TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Basketball has signed three student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent as announced today by 10
th-year head coach
Greg Lansing. These new Sycamores will join the program in time for the 2020-21 campaign.
Joining the program are Julian Larry (Frisco, Texas/iSchool Entrepreneurial Academy), Nick Hittle (Indianapolis, Ind./Culver Academies HS) and Kailex Stephens (Tuscaloosa, Ala./Tallahassee CC).
Here is a look at each of today's signees:
Julian Larry
6-2, 180, Guard
Frisco, Texas / iSchool Entrepreneurial Academy
High School: Played points guard in 2018-19 for Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas where he averaged 11.6 points, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game … The team advanced to the Texas Regional Finals in 2019, beating No. 1 Lancaster during the tournament … Also played quarterback for the high school's football team … Played for the Marcus Smart YGC AAU team.
"I love the culture up there and what you all do with the basketball team," Larry told the Terre Haute Tribune Star. "They welcomed me in and made me feel welcome on my official visit. That's what helped me make my decision," Larry said. "Cam told me he loved it there. Each player loved it and they're going to be good and I wanted to be a part of what they have going on."
Nick Hittle
6-10, 240, Center
Indianapolis, Ind. / Culver Academies HS
High School: Grew up in Lawrence Township in Indianapolis, but transferred to Culver Academy – a private school in Northern Indiana … Played for the Culver Academies teams that played for the Class 3A state title in 2018 and 2019, winning the championship in 2018 … Hittle played nine minutes and scored five points with three rebounds in Culver's 64-49 Class 3A State Championship win over Evansville Bosse … Suffered an injury during the 2019 postseason after averaging 4.1 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Eagles as a junior … Tallied 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore on the State Championship Team … Played for head coach Mark Galloway at Culver.
"I knew Jared (Hankins) and Jake LaRavia basically my whole life and I played on the same AAU team [Indiana Elite] with Cobie [Barnes], so it was good to see them and they were all very welcoming," Hittle told the Terre Haute Tribune Star. "They worked very hard during practice and I could see them as my teammates."
Kailex Stephens
6-7, 180, Forward
Tuscaloosa, Ala. / Francis Marion / Tallahassee CC
At Francis Marion: Averaged 13.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game at Francis Marion last season was the Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year … Played for head coach Gary Edwards at Francis Marion … Will play in 2019-20 for Tallahassee CC for head coach Zach Settembre.
At Paul W. Bryant HS: Helped his team to a 30-5 record and an appearance in Alabama's Class 6A State Championship game … Played for head coach Shon Peck-Love.
"When I took my visit, I got a warm welcome," Stephens told the Terre Haute Tribune Star. "[ISU] coach [Greg] Lansing made me feel like I was at home. Some of the guys made me feel immediately like I was one of them. I just like how coach Lansing represents the program as a whole. My parents felt like it was good spot."
