2022 Hoosier Men’s Basketball Forward Progress Reports: Focus on Player Development

A basketball team is composed of various departments working to fulfill their respective roles. Off the court, the coaching staff takes charge, while on the court, the guards, the wings, and the bigs carry out their responsibilities.

Through six games, IU’s guard play has not been up to par, leading to an over-reliance on the other groups. The frontcourt members have stepped up, but there is still room for improvement in the wings/forwards group.

Let’s take a closer look at the 2023-2024 Hoosier forwards within the rotation and how they’ve performed so far this season.

Anthony Walker | GRADE: B | 6 GP/0 GS | 12.7 MPG | 5.7 PPG | 2.7 RPG | 0.2 APG | 45.5/0/77.8%

Anthony Walker has proven to be solid off the bench with his athleticism and interior presence, making the most of his time on the floor despite receiving less playing time than expected.

Payton Sparks | GRADE: B- | 5 GP/0 GS | 8.6 MPG | 2.4 PPG | 1.6 RPG | 0.2 APG | 62.5/0/20%

Although Payton Sparks has not exhibited the same dominance as in his previous seasons, he has shown moments of promise, particularly in the recent victory over Louisville.

Malik Reneau | GRADE: A- | 6 GP/6 GS | 28.2 MPG | 15.3 PPG | 4.3 RPG | 3.3 APG | 61/0/71.4% 

Malik Reneau has made a strong impact, exhibiting a confident style of play and leading the team in assists, indicating improvement in his overall performance.

Kaleb Banks | GRADE: B | 6 GP/0 GS | 11.5 MPG | 2.8 PPG | 2.8 RPG | 0.7 APG | 54.5/50/28.6%

With steady contributions and crucial plays in key games, Kaleb Banks has displayed potential, offering hope for his continued development.

Mack Mgbako | GRADE: C- | 6 GP/6 GS | 20 MPG | 7.2 PPG | 3.3 RPG | 1.3 APG 39.5/11.1/100%

Mackenzie Mgbako has shown glimpses of promise and progress, despite initial setbacks, giving fans optimism for his future contributions to the team.

• Published on 12/01/2023 at 1:20 PM EST
• Last updated on 12/01/2023 at 1:20 PM EST