Both members of Indiana men’s basketball’s 2025-26 center rotation are back in college basketball with fifth years of eligibility. Just one will suit up for the Hoosiers again.
Sam Alexis announced his return in the wake of the program’s international trip to Lima, for which he joined the roster to give the Hoosiers another option at the five. But Reed Bailey, who was Indiana’s original starter at center before being supplanted by Alexis, entered the transfer portal before immediately committing to and signing with St. John’s not long after, per reporting from On3’s Pete Nakos.
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Bailey joined Indiana’s first roster under Darian DeVries last season, transferring in after a long career with Davidson. He averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 57% from the field in 19.1 minutes per game in 2025-26. St. John’s found itself in need of frontcourt help following an injury to prized transfer addition Donnie Freeman, who joined the Red Storm after spending two seasons at Syracuse.
Will Bailey fully make up for losing Freeman? Frankly, no, probably not. Bailey will in all likelihood play power forward rather than center for the Red Storm, and it’ll be interesting to see if Rick Pitino can unlock parts of his game from Davidson that didn’t quite follow him to Indiana.
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