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Indiana Basketball Makes Top 3 For 5-Star 2027 Big Man Darius Wabbington

Darius Wabbington's top three is Indiana, Illinois and Arizona. What would a commitment to the Hoosiers mean for the program, and how would he fit?
Sunnyslope Vikings forward Darius Wabbington (21) celebrates their 61-57 win over the Millennium Tigers at Sunnyslope High School on Jan. 21, 2026.
Sunnyslope Vikings forward Darius Wabbington (21) celebrates their 61-57 win over the Millennium Tigers at Sunnyslope High School on Jan. 21, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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On Thursday, five-star big man Darius Wabbington cut his list to three teams: Indiana, Illinois and Arizona (according to Sam Kayser of League Ready.) He has taken an official visit to all three schools within the past month, with Indiana being his first destination, followed by Illinois and then Arizona. 

Wabbington, a 6-foot-11, 255-pound center out of Phoenix, is rated as the No. 13 player in the 2027 class, and the No. 2 center, per 247 Sports’ composite rankings. 

What landing 2027 five-star Darius Wabbington would mean for Indiana basketball

Darius Wabbington
Sunnsylope forward Darius Wabbington (21) drives on St Mary’s forward Cam Williams (1) during the Open Boys Championship game at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix on March 7, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Wabbington, an ultra-skilled center with three-level scoring abilities and a unique playmaking knack at his size, is an absolute stud. Bringing him to Bloomington would be a massive win because he’ll make the Hoosiers that much better on the floor. But that’s a given.

The rest of it – the domino effect of landing a five-star – would also be a game-changer. Wabbington, if he pledged to Indiana, would be the first five-star recruit of the Darian DeVries era. And he’d be the first top-15 prospect to commit to the Hoosiers since Mackenzie Mgbako in 2023. 

With the 2027 class already packing a solid punch (Chase Branham, the No. 30 player in the class, is a commit), adding Wabbington to the mix would give the Hoosiers a crew stockpiled with starpower. 

Indiana may not need many more 2027 additions – there are only two fifth-year players on the 2026-27 roster – but Wabbington’s presence certainly will make Bloomington an even more enticing destination if the Hoosiers elect to pursue more 2027 prospects.

The potential 2027-28 Indiana basketball frontcourt at a glance

Darius Wabbington
Sunnyslope Vikings center Darius Wabbington (21) looks to pass the ball against the Basha Bears during their semifinal game at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale on March 4, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Big Ten often runs through the program boasting the top frontcourt (Michigan last year was a testament to that). If Wabbingon dons the cream-and-crimson threads and DeVries can keep Aiden Sherrell and Samet Yigitoglu around for another season, it may be Bloomington that features the league’s premier big man unit. 

The only problem DeVries would have: deciding which duo to start. Wabbington, though, would be hard to keep off the floor. He is just unbelievably dynamic. 

His versatile game would allow Indiana to do a variety of things. Spacing would be spectacular and the Hoosiers would have another playmaker on the floor at all times, not to mention another go-to post presence. 

And with Wabbington’s skill set, DeVries couldn’t go wrong. He could pair Wabbington with Sherrell or Yigitoglu, and the offense would run without a hitch either way (although Sherrell may be the preferable running mate).

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Jackson Langendorf
JACKSON LANGENDORF

Primarily covers Illinois football and basketball, and Indiana basketball, with an emphasis on analysis, features, and recruiting. Langendorf, a third-generation University of Illinois alum, has been watching Illini basketball and football for as long as he can remember. An advertising student and journalism devotee, he has been writing for On SI since October 2024.

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