Aiden Sherrell, a 6’11, 255 lb power forward from Alabama, comes to Indiana as the highest-rated transfer prospect in Darian DeVries’ highly-touted 2026 portal class. As a starter from a Sweet 16 team last year, Sherrell brings proven production and talent to the frontcourt that Indiana desperately needed in DeVries’ first year.
Looking at his stats and film, it’s hard not to like what Sherrell brings to the table.
Though he averaged 11.1 points per game, it’s what he does on defense and the glass that should be most exciting for Indiana fans. His block rate of 8.5% last year at Bama would have been the highest at Indiana since Trayce Jackson-Davis’ final year as a Hoosier, when he posted a block rate of 9%.
Sherrell also shines on the offensive glass, posting a 10.4% offensive rebound rate, creating plenty of opportunities for himself and his teammates to get second-chance points. Like Oumar Ballo before him, he’s a guy who can get points without the offense running through him.
Unlike the classic, post-only Woodson-era big, Sherrell has a perimeter game, both as a shooter and as a screener. He moves well for his size, crashing hard to the basket after using all of his 255 lb. frame to screen for his guards, and has the power to finish through contact at the rim.
For a player of his size, Sherrell also has a 3-pointer that commands respect. He only attempted 2.4 per game last season, but hit them at a 33.8% clip, making him a true threat, especially against teams who didn’t have bigs mobile enough to close out on him.
He only saw minutes at the five spot in each of his first two seasons at Bama, but with his perimeter game and general mobility, he’s somebody who could play alongside fellow big, Samet Yigitoglu. Unless Indiana is able to add more depth at front court, it might not be something DeVries wants to do all the time, but it’s an intriguing (and just plainly Big) lineup prospect after Indiana struggled in the post most of last season.
As a guy who only started to break out in his sophomore season, he projects to become even more dominant with his two years of eligibility remaining. Coming from a school like Alabama, he’ll be better suited to adjust to the rigors of Big Ten play than previous DeVries portal signings.
His track record of production is hard to overstate. Though he’s still somebody who can and will improve, he’s not a guy who could score 12 points and grab four rebounds against Purdue – he’s a guy who has done that already in his career.
Last year at Alabama, Sherrell started against 11 ranked opponents, including wins over Arkansas, Illinois, Texas Tech, and St. Johns. He’s played and won at the level that Indiana wants to win at going forward.
Sherrell can be penciled in as a starter, hopefully for a couple of years, bringing size and skill to DeVries’ front court. He’s a piece you can build around on both sides of the ball and should immediately raise the floor for next year’s Indiana team.
