hold off a surging New York Liberty in the fourth quarter in Brooklyn on Saturday night. The 83-75 loss is the first for the Fever in Commissioner’s Cup play, which began Thursday with a 12-point win over the Atlanta Dream. The Fever led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but the combination of another quiet shooting night from superstar Caitlin Clark and a massive 27 fouls from the Fever cost Indiana the game. Stewart led all players with 30 points, 18 of which came from the charity stripe. Meanwhile, rookie point guard Paline Astier shined going 4-for-6 with 12 points and a couple of critical baskets down the stretch as she filled in for an injured Sabina Ionescu. On the Fever’s side of the floor, Kelsey Mitchell led the Indiana ladies with 21 points. Aliyah Boston and Monique Billings joined her in the double-digit club with 13 and 15 points apiece, respectively. The Indiana Fever travel to the Washington Mystics this evening for another Commissioner’s Cup matchup. The Fever are early betting favorites as the Mystics have won only one game at home so far this season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern.
Indiana sweeps Kentucky in annual High School Basketball All-Star Series The annual Indiana vs. Kentucky high school basketball All-Star series took place on Saturday night inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The series included an All-Star Game on Friday night in Lexington, Kentucky, and finished off on Saturday night in downtown Indianapolis. The annual All-Star Game series features a boys and girls game. One game in Kentucky and one game in Indianapolis. On Saturday night, the Indiana boys and girls’ all-stars made it a complete sweep, winning both games by double-digits. The girls’ game tipped off first, and the Indiana all-stars won convincingly, 90-71. The boys’ side also took care of business, defeating the Kentucky all-stars, 94-80. Several marquee players from all across Indiana participated in the boys and girls All-Star games. Indiana Mr. Basketball and Purdue commit Luke Ertel won the All-Star MVP with his 21-point performance on Saturday. On the girls’ side, Silver Creek grad and Kansas basketball commit Brooklynn Renn took home the All-Star Game MVP.
IndyCar’s Ryan Hunter-Reay named Sporting Director with Arrow McLaren IndyCar veteran Ryan Hunter-Reay is taking another step in his extensive IndyCar career. The 18-time winner in the IndyCar series has been named the new Sporting Director with Arrow McLaren. In Hunter-Reay’s 2026 Indy 500 with Arrow McLaren, Hunter-Reay began the race in 22nd and finished in 32nd after crashing on Lap 18. The 2012 IndyCar series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner will be tasked with “maximizing on-track performance while contributing to the team’s commercial success. He will serve as the critical bridge between competition, engineering, the driver lineup, and commercial efforts,” Arrow McLaren said in a statement. Hunter-Reay will work under Team Principal and 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan. Hunter-Reay described his excitement for the new role in Arrow McLaren’s statement.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to join Arrow McLaren as Sporting Director,” Hunter-Reay said. “After 23 years competing at the highest level of American open wheel racing, I’m eager to bring my experience, passion, and insight to contribute pushing this ambitious team forward, and I’d like to thank Zak, Tony Kanaan, and Arrow McLaren board members for this opportunity.” Team Principal Tony Kanaan shared his joy in welcoming Hunter-Reay as the team’s newest Sporting Director. “Some of my best memories in racing go back to my time working together with Ryan in 2010,” Kanaan said. “He played a big role in helping get that team pointed in the right direction and building a group that could compete for championships. We’re at a similar point now, and I’m excited to welcome him in this official role to help lead the team as we continue pushing this organization forward.” The statement said that both Arrow McLaren and Hunter-Reay will decide on the driver of the fourth car entry for next year’s Indianapolis 500 at a later date.
NFL WR honors late Purdue star Rondale Moore by wearing No. 4 New Tennessee Titans wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson is changing his number to No. 4, honoring his friend, the former Purdue football star Rondale Moore. Moore died at just 25 years old in late February of this year. Moore was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, where he played three seasons. Moore wore No. 4 during his three seasons at Purdue and continued wearing the number in the NFL. Moore went to New Albany High School in southern Indiana, and Robsinson attended Western Hills High School in Frankfort, Kentucky. The two high schools are just under an hour away. Robinson previously wore No. 17 with the New York Giants, where he spent four seasons.