Indiana in Contact With Belmont Transfer Ja'Kobi Gillespie

Ja'Kobi Gillespie has a long list of suitors, including Indiana, after entering the transfer portal following his sophomore season at Belmont, where he averaged 17.2 points per game.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Belmont guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie is another transfer Indiana has been connected to since the portal opened Monday.

Gillespie is a 6-foot guard who averaged 17.2 points, 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game as a sophomore in 2023-24. He was named to the second-team All-MVC as well as the MVC All-Defensive team and the MVC's Most-Improved team. Gillespie has two years of remaining eligibility.

In addition to Indiana, Gillespie has reportedly heard from Virginia Tech, Maryland, Memphis, California, Alabama, Kansas, Kansas State, UCLA, SMU, Arkansas, Minnesota, Florida, Mississippi State and Georgia, according to 24/7 High School Hoops.

Gillespie joined Belmont out of Greeneville High School in Greenville, Tenn. As a freshman, he averaged 9.6 points, shot 29.5% from 3-point range and was named to the MVC All-Freshman team. He was an especially efficient 2-point shooter in both seasons at Belmont, shooting 52.2% as a freshman and 66% as a sophomore. Belmont went 21-11 during Gillespie's freshman season and 20-13 this past season, finishing top four in the conference each year.

Indiana lost starting point guard Xavier Johnson, opening up minutes in the back court. Forward Anthony Walker also graduated, so Indiana will have at least three scholarships to fill heading into next season, as it left a scholarship open in 2023-24. That number could grow even larger if players enter the NBA Draft or transfer portal.

Belmont guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) drives against Lipscomb guard Joe Anderson (22) during the second half at the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023 :: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

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