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With rising sophomore Trent Sisley as the lone returning player from last year's team, there are plenty of new faces on the Indiana basketball roster for 2026-27. Darian DeVries' roster for his second season in Bloomington mostly consists of transfers, as he added seven players through the portal this offseason. That group figures to see plenty of opportunities to make an immediate impact this season.
But the group of incoming freshmen should not be overlooked. The rookies give Hoosier fans a lot to be excited about, and one is already making an eye-popping first impression.
Last week, the Hoosiers took the floor for their first exhibition game of the summer. Facing Canada's Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf, Indiana cruised to a 98-64 victory at Assembly Hall. There were many intriguing storylines from the contest, but one player who caught the eye of everybody in attendance was freshman Prince-Alexander Moody.
Prince-Alexander Moody shines bright in Hoosier exhibition game debut
Moody came to Bloomington rated as a 4-star recruit and ranked as the No. 109 overall player and No. 26 shooting guard in the country by Rivals. He played his high school basketball at Bishop McNamara in Baltimore, and was ranked as the No. 5 player in the state of Maryland in the 2026 recruiting class.
Owning a 6'4" 180-pound frame, Moody made the most of his chances in Indiana's exhibition game last week. He saw significant playing time, officially seeing 17:29 of game action as IU's No. 2 point guard behind Notre Dame transfer Markus Burton. Moody displayed an impressive motor, elite athleticism, and poise when leading the Hoosier offense down the floor.
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In total, he racked up 13 points to go along with 3 assists and 3 rebounds. He went 5-for-11 from the field and knocked down 3 of his 7 three-point attempts. He also displayed great chemistry with his fellow freshmen, as he made multiple impressive plays in transition with both Vaughn Karvala and Trevor Manhertz.
Furthermore, Moody orchestrated a standout defensive performance. He was constantly pressuring the ball in the backcourt, and led the Hoosiers with 5 steals. Several of his steals led to quick transition buckets for Indiana back the other way. It was quite the debut, and displayed that Moody's elite potential in Bloomington is very real.
Prince-Alexander Moody can make an immediate impact at Indiana
Burton figures to be Indiana's starting point guard this season. He spent three seasons at Notre Dame and was one of the most reliable scorers in the entire ACC during his time in South Bend. He also has plenty of experience, which DeVries values. Looking ahead, Burton should play a vital role for the Hoosiers this season.
But when Burton is not on the floor, Moody could be Indiana's No. 2 point guard. He has great athleticism and versatility, and can make things happen from any spot on the floor.
It's still extremely early, and Moody undoubtedly has a lot of work ahead of him. The transition from high school to college basketball can be tricky, and there are bound to be some bumps in the road along the way.
With that being said, Moody's ceiling is extremely high. It will be interesting to see what his role is for the Hoosiers once the season begins. His presence gives Hoosier hoops fans plenty to be excited about.
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This article was originally published on hoosierstateofmind.com as The one Indiana freshman poised to become an instant star for Indiana Basketball.
