Indiana lands SMU center Samet Yigitoglu from transfer portal

The 7-foot-2 Turkish big man will join the Hoosiers with two years of eligibility remaining.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 11:34pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented movements and physicality of a basketball player, rendered in shades of crimson red and white to represent Indiana University.The addition of the towering Turkish center Samet Yigitoglu gives Indiana's new-look roster a powerful presence in the paint.Today in Dayton

Indiana has received a commitment from SMU sophomore center Samet Yigitoglu, who entered the transfer portal after the Mustangs' NCAA Tournament appearance this past season. The 7-foot-2, 270-pound Turkish center started all 34 games for SMU and will now join Darian DeVries' rebuilding Hoosiers roster with two years of eligibility remaining.

Why it matters

Yigitoglu's elite size and experience will provide a much-needed anchor in the middle for an Indiana team that has an almost entirely new roster. His addition gives the Hoosiers a proven big man to build around as they look to return to the NCAA Tournament under their new head coach.

The details

Yigitoglu started every game for SMU this past season as the Mustangs made the NCAA Tournament as a play-in team. Though they eventually lost to Miami (Ohio) in Dayton, Yigitoglu's performance caught the eye of the Indiana coaching staff, who moved quickly to add the 7-footer to their roster through the transfer portal.

  • Yigitoglu committed to Indiana on April 14, 2026.
  • He played the 2022-23 season at SMU.

The players

Samet Yigitoglu

A 7-foot-2, 270-pound sophomore center who started all 34 games for SMU this past season.

Darian DeVries

The new head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, who is rebuilding the roster through the transfer portal.

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What they’re saying

“Samet's size and experience will be a huge asset as we look to rebuild this program. He's a proven big man who can anchor our frontcourt.”

— Darian DeVries, Head Coach, Indiana Hoosiers

What’s next

Yigitoglu will join the Indiana roster for the 2023-24 season and is expected to be a key contributor as the Hoosiers look to return to the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Indiana's addition of Samet Yigitoglu through the transfer portal gives them a much-needed presence in the paint as they rebuild their roster under new head coach Darian DeVries. Yigitoglu's size and experience will be crucial in helping the Hoosiers reestablish themselves as a contender in the Big Ten.