Indiana basketball roster finds missing piece with transfer adding frontcourt depth
· Yahoo Sports
Coach Darian DeVries found a missing piece in the 2026-27 Indiana basketball roster puzzle.
Sources confirmed to IndyStar that Ben Winker has transferred to play for the Hoosiers as a walk-on. Winker is a 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward who played his first season at Cal State Fullerton last season, playing eight games.
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After landing Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell and SMU big man Samet Yigotoglu, the roster needed a fourth big willing to be a depth piece in the post — one that fit alongside lone returnee in Trent Sisley and freshman 7-footer Clemens Sokolov.
Winker fits that and another focus as DeVries and executive director of basketball Ryan Carr in building this roster: future roster continuity. Each newcomer has two years of eligibility with guards Markus Burton and Bryce Lindsay listed as redshirt juniors.
The roster is intact with 16 players with Winker's addition to complete a seven-person transfer class. There also is a four-person freshman class including Sokolov, Vaughn Karvala, Prince-Alexander Moody and Trevor Manhertz.
Winker did not see much playing time in his first season with the Titans, who went 18-16 and 12-8 in Big West play last season. He appeared in eight games and scored seven points with 14 rebounds, three assists and blocked a shot.
Winker is a native of St. Louis and played at Chaminade College Prep, home to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, Bradley Beal, NBA champion David Lee and former Michigan and UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. Winker describes his game as similar to DeAndre Jordan, a two-time NBA rebounding champion.
Ben Winker recruiting rankings
Winker was rated a three-star recruit out of Chaminade, No. 365 nationally and No. 64 center, in the 247Sports composite rankings.
Ben Winker stats
Cal State Fullerton freshman (2025-26): 0.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3 for 4, 1 for 8 on free throws in 4.4 minutes (8 games)
Ben Winker highlights