Former Indiana University Men’s Basketball players Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino wrap up Summer League
Former Indiana men’s basketball standouts Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis wrapped up play at the California Classic Summer League and NBA 2k24 Summer League.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, Hood-Schifino averaged 13.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in six appearances in the Sacramento and Las Vegas. He shot 34.0% (32-of-94) from the floor, 21.7% (5-of-23) from the 3-point line, and 56.5% (13-of-23) from the free throw line. The No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft produced four games in double figures in the scoring column, including a summer-best 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting in the California Classic finale against San Antonio on July 5. He also added four assists, three rebounds, and one steal in the game. His summer league debut included 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists against the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat on July 3. His Las Vegas stint kicked off with nine points, five rebounds, three assists, a summer-best four steals, and one block in a 103-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors on July 7. He then posted back-to-back 15-point outings against the Charlotte Hornets (July 9) and the Boston Celtics (July 12). JHS combined for seven rebounds and eight rebounds in the two games. He closed the summer with eight points, five rebounds, and two steals against Memphis on July 14.
In two games for the Golden State Warriors, Jackson-Davis averaged 16.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per contest while shooting 66.7% (14-of-21) from the floor and 66.7% (4-of-6) from the free throw line. In his debut in Las Vegas, the Consensus All-American posted 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go with seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block against the Houston Rockets. His encore performance included an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Toronto Raptors. He added two assists, two steals, and two blocks in the game.
Mariah Denigan finishes 18th in her second event at the World Aquatics Championships
Indiana University Sophomore Mariah Denigan competed in her second race of the week on Tuesday in the women’s 5K at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka Japan. Denigan finished in a time of 1:01:18.30, good for 18th in the world. Earlier in the week Denigan swam the 10-kilometer race, where she finished eighth which was seven spots better than her performance at last year’s world championships. With the result, Denigan qualified for next year’s open water world championships, where she will have a chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics. USA Swimming’s pool swimmers finished up training camp in Singapore and traveled to Fukuoka in preparation for their start of competition. They’ll kick off racing on Saturday (July 22).
In her freshman season at IU the Walton, KY native finished 16th in 1,650-yard freestyle (16:06.55), 22nd in 500-yard freestyle (4:42.58) and 34th in 400-yard IM at NCAA Championships. She placed eighth in 500 freestyle (4:45.70) A final at Big Ten Championships. Also took eighth in 400 IM championship final (4:14.55) at conference meet. She Finished 11th at Big Tens in 1,650 free consolation final (16:17.18). Dengian won 1,000 free (9:63.48) against Cincinnati. She Finished first in the 500 (4:49.18) and 1,000 free (9:56.13) versus No. 10 Ohio State and No. 18 Virginia Tech. Denigan won 500 (4:50.82) and 1,000 free (9:55.16) at No. 16 Northwestern. In first-career race, won the 1,000 free (9:55.13) by seven seconds against Kentucky and Indiana State.
Former Indiana University Softball player Taryn Kern transfers to Stanford University
Taryn Kern broke out as a freshman sensation on the Indiana softball team in 2023, but her Hoosier career is over after one season. The second baseman announced Tuesday that she will be transferring to Stanford to continue her collegiate softball career. Kern is a native of San Jose, Calif., and makes her return home to the state with her transfer to Stanford. The Cardinal finished the 2023 softball season with a record of 47-15 and reached the Women’s College World Series before being eliminated by eventual national champion Oklahoma, and the addition of the Big Ten’s best player makes the Cardinal a strong contender for the national title in 2024.
Kern was named the 2023 Big Ten Player of the Year, 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-American by D1Softball.com. She led the Big Ten in eight statistical categories slugging percentage (.930), on-base percentage (.575), OPS (1.505), walks (45), hit by pitch (23), runs scored (68), RBI (68) and home runs (23). Nationwide, she finished second overall in home runs, third overall in RBI’s and fourth overall in slugging percentage.
Kern spearheaded one of the best seasons in the history of Indiana softball in 2023. The Hoosiers finished the year 44-18 and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. They fell just short of making it out of the Knoxville regional, defeating Louisville twice before being eliminated by eventual 2023 Women’s College World Series participant Tennessee. Indiana also finished second overall in the Big Ten with a conference record of 18-5, just behind Big Ten champion Northwestern.
Three Indiana University Football players named to the Pro Football Focus All Big Ten Preseason Team
With just over six weeks until the first Big Ten football games, Pro Football Focus released its preseason All-Big Ten teams. Three Hoosiers made the list, highlighted by Jaylin Lucas earning a spot as the return specialist on the preseason first-team All-Big Ten. Lucas enters his second season in Bloomington with expectations to bring firepower to the Indiana return unit. As a freshman, he led the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) with two kick return touchdowns. Lucas also totaled 271 rushing yards and two touchdowns, plus 82 receiving yards. Approaching his sophomore season with the Hoosiers, he anticipates contributing as a running back, slot receiver, kick returner and punt returner.
Indiana wide receiver Cam Camper was named to the preseason second-team All-Big Ten. Camper joined the Hoosiers before the 2022 season after beginning his career at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, and he made an immediate impact. Despite playing just seven games due to a torn ACL, Camper led the Hoosiers with 46 receptions and 569 receiving yards, along with two touchdowns. The 6-foot-2 receiver didn’t not participate in team portions of spring practice, but he was able to run and go through individual drills.
James Evans is the third and final Hoosier on the PFF preseason All-Big Ten teams, coming in as the third-team All-Big Ten punter. Evans has started all 24 games in his two-year Indiana career, and he’s already the program’s all-time punting average leader at 43.1 yards. The Auckland, New Zealand native owns 17 career punts inside the 10-yard line. Around the conference, Ohio State leads the Big Ten with 15 members on the PFF preseason All-Big Ten team, followed by Michigan with 14. Penn State (12) is next, followed by Iowa (9), Illinois (6), Minnesota (5), Wisconsin (5), Indiana (3), Maryland (3), Michigan State (2), Northwestern (2), Purdue (1), Rutgers (1) and Nebraska (0).
Indiana University Night with the Indiana Fever is scheduled for July 30th
Wondering when it’s the right time to go see IU Basketball alum Grace Berger in her rookie season with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever. Any time is a good time, but no time is better than Sunday, July 30. That’s when the Fever host the Seattle Storm for IU Night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Along with your game ticket to the 4 p.m. contest, you will also receive a free co-branded IU and Indiana Fever hat outside of Section 9 once you enter the arena. In addition to the special promotional giveaway, the timing couldn’t be better for Hoosier fans thanks to the increased role that the former IU star has enjoyed as of late. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, Berger came off the bench Last Wednesday to record career highs in minutes (36), points (15), rebounds (7), assists (4) and steals (3) in the Fever’s 95-87 loss to the Eastern Conference leading New York Liberty.
In 16 Games this season Berger has scored 46 points, dished out 22 assists, pulled down 15 rebounds, 6 steals, 2 blocks and committed 12 turnovers. Berger is shooting 42% from the field going 16-38, 43% from the three-point range going 3-7 and 78% from the Free Throw Line on 11-14 shooting. The Fever return to action after the All-Star Break this morning at 11:30 when they face the Washington Mystics in the Nation’s Capital.
Indiana University Men’s Basketball misses out on Kokomo HS Basketball player Flory Bidunga
Flory Bidunga had another dominant weekend, but it came with a hit to Indiana’s chances of landing the five-star recruit. After scoring 21 points with eight rebounds and four blocks for Indiana Elite Last Friday at the Sportradar Showdown in Henderson, Nev., Bidunga updated his recruitment. “I don’t have an announcement date and I don’t want to be in a rush, so I’m still going to take my time,” Bidunga told Rivals’ Rob Cassidy. “No more visits, though, I’m done.” And on Monday, Bidunga narrowed his list to four schools: Auburn, Duke, Kansas and Michigan.
Bidunga reportedly planned to take an official visit to Indiana before the start of his senior year at Kokomo High School. But that visit, which would have been his last, won’t happen now. Bidunga visited Bloomington on Oct. 8, 2022, and was seen at multiple Indiana games throughout the 2022-23 season, but he has since shifted his focus to other schools. At 6-foot-9, Bidunga has dominated the AAU circuit with Indiana Elite this summer, leading to his No. 4 national ranking, per 247 Sports, On3, Rivals and ESPN. He was named Gatorade Indiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year as a junior, and he’s the heavy favorite to win Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2024.
Though Indiana is now out of the running for Bidunga, Mike Woodson and the Indiana coaching staff are in the mix for a few talented centers in the 2024 class. Indiana has been heavily involved with Derik Queen’s recruitment, hosting him on an official visit on Sept. 25, 2022 alongside his Montverde Academy teammate Liam McNeeley, a five-star small forward in the class of 2024. Queen, a 6-foot-9 center, is a consensus five-star recruit and widely considered the second-best center in the class of 2024, behind Bidunga. Queen is ranked No. 6 in the nation by 247 Sports, No. 10 by On3 and ESPN and No. 19 by Rivals. He’s originally from Baltimore, Md., and Maryland is seen as another top contender in his recruitment. Queen is a crafty scorer around the rim, and he’s had an impressive summer with Team Thrill. Another option for Indiana in the class of 2024 is center Patrick Ngongba II, who recently included the Hoosiers in his top-eight list. The 6-foot-11 center is also considering Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Kansas State, Providence and defending national champion UConn. Ngongba is a consensus four-star recruit, ranked No. 26 in the nation and No. 3 among centers, behind Bidunga and Queen.
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