Indiana men’s basketball players Aiden Sherrell and Markus Burton earned spots in ESPN’s top-100 player rankings for the 2026-27 college basketball season, coming in at No. 62 and No. 69 respectively, according to a compilation by Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf published by The Daily Hoosier.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Burton projects as a high-usage point guard for Indiana, though his raw scoring numbers may dip slightly from his Notre Dame averages due to an upgraded supporting cast.
- Both players carry elite positional recognition, landing on preseason watch lists for the Karl Malone and Bob Cousy awards.
Sherrell’s Rim Protection Profile
Sherrell arrives in Bloomington following a sophomore campaign where he started all 34 games for Alabama. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward averaged 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 23.9 minutes per contest while shooting 53.9% from the floor and 33.8% from beyond the arc.
Myron Medcalf highlighted Sherrell’s defensive impact in the ESPN compilation. Per Synergy Sports data cited by ESPN, opposing players converted just 40% of their attempts around the rim against him last season, making him one of the premier interior defenders entering the Big Ten.
Burton’s Backcourt Integration
Burton joins the Hoosiers via the transfer portal after spending three seasons at Notre Dame. The 2023 Indiana Mr. Basketball out of South Bend averaged 19.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals across 33.2 minutes per game during his career with the Fighting Irish, shooting 43.8% overall and 33.2% from deep.
Jeff Borzello noted that Burton has dealt with injuries over the past two campaigns, missing chunks of action. When healthy, however, the 6-foot guard operates as one of the elite floor generals in the country, having averaged 18.5 points across 10 games last season after putting up 21.3 points in 26 games the year before.
| Player | Position | ESPN Ranking | Previous Program | Key Stats (Previous Season) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Sherrell | Power Forward | No. 62 | Alabama | 11.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.2 BPG |
| Markus Burton | Point Guard | No. 69 | Notre Dame | 18.5 PPG (10 games) |
Broader Big Ten and National Context
Both players collected preseason recognition on major award watch lists, with Sherrell on the Karl Malone Award list for top power forward and Burton on the Bob Cousy Award list for top point guard. Elsewhere in the national landscape, conference rival Illinois placed four players in the ESPN top-100.
Former Indiana players also appeared in the compilation, with Malik Reneau checking in at No. 22 for Miami and Mackenzie Mgbako landing at No. 79 for Texas A&M.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
