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.
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- KANAAN CARLYLE: Kanaan Carlyle has reportedly heard from Gonzaga, Georgia, Baylor and Indiana since entering the transfer portal after averaging 11.5 points per game as a freshman at Stanford. CLICK HERE
- FRANKIE FIDLER: Indiana has reportedly been in contact with Omaha transfer Frankie Fidler, a first team All-Summit League player who averaged 20.1 points and shot 35.6% from the 3-point line this year. CLICK HERE
- AMARI WILLIAMS: Drexel forward Amari Williams has reportedly heard from Indiana, among many other schools, after winning three consecutive CAA Defensive Player of the Year awards. CLICK HERE
- DAKOTA LEFFEW: Mount St. Mary's guard Dakota Leffew has entered the transfer portal after averaging 17.6 points and being named to the first team All-MAAC as a senior in 2023-24. CLICK HERE
- TRE DINKINS: Canisius transfer guard Tre Dinkins has received interest from plenty of schools after averaging 15.4 points and shooting 36.5% from the 3-point line in 2023-24. CLICK HERE
- MICHAEL AJAYI: Indiana has reportedly been in contact with Pepperdine transfer Michael Ajayi, who averaged 17.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and shot 47% from the 3-point line as a junior in 2023-24. CLICK HERE
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- CLARK SLAJCHERT: One of Indiana's targets in the transfer portal is Penn guard Clark Slajchert, who averaged 18.0 points and shot 42.2% from the 3-point line as a senior in 2023-24. CLICK HERE