Indiana star forward Trayce Jackson-Davis announced Friday that he will return for his senior season with the Hoosiers after testing the NBA Draft waters on the heels of earning second-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior. Jackson-Davis averaged 18.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks on 58.9% shooting while helping Indiana snap a five-year NCAA Tournament drought in coach Mike Woodson's first season.
The former No. 30 overall prospect from the 2019 recruiting class has been an All-Big Ten performer in each of his three college seasons and will be an early favorite to be the league's player of the year next season. His return, along with the expected returns of other key players such as Xavier Johnson and front court partner Race Thompson, should give IU a great chance to finish above .500 in league play for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
In addition to a quality core of returning talent, the Hoosiers also welcome the nation's No. 10 ranked recruiting class headlined by five-star prospects Jalen Hood-Schilfino and Malik Reneau. Along with a highlight video announcing his return that concluded with the words "I'm back," Jackson-Davis simply tweeted "23'" in a sign of anticipation for what's to come.