Indiana Adds Ball State Center Payton Sparks Through Transfer Portal

Indiana's first addition through the transfer portal is 6-foot-9 center Payton Sparks, who averaged 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds for Ball State this season.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana made its first addition through the transfer portal on Wednesday.

Ball State center Payton Sparks announced on Twitter that he's joining coach Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers for the 2023-24 season. Sparks has two years of remaining eligibility.

⚪️🔴💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/G8S1n53RVc

— Payton Sparks (@PaytonSparks6) March 29, 2023

During his sophomore season, Sparks, a 6-foot-9 center from Winchester, Ind., averaged 13.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.9 blocks per game. He posted 10 double-doubles this year, earning second-team All-MAC honors. 

Under first-year head coach Mike Lewis, who played for Bob Knight at Indiana from 1996-2000, Sparks was third on the team in scoring and first in rebounding. He shot 59.4 percent overall and made 2-of-5 3-point attempts.

Sparks was named MAC Freshman of the year in 2021-22 when he scored 13.5 points per game with 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.5 blocks. He also earned a spot on the 2022 Kyle Macy Freshmen All-America Team. Sparks shot 70.3 percent at the free throw line as a freshman, but that number dropped to 52.5 percent as a sophomore.

Sparks fills a big area of need for Indiana, with veteran forwards Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson graduating and sophomore center Logan Duncomb transferring. As it currently stands, forwards on Indiana's 2023-24 roster include Sparks, Malik Reneau, Jordan Geronimo and Kaleb Banks.

Related stories on Indiana basketball

• TAMAR BATES TRANSFERRING: Indiana sophomore guard Tamar Bates entered the transfer portal on Tuesday. He averaged 6.1 points and shot 37.4 percent from 3-point range. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA VISITS WITH JAMISON BATTLE: Jamison Battle, a 6-foot-7 forward, averaged 15.1 points across two seasons at Minnesota. Indiana coaches Mike Woodson and Brian Walsh have an in-home visit scheduled with Battle on Tuesday. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA MEETS WITH KADIN SHEDRICK: Indiana basketball is scheduled to meet with Virginia transfer Kadin Shedrick, who averaged 6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks this year. CLICK HERE
• PAYTON SPARKS VISITS INDIANA: 6-foot-9 center Payton Sparks averaged 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds for Ball State, but he entered the transfer portal after his sophomore season. CLICK HERE
• LOGAN DUNCOMB ENTERS TRANSFER PORTAL: After playing in 18 games across two seasons, Indiana center Logan Duncomb entered the transfer portal on Thursday. CLICK HERE
• IU MEETS WITH CHRIS LEDLUM: After averaging 18.8 points and 8.5 rebounds this season, Harvard Chris Ledlum is planning to meet with Indiana on Thursday. CLICK HERE
• IU MEETS WITH NICK TIMBERLAKE: After averaging 17.7 points on 41.6 percent 3-point shooting this season, Towson guard transfer Nick Timberlake plans to meet with Indiana coach Mike Woodson on Thursday. CLICK HERE
• BIG TEN TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: Welcome to our Big Ten men's basketball transfer portal tracker, where we'll keep you updated on the latest incoming and outgoing transfer news for all 14 Big Ten teams this offseason. CLICK HERE
• MAJOR CHANGES EXPECTED FOR IU: With graduating seniors, NBA Draft potential and the transfer portal, Indiana's roster will look much different in year three under coach Mike Woodson. CLICK HERE