Hoosiers Make Payton Sparks Transfer Official; Woodson 'Excited to Welcome Him'

Indiana made it official on Friday that the transfer of former Ball State big man Payton Sparks is now complete. He's played well at Ball State for two years, and Indiana coach Mike Woodson is excited about adding him to the team.
Hoosiers Make Payton Sparks Transfer Official; Woodson 'Excited to Welcome Him'
Hoosiers Make Payton Sparks Transfer Official; Woodson 'Excited to Welcome Him' /
In this story:

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana basketball made the incoming transfer of former Ball State star Payton Sparks official on Friday morning, sending out a release that he is now officially a part of the Indiana program.

Sparks, a Winchester, Ind., native, played well during two seasons at Ball State, and entered the transfer portal two weeks ago. Indiana was always a dream school for him, he said, and he said yes soon after Indiana coach Mike Woodson offered him a spot with the Hoosiers.

“I really like the addition of Payton to our program for several reasons,'' Woodson said in the release. "He is an experienced player with a great work ethic who had tremendous success individually while at Ball State. 

"He gives us an inside scoring threat who can defend and rebound. I really like his ability to fight on the offensive glass and his ability to draw fouls on the opposition, which was one of the best nationally a d is a tremendous asset. He is an Indiana kid who has a strong desire to be a Hoosier and we’re excited to welcome he and his family to Bloomington.”

Sparks, who will be 21 in October, was the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year after the 2022 season. He averaged 13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds and a freshman and had similar numbers — 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds — this year as a sophomore. 

Sparks is the first incoming transfer in this cycle, and there likely will be several more. Three players are transferring out, junior forward Jordan Geronimo, sophomore guard Tamar Bates and sophomore forward Logan Duncomb.

Here is the complete release from the school:

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – IU men’s basketball coach Mike Woodson has announced that Indiana native Payton Sparks, a 6-9, 240-pound, center will join the program as a transfer and have two seasons of eligibility. He comes to IU from Ball State where he was a two-time All-Mid-American Conference performer and was the 2022 MAC Freshman of the Year. He started all 62 games in his career with the Cardinals and averaged 13.4 points and 8.6 rebounds, while shooting 56.0% from the floor. His 421 free throw attempts over the last two seasons were the most in the MAC and seventh highest in college basketball.

He was an IBCA All-State selection following his senior year at Winchester Community High School and Tri-Eastern Conference Player of the Year, where he played for Coach Dustin Baldwin. As a senior he averaged 19.4 points, 13.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.5 steals. His rebounding totals were the third highest among Indiana high school players. He played his AAU ball for David Ramey with the Midwest Basketball Club.

He is the son of Tracey and Brianna Sparks and has a younger brother, Connor. A history major, he was born October 24, 2002.

WOODSON ON SPARKS

“I really like the addition of Payton to our program for several reasons. He is an experienced player with a great work ethic, who had tremendous success individually while at Ball State. He gives us an inside scoring threat who can defend and rebound. I really like his ability to fight on the offensive glass and his ability to draw fouls on the opposition, which was one of the best nationally, is a tremendous asset. He is an Indiana kid who has a strong desire to be a Hoosier and we’re excited to welcome he and his family to Bloomington.”

Related stories on Indiana basketball

  • TOM BREW COLUMN: Indiana has lost three players in the transfer portal, but Tamar Bates, Jordan Geronimo and Logan Duncomb can be easily replaced in the portal. Duncomb was never healthy in his two years, but Geronimo and Bates had a lot of chances to help win games, and they didn't perform as expected. Indiana can do better in the portal. CLICK HERE
  • SPARKS COMMITS TO INDIANA: 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. CLICK HERE
  • 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

Published
Tom Brew
TOM BREW

Tom Brew is an award-winning journalist who has worked at some of America's finest newspapers as a reporter and editor, including the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times, the Indianapolis Star and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered college sports in the digital platform for the past six years, including the last five years as publisher of HoosiersNow on the FanNation/Sports Illustrated network.