Five-star forward Bryson Tucker committed to Indiana, he announced on social media Thursday. The No. 20 player in the 2024 recruiting class chose the Hoosiers over Michigan State and Kansas.
The 6-foot-7 prospect is the No. 1 player in Virginia and was leaning towards the G-League Ignite, but with the program being shut down after this season, his best option was the collegiate route.
Tucker, a McDonald’s All-American, will be the Hoosiers’ 34th recruit to play in the historic game.
NEWS: 5⭐️Bryson Tucker has committed to Indiana
Tucker, a McDonalds All-American is Indiana’s only recruit in 2024 @TheAthleticCBB pic.twitter.com/pHPOZniTLV
— Tobias Bass (@tobias_bass) March 28, 2024
Scouting report
Tucker has great size for a wing and is a polished offensive player. He’s able to use his size to pull up over defenders from midrange and is one of the best shooters from 12-17 feet in the Class of 2024. That will be his calling card to start at the next level which should immediately translate.
Tucker is a fluid athlete who does a good job of taking angles to get around defenders to finish at the rim. He gets off the ground quickly and changes directions well in traffic. As he develops, he will need to improve his outside jumper. At the moment, he has an average jumper from beyond the arc as his shot does come off flat at times, the further he expands his range.
He has broad shoulders and should be able to put on weight easily in Bloomington during the offseason. Adding muscle will take his game to a new level and should help his outside jumper improve along with finishing through contact in a physical league like the Big Ten.
Tucker made the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 team for Team USA and averaged 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game as Team USA went 6-0 to win the U16 Championship in Xalpaia, Mexico.
What’s next for Indiana
Losing Liam McNeeley will still be a tough pill to swallow for Hoosier fans but adding Tucker should cheer them up a bit. In the meantime, it’s transfer portal season and the Hoosiers have spots to fill with CJ Gunn, Kaleb Banks and Payton Sparks, who decided to play next season elsewhere.
Mike Woodson and staff have reached out to former Iowa guard Tony Perkins, who averaged 14 points per game, along with Oklahoma’s Otega Oweh and Stetson’s Jalen Blackmon, the younger brother of former Hoosier guard James Blackmon Jr.
Other notable names Indiana is recruiting: Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian, Belmont forwards Cade Tyson and Malik Dia and George Mason wing Keyshawn Hall.
Required reading
(Photo: David Berding / Getty Images)