Indiana Center Payton Sparks Enters Transfer Portal After Lone Season With Hoosiers

Payton Sparks averaged 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds as Indiana's backup center in 2023-24, and he entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Payton Sparks is the next Hoosier to enter the transfer portal.

The 6-foot-9 center joined Indiana before the 2023-24 season, but he's looking for a new school less than a year later. Sparks played in 24 games and made two starts as a Hoosier, averaging 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per game. He shot 51.4% from the field and 41.7% from the free throw line under coach Mike Woodson.

Sparks mainly served as the backup center to Kel'el Ware, Indiana's leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker, but he made two starts when Ware was injured. Sparks scored a season-high 10 points with eight rebounds in 14 minutes of action against Kennesaw State. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

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Out of Winchester, Ind., Sparks began his career at Ball State under coach Mike Lewis, a former Hoosier guard who played for Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight. Across two seasons at Ball State, Sparks averaged 13.4 points and 8.6 rebounds, starting all 62 games. 

Along with Sparks, Indiana sophomores Kaleb Banks and CJ Gunn have also entered the transfer portal. Xavier Johnson and Anthony Walker are out of eligibility, so Woodson has six scholarships to fill heading into the 2024-25 season. 

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