Graves likes look of rebuilt Sycamores as final signee is in place

Sycamore basketball fans now have a complete picture of the Indiana State team they’ll be following in the 2024-25 men’s college season.

The final piece came this week. Sycamore coach Matthew Graves’ staff confirmed Thursday the signing of Bruno Alocen, a member of the Spanish U18 National Team, to play for ISU this winter.

Graves likes the mix of players, which includes four returnees joined by 11 newcomers. The infusion was necessary after most of the Sycamores from last season’s Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship squad left in April via the NCAA transfer portal.

“We are extremely excited to have 15 players on our roster as we begin fall workouts,” Graves said Friday. “It certainly has been a whirlwind since late April, but I believe we have put together a good mixture of experience, talent, and upside. There are going to be plenty of opportunities for guys to earn minutes, and I am thrilled that we will have that competition in practice.”

Alocen stands 6-foot-7. The guard-forward played last season for Catalana Occidente Manresa in the Spanish U19 championship competition. Alocen played seven games in that event, averaging 10.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1 steal for Catalana. The team reached the tournament’s semifinals.

Alocen also spent time with the BAXI Manresa club, and averaged 9.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists, according to FIBA U18 Eurobasket Tampere 2024.

Alocen completes the picture for the upcoming season under Coach Matthew Graves. The roster includes 6-1 point guard Josiah LeGree of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, along with returning Sycamores Aaron Gray (6-foot-7), Jaden Daughtry (6-7), Derek Vorst (6-10) and redshirt freshman Cooper Bean (6-4).

Transfers include Tyran Cook (6-2 from VMI), Samage Teel (6-2, Presbyterian), Evansville native Jahni Summers (6-6, Coffeyville Community College), Camp Wagner (6-6, Rice), K’mani Doughty (6-5, Niagara), Caden Huttenlocker (6-2, Lincoln Trail) and Markus Harding (6-10, Central Michigan).

Incoming freshmen include Merritt Alderink (6-7, Zeeland West in Michigan) and Jayan Walker (6-6, Combine Academy in North Carolina).

Graves, previously the Sycamores’ associate head coach, has rebuilt the team after the departure of former coach Josh Schertz (now at Saint Louis) and a majority of the regulars from last season’s 32-7 NIT runner-up squad.

ISU opens the season Nov. 4 against Florida Atlantic in the debut of the John Wooden Family Fieldhouse in Xenia, Ohio.